New-York tribune., 1909-11-30
NO SALARY JUMP
JUSTICE SCOTT 4POL-
OGIZES TO BOARD.
Resolution Calling for $4,000
Raise Rescinded-MetS
Alone Opposing.

NiN iocdio VI ana Appptiioh-
ment yesterday. apologized to the board
for causing them trouble in asking for
an Increase in salaries, apologized TO his
ASSOCIATES on the bench for doing any
thing that put them in a bad light, said
that he should be most reluctant TO ac-
cept an increase against the objection or
any considerable number of taxpayers
and took upon himself all the blame for
being sponsor for the resolution passed
by the board ten days ago giving the
justices living in this city an increase of
$4,000 i'm salaries.
The resolution raising the salaries was
reconsidered and rescinded. all the MEM
bers voting against the original resolu-
tion save Controller Metz. who said that
he knew what he was doing when he
voted and still believed that the judges
should receive more money.
Mayor Mcclellan. after the session had
been called TO order. read a letter from
the justices Of the 2d Department. in
which they said that in their judgment
the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment had no power TO increase the sal
aries as II had attempted To do
The Mayor announced that he had re-
ceived letters Of protest from the New
York County Lawyers Association, from
A. IL Eastmond and from NJ. O'Sullivan.
Justice Scott was then recognized by the
Mayor, who asked him To come nearer 10
the raised platform. Mr.. Scott did not
come.
SURPRISE AT PUBLIC CENSCRE
1T is due TO myself" he said. due to
my associates on the bench and due 10
the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment that state the reasons which led
me TO act in the matter of sending suS-
gestion TO this board with reference 10
an increase in salaries for the Justices OF
the 1st Department. ] have been very
much disturbed and nOt-a little surprised
and perturbed by the food of abuse occa-
stoned by the action of the board in con-
nection with the salaries.
Il had hoped that my long and arduous
services as a public official would have
led to some faith in the integrity of my
motives i'm this matter. but il seems that
they counted for nothing. The impress
sion seems 10 be widespread that the
justices of the 1st Department had dis
covered a loophOle i'm the constitutional
amendment by which we have tried to
slide through an increase in our salaries.
There is absolutely no b is for such a
belief"
Justice Scott then went into thor
oughgoing and lucid exposition OF the
laws bearing on justices salaries. assert
ing that since 1852 the local authorities
had had the power 10 increase the COM
ncnsation of justices. He said that the
justices had worked for the same COM
pensation for the last thirty-five years.
while the salaries of other officials had
hean raised from time TO time. both here
and in other parts of the state.
He said that for the first time the
salaries on January ] would be fixed by
constitutional enactment. and he SAID
that II would have been possible at this
time L. have increased the compensation
OF local justices without adding to the
tax burden of the county of New YORK
IJe said that since 1895 the Legislature
had nassed ten acts increasing the com
pensation of justices outside the city OF
New York.
ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY
81 hold myself entirely responsible
saia Justice Scott. for bringing this
matter before this honorable board The
responsibility is mine and mine alone
and desire to assume ii. If a mistake
WAS made. il vas my mistake. III an
error of judgment was committed IL
Was nv error of judgment am Ifee
"a say that ] was surprised at the atti-
tude taken 10y the press and public
confess that things went little bit
faster than had anticipated.
For nv own part. / should he most
reluctant to accept an increase of salary
against the objection of any considerable
number of taxpayers or as To the le-
palitv of which any question could he
raised. | apologize to you for bringing
the matter before you. ] apologize TO
my associates on the bench for having
nIaced them in a possible wrong light,
and | assure the members of this board
of the sincerity of my intentions in send
inc the request with reference To the
salaries.
Mayor MtAi itlich Ne'9 e''NA ~ Nhi'
for the vote when President McGowan
of the Board Of Aldermen interrupted
with:
Il wish Ia say that i'm all my expe-
rience in this board this statement from
Justice Scott is the most manly decla-
ration that 1 have ever listened to-"
Il am sure that every member of this
heard indorses the statement of Presi-
dent MCGOWAN" said the Mayor.
For myself" said Controller Metz. Il
wish 10 say that ! knew what | was
doing when I voted for the increase in
salaries. / believe that the Judges should
have il. In recent years the Legislature
has created "A Board of Water supply
whose members receive $4,000 year.
and a Public Service Commission, whose
members receive $l5UO0 a year
IT is the clear intention of the state
10 nay It's officials larger compensation.
n the Public Service Commissioners
earn $1,000 a year. think the judges
should be paid S21.5OO. vote in favor
Of the resolution
ON the rolleall thc Controller Was the
only one Ia vote a. he voted before
Two votes were taken. 50 as 70 cover
both judicial districts.
STRAWBERRIES AND SNOW