Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-06-08
JUDGES MUST
PROVE WORTH
TO GET RAISE
County Commissioners Seek
Justification for Increase AL
lowed by 1921 Legislature.
WILL REPORT DUTIES

In speaking for the members of the
Marion County commissioners relative to
the increase OF the Marion County
judges salaries, as provided for in an
act passed by the last Legislature, Car
lin Shank, president of the commits
sioner's court, today asked the Superior
Court Judges, the Circuit judge, the
Criminal Court judge and the judge Of
the Probate Court to furnish written in
formation relative to the amount of bust
ness, time spent on the bench and
whether the legal business Of the courts
is increasing.
President Shank indicated that the
commissioners favored an increase as
provided by law, but before taking such
action the commissioners wanted written
evidence to show that the proposed in
crease was warranted by increase Of
legal business in the courts.
TAXPAYERS' RESOLUTION
FAVORS INCREASE.
committee composed of Elmer f..
Stevenson, president Of the State Bar As
sociation; Larz A WhItcomb, president
of the indianapolis Bar Association, and
Bernard Korbly of the State Bar Asso-
citation, presented 30 the commissioners
a resolution signed by approximately 150
taxpayers oc the city and county asking
that the salaries Of the judges be in
creased
The committee showed the commission
ers that the increase would cost the
county a total of So, 400 a year At the
present time the Circuit Court judge is
getting $500 from the State and $500
from the county, and the same applies
to each of the Superior Court judges The
judges of the Criminal and Probate
Courts are receiving $1,000 each from the
county and nothing from the State.
Under the new law, the State agrees
to pay each Of the judges, with the ex-
ception Of the juvenile court Judge, S4 2C0
and the county viii be asked to pay
$3.50 to each of those judges, the iuve-
nile court judge excepted.
DECLARES SALARIES
ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.
The Governor signed the bill ami said
that the increase was delayed Justice,
Mr Whtcomb said.
That's what the Governor said about
the county commissioners salary increase
bill. but he didn't sign it," said Commits
sioner shank.
Mr.. Whltcomb pointed out that the
Judges In Marion County are not receiv-
ing enough salary to compensate them
for their work and that the present sal
arg was too low for them 20 maintain their
position in life as they should and also
educate and support their families.
The commissioners asked that the
Judges appear and Judge James A. Col
Inns Of the Criminal Court, Judge Harry
Chamberlin OF the Cireuit Court Judge
Solon J. Carter Of Superior Court Room
3; Judge Arthur J. Robinson Of Superior
Court Room 4. and Judge Mahlon Bash
Of the Probate Court appeared before the
commissioners.
There has been some complaint by
some people that the judges were not al
ways present to conduct business" said
Commissioner Shank. Before Increasing
the salaries. the board would like TO have
some knowledge as to the amount of
time put IN, number of cases flied and
tried and the like. The commissioners
have decreased tie salary Of the road
men and If we Increase the salary OF the
judges without having something to base
our opinion on, It will be said we lowered
the little fellows salary who works on
the road and raised the big gun. We
want 10 know II the increased amount Of
work in the courts JUstifes the raise.
am sure that the commissioners feel that
the judges should get what the law al
lows
The judges agreed to furnish the de-
sired information within the next two
days to the county commissioners