Evening star., 1918-02-03
CONSIDER REQUEST
TO CUT COURT FEES
eiye Municipal Judges Hear
Plea of Real Estate Deal
ers Of D. C.
$4,000 SURPLUS FUND

Requests from real estate interests in
Washington that fees for suits In the
Municipal Court be reduced are being
g1ven consideration by the nve Judges
Who compose the court, the complaints
oe excessive fees arising as the result
Of an accumulated surplus OF upward
ef $4,000 in fees from the court. This
money is now on deposit in the United
States Treasury. to the credit OF the
general fund of the District of Colum-
baa-
While the Judges are considering the
3easibility of q reduction of fees, at
tsntion is also being paid to the prob
able expenses of the court in its new
quarters, 421-423 John Marshall place
southwest The court moved into these
quarters last September. after a year
had been spent In trying to locate
suitable place for a Municipal Court
building. The rent is $500 per year.
The surplus OF $4,000. which has
accumulated since September. 1909.
when the Municipal Court ~as estab-
lished in the District. Is regarded by
many landlords and real estate opera
tors as excessive and profit of the
court at the expense of property-own-
1ng citizens of the capital. This
paid into the court for the trial Of
petty actions involving civil cases un-
0or $500. merchants debts and suits by
landlords against tenants for failure to
pay rent.
Cost Of Each Case.
For the average civil suit filed in the
Municipal Court s160 must be paid the
eourt for the process Of filing and s2.10
. the cost Of the trial. One week is usu-
any the time to wait for the trial of a
ease In possession cases $1s5 is the fee
The complaint Of the landlords is based
an the fact that too many tenants move
after being sued. thus forcing the land
lord to pay the costs of the suit. in addi-
tion to losing the rent due. Upon filing
suit in case of landlord and tenant a
ssven days summons is issued The fee
for q suit by landlord against tenant Is
$1-s5. which includes the marshars fee.
twenty-five cents extra must be paid to
the court for judgment of possession.
This brings the total cost to landlord of
suit to collect rent to $40. which Judge
Michael NJ. Doyle declared today is small
IN comparison with the charges required
BY civil courts which try cases in some Of
the states under the fee system. Judge
Doyle would not commit himself regard
for q reduction in the amount of fees, and
aid NO opinion on the matter would come
from the court until some idea of operat-
Ing costs this year is obtained.
Should Be elf-supporting.
The Municipal Court, according to
Judge Doyle. should be seh-supporting
a $500 from Congress for this year.
Court officials are exercising every rea-
oonable economy in cutting down expenses
q the court and at the same time keep
Ing abreast Of the heavy docket.
Commenting upon the public service
rendered by the court. Judge Doyle said:
The judges Of the court work every day
In the year except Sundays to keep the
eockets cleared. 1t is a fact that our
dOckets are clear in nearly every instance
for the current days business. and the
stss Of the dockets may increase expenses
this year.
~Under the fee system persons who
brought suit in this court had to pay
heavy costs. In comparison with the
fees charged in some states the fees
assessed by this court are very small
The judges now have under considera-
tton the reduction of fees, and will make
ssSommendations on the matter as soon
~ We can determine what the operating
Hpenses in our new quarters will be.
Tho amount laid up in the Treasury
S110. 200, in nearly nine years sounds
uEo big sum In the old quarters of
TIE court the operating expenses were
not 70 great as here"
Certain Cases on Decrease.
SQkIe Doyle is of the opinion, also,
thGt fhs number Of cases of landlord and
tS1anf are rapidly decreasing. chiefly, he
yhmks, on account of the difficulty of
Nome seekers in Washington to obtain
houses now.
THE decrease during the last few
months of war rush has been very sat
isfactory." he said
Another thing in regard to decreasing
the amount of fees charged in the court
1t would tend to cause much more liti-
cation than at present. although the
present rate of decrease in one kind of
cases leads us to believe that suits will
become less and less from time to time,
especially if living conditions here be-
come more difficult"
The present judges Of the Municipal
Court are Edward B. Kimball, Milton
8trasburger. Michael NJ. Doyle, John p.
4cMahon and Robert H. Terrell.
At the last meeting of the Mid-City
Citizens Association resolutions were
adopted and sent to the District Com
Aissioners asking for a reduction in the
amount Of fees assessed in the court.