Norwich bulletin., 1921-06-30
to ask for no much.

to ask for so much.
 T am surprised at the manner in which the claims are presented by Mfr. whittlesey. The only way these amounts can be fxec is as 10 reasonable charge for services rendered. There Is no law providing for compensation on a per- certage basis in Connecticut.
 These executors nx their own fees. Mir whittiesey tells the court that the will of Mir. Plant determines how much they may charge the estate. The will says that they may settle the amount on the executors. This does not mean that they car fix it. It means that the court is the only authority 10 hx the amounts. and when 1t is fixed the executors can settle.
 "The compensation is matter for the court 10 determine. You must settle the amount according to your copscience. your honor. When percentage is applied to an estate the percentage must be re- duced as the estate runs Into miliions. The amount asked for is 2 1-2 per cent. on the net estate. I know of cases where per cent. was allowed but the amount was $50, which was not exces- sive.
 Three things determine value of ser- vices. first the nature of the services: {:
 second. the extent of the services, and | lllIus ln9 lnDOTIduCt Ol lnc HeFFlCFhs These men are not entitled to receive
 more than they could earn In general
 avocations. Tho pay of ordinary labor
 will average about sf.soo a year; that
 of skilled labor from ;5,oC0 to fs.o0O a
 year. the governor of Connecticut re-
 ceives ss.000 year and the chief jus
 tice of the supreme court se.5oo. Few
 men in Connecticut earn in exceHs of
 s10,ooo a year and fewer still s25.o00.
 Few men fin the United States earn ,50,ooo a year
 If you applied percentage to the han
 ding of money. then you would have to
 pay the treasurer of the United States
 more than si.Ooo,oo0 A year at l per cent Instead he receives sl2,0o0 a !, year.
 Whether you have i've executors oi 20, all are entitled only 10 what th, proper compensation would be for one , just the same as though one executoi had done all the work. The naming o , several executors means that 1t is pro 7 posde to divide the work and they shouls also expect to divide the fee. That rul should be applied in this eaate nor
 than in any other
 "If 1 per cent. Is proper in this cas-
 then the $30O,0 000 should be divide
 among all three executors. But s300.00 ! is perfectly ridiculous. Mir. Shearer stat
 ed that he put in one-half time the frs 7 year and one-duarter of his time tn . second year. This Is at the rate 0 f s345, 900 a year. Human endeavor wi = not bring that amount.
 \, "Mr. Sullivan cannot justify himsel {. in asking for any such amount. Nj . . Sheldon told of handling hundreds c . . other estates at the same time he va handling the Plant estate and the profit \ of the trust of the trust company dui U ing that period on all estates was abor $500, 900. Now he wants $500, o,0o0 fc B. this one estate. say 1t is wildly e,
 travagant.
 l. "The mercantile failure of the Fl. ] l. Clahn Co. in New York in 1914 was II l. biggest mercantile failurA in history. IT 70 concern had assets of s55.259.523.s2 ar Ia liabilities of s47,225.423.5s. Two recei n CTS were apointed Joseph B. Martindal es president of the Chemical National bar n of New York and Frederick D. Juilliar IS These men handled. over s15,000,000 le eight months. and operated the bushes at They were each paid the sum of s35.0 le for their services, although they ask or for s5O,o0o each. Fifty thousand d D. lars was all they asked for, but ev 'ni then the court reduced their compe as sation to s33,ooo.
 es Comparing the two estates and [ es work involved I would suggest that s3 a. 900 for each of these three execute
 or s1oo.0 to be divided among th' be would be a proper compensation.'