The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-07
G|[CHR|ST IS
NOW AFTER THE
CIRCUIT JUDGES
SENDS SPECIAL MESSAGE TO
THE LEGISLATURE RELATING
TO THEIR SALARIES, TRAVEL
ING EXPENSES AND ALLOW.
ANcE FOR CLERK HIRE.
Special to The Journal.

Tallahassee, May Gov. Gilchrist
yesterday afternoon sent the following
special message to the legislature re-
lating to circuit judges, their salaries
and allowances:
State of Florida, executive Office,
May 5, 1911.
Gentlemen of the Legislature: / re-
Gently wrote to the governor Of every
state, from Virginia to Texas inclusive,
IA relation to certain information re-
garding circuit courts. herewith pre-
sent a tabulated statement. This state
rnent is prepared from the information
received. Examining the same, It APP
pears that Virginia has a circuit judge
for population of SIS, 500: North Caro-
lima one for a population of 1877, 800;
South Craolina one for population of
10000; Georgia one for a population
Of 10000; Florida one for a population
Of $4,000; Alabama one for a popula-
ton Of 125,700; Mississippi one for a
population OF 105,700, and chancellor
for a population Of IT'S. 700; Louisiana
one for population of $4,000. Texas
has district judges. AS their system
seems to be different from that of the
other states, no reference to Texas
will hereafter be made.
AS to the compensation of the
Judges: In Virginia these judges are
paid a salary each Of $500 per year,
no allowance for clerical aid or for
travelling expenses. One half of the
salary is paid by the state and the
other half by counties and cities com
posing the circuit. In North Caro-
lima, they are paid a salary of 81, 600,
all g.. ~
travelling expenses; in South Carolina,
$4,000. no allowance for clerical aid or
travelling expenses; in Georgia, 81, 900,
no allowance for clerical aid or trav-
cling expenses; the court stenogra-
piers do the clerical work of the
judges. In Florida, salary of So
$50, 81 200 for clerical assistance in the
Sixth circuit, $3.50 per year for each
Judge Of the other circuits, the actual
travelling expenses for each. not to ex-
ceeo $3.50 per year; Alabama, a SAL
airy OF $4,000, no allowance for clerical
aid or for travelling expenses; Missis-
sippi, $3.50. no allowance for clerical
aid or for travelling expenses; Louis
lana, $4,000, except in New Orleans,
$4,000, no allowance for clerical aid or
for travelling expenses.
aa New Circuits Necessary.
In the general election of 1910, sec
ton 50 OF article v of the state con-
stitution was amended. authorizing the
legislature to create and establish
such additional judicial circuits as
may, from time to time, become neces-
sary." 1t has now become necessary to
create and establish additional circuits.
Your attention is invited to the COM
parative population in the judicial cir
cults Of these various southern states.
BY adding up the population of each
circuit, as shown, Of these eight states,
and dividing the same by eight, it ap-
pears that the average population in
each circuit is 116,250. It will be OBJ
served that the average population for
each circuit in Florida is now $4,000.
The First District.
The First judicial circuit Is now
composed of the counties Of Santa
Rosa, Escambia, Walton, Holmes,
Washington and Jackson, the popula-
ton Of which is 127,167. Heretofore
the judge of that circuit has been
keeping up fairly well with the BUSH
ness of the same. In the general cleo
ton of 1910, an amendment was
adopted to article " of the state con-
stitution. which provided as follows:
The criminal court Of record in and