Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-09
Importance :of-ths -ftieation and the
amount OF value Of the property involved.
Fee system Provided.

Importance ~sOI-tHe -uf188t1on ana tns
amount OF value Of the PROPERTY involved
Fee System Provided.
I'll is said that there are no salaried
masters or referees or auditors in the
United States The federal bankruptcy
act provides Tee system foE the ref
erees in bankruptcy. 1t is said that the
suggestion OF a salary, instead of the
fee payment system. has heretofore never
been made.
1t is said that it would be possible. per-
haps, FOR q master or referee to be placed
upon q salaried basis; sych as that of the
judge whom he aids and assists, and the
services Of such master or referee given
to litigants free, just as the services Of
judges are given to them free, but it is
an additional burden upon the general
taxpayer rather than upon the litigants
who benefit by the services.
It Is also said that as city grows 1t
requires the services Of more than one
master. still further increasing such a
salary burden upon the general tax
payer. and relieving the litigants, who
under the present system In Washing
ton pay for the services rendered. New
York has grown SO now that the serv-
there, and Baltimore has grown so that
five masters. as they are called there,
are required.
One Master Needed Here.
1t is said in Washington that the bust
ness Of the court here has grown sufii-
GENTLY to occupy one master and no
more The benefit Of the system by
which all of the business has been sent
to one master under q statutory pro-
vision is that it is giving to the litigants
and to the courts the benefit Of trained
and experienced man of ability, who can
be well compensated by the income from
the ONCE and who can be induced to
continue to hold the ONCE and give his
best efforts to it by reason of the ample
compensation afforded him.
Col. Payne, the auditor before the in
cumbent, Mr.. Dent. occupied the office
highly respected members of the COM
munity. and recognized as one of the
ablest members of the bar.
At the time Of Col. Paynes death the
court selected Mr.. Dent to fill the position
and it Is generally said In Washington
that he has filled the position to the
satisfaction of the bench and bar. His
work and decisions have been the subject
OF COMMUNICATION from both sources and
it Is stated that during the period of his
incumbency his decisions have been re-
versed but three times
Charge Never Made Before.
1t has not heretofore been suggested
that the office of auditor is overpaid. 1t
has generally been known that the Office
Is a lucrative one. At the time of the
appointment of Mr.. Dent, January 3,
1910, it was stated in The Star that the
Office was generally believed to be worth
to the incumbent about $4,000 a year,
which is verified by reports today.
Mr.. Dent is we'll known to Washing
tonians. He is Atty years Of age and has
resided in Washington forty-six years OF
that period. His reputation stands high
in the community, not only in his private
character, but as fearless and conscien-
tious in the discharge of any public duty
ever performed by him. He was for years
the confidential secretary of James g.
Blaine, and at different times acted in
like capacity for the late Justice Field,
Secretary of State Foster and Robert r.
Hit. He was twice United States consul
to Kingston, Jamaica, the last time dur
ing the Spanish-American war.
Commended by Mckinley.
During that war he rendered services
to the country for which he was specially