Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-02
SAYS MUNICIPAL COURT
NEEDS NEW BUILDING
Judge Bundy Gives Number of
Reasons and Directs Atten-
ton to Conditions.

Judge Charles s. Bundy OF the NUM-
cipal Court. commenting upon the public
agitation for a new and adequate build
ing for the Juvenile Court. declared today
that similar publicity ought to be given
to the needs Of the Municipal Court. He
gave a number Of reasons why q new
building should be provided for the Judi
cial work in which he is one Of FIVE par
Elephants, and called attention to a num-
Der Of conditions under which this work
is conducted. which, he said. are deplor-
able.
There are five Judges of the Municipal
Court Judge Bundy said who sit
every day in the year except Sundays
and legal holidays. each in a separate
room. and the acts of each are the acts
of the court.
only three. at best, Of the five court
rooms provided in the present building
are at all adequate or suitable. The
halls and stairways are narrow and were
designed only for a family dwelling. The
consequence is that during the rush hours
they are frequently crowded Two of the
courtrooms are on the third floor. and
are inconvenient for aged and infirm
persons who have business in the court.
Importance of Court.
The Importance Of this court, meas
ured by the number of suits brought,
is not generally understood.
THE court created by act of Con-
gress approved February Il, 1902 and has
been in existence less than four years.
The suits brought therein, other than
landlord and tenant cases, now number
1852. The landlord and tenant cases
number $3.50. Comparing the number of
suits other than landlord and tenant
cases brought in this court during the
last three years, ending June 30. 1913,
with the whole number of civil suits in
all branches Of the District Supreme
Court during the same period, we have
the following:
''The whole number of civil suits
brought in the Supreme Court Of the Dis
trict of Columbia during the three years
ending June 30. 1913, is 1906.
1.-The whole number of suits, other than
landlord and tenant cases, brought in the
Municipal Court during the same period
Of time is 1872
while this statement will be surprising
at first sight, moments thought will
serve to explain the facts. 1t Is a safe
calculation that 10 per cent OF all the
claims sued in any court by Washington
business men are each less than $500
in amount. The Municipal Court can
handle all such suits, with only few
exceptions, without the delays inseparable
from the superior courts.
Time and Expense Considered.
Besides the saving Of time, there Is
the great saving Of expense in favor OF
the Municipal Court. The fees therein are
less than one-third those of the upper
court These advantages, which are
likely to continue, not only account for
the large number of suits filed in the
Municipal Court. but they warrant the in
ference that the rate of increase Of
business therein, now apparent from
month to month. will naturally rise with
the city's growth in population and bust
ness.
AN additional reason why q new and
adequate building should be provided for
the Municipal Court is that its revenues
amply justify it. The revenues from
that court have met all its expenses and
turned into the Treasury a surplus of
over $4,000 during the three years end
ing June 30. 1913
THE business men of Philadelphia,
learning the advantages OF a municipal
court over the old magistrates courts.
prevailed upon the legislature Of Pennsyl-
vania, at it's last session, to create a
municipal court for that city, with civil
Jurisdiction only 500 in amount greater
than our own. and provided salary for
Its judges commensurate with the i'm
pOrtance OF their functions"