Evening star., 1953-10-27
The Political Mil
The Political Mil
More Federal Judoes
At Higher Pay Likely
Congress Expected to Act
At Upcoming Session
By Gould Lincoln

BY Gould Lincoln
Congress is expected to do something
about increasing the number Of Federal
JudgeS-alSo about raising their SAL
arleS-when it meets again next year.
There is real need for action along both
these lines. Overcrowded dockets and
the work load imposed upon the Federal
judges make it imperative that addi-
tlonal judges be provided. Henry p.
Chandler. administrative director of
the United States courts, recorded that
at the close of fiscal year 1953-last
June 30-there were 66,873 cases before
the Federal courts still to be disposed
OF. Most of these cases were civil
cases.
This is an increase in two years OF
rs per cent in the number of pending
cases.
The SD Congress is already strue-
Cling with the problem of adding to the
number Of Federal judges. The Sem
ate passed bill at the last session pro-
vlolng four additional Circuit Court
Judges-the United States Courts of
Appeal--and IS additional judges of
Federal District Courts. The House
tackled the same problem and came up
with bill adding three Circuit Court
judges and % District judges. The
legislation is still tied up in a Senate
House conference. Presumably the
disagreement between the two houses
VIII be adjusted and a bill passed during
the coming session.
Chance to Even Up.
incidentally, this new legislation will
give President Eisenhower opportunity
to even up somewhat the wide political
discrepancy which now exists in the
personnel of the Federal courts. For
20 years, during the Roosevelt and Tru-
man administrations, appointments to
the Federal bench went in great part
to Democrats. The consequence is that
OF the 3O7 Federal judges, not counting
the territorial courts, at the close of
TINS period, 230 were Democrats. Most
OF the Federal judges with 20 or more
years, service are Republicans. And
81 OF the At pre-Roosevelt Federal
judges are Republicans. Ten are on
the Courts of Appeal and 81 on the
District courts.
Ihese figures are taken from a sur
Vey OF the Federal bench personnel
made by Congressional Quarterly. It is
easily understood that when Gen.
Eisenhower was looking over the field
recently to select Chief Justice of the
United States to fill the vacancy caused
by the death Of the late Chief Justice
Fred M. VinSon, he was limited in the
number of available Republican Federal
judges. Most of them were regarded
as beyond the proper age for such an
appointment. He decided upon Chief
justice Earl Warren, former Governor
OF California, although the new Chief
Justice had no previous experience on
the bench. AS a Republican appoint
ment, Justice Warren's selection con-
Stltuted a major attack on the zone
party" judiciary problem, which had
grown up over the years.
Bill Would Raise Pay.
The Federal judiciary is composed
of nine Supreme Court Justices; IS
judges of the Courts of Appeal (the
Circuit Courts; 214 District judges;
judges Of the Court of Claims; judges
OF the Court Of Customs and Patent
Appeals, and 9 judges Of the Customs
Court. Until Chief Justice Warren was
appointed, the political division in the
Supreme Court was one Republican and
eight Democrats.
The Senate Judiciary Committee re-
ported out bill last May to increase
the salaries of Federal judges, but no
action was taken on the measure by
the Senate. Included in the bill we're
provisions for increases in pay Of mem
bers Of Congress. The LANCER bill
Senator LANCER of North Dakota is
chairman of the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee-proposed to increase the an
nual salaries of the Associate Justices
Of the Supreme Court from $25,O00 to
$4,000 and the salary of the Chief
Justice from $25,500 to $4,000. The
salaries of the judges of the Courts Of
Appeal were to be raised from $17,500
to $27,500, and the salaries of judges
Of the District courts. from $4,000 to
$4,000. One exception was for the
chief judge of the United States Dis
trict Court for the District Of Columbia.
His present salary is $15.500 and under
the LANCER bill he would receive $25,.
500.
The whole subject of judiciary SAL
aries and of salaries of members of
Congress is at present under study by
a commission on judicial and congress
sional salaries, which is to make it's
report during the coming session of
Congress and will, it is expected, have
its influence on the expected action by
Congress.
Federal judges are underpaid. in the
light of changes in the value of the
dollar in recent years, and the greatly
increased cost Of living. Their ap-
pointments are for life, with the privi-
lege of retirement on full pay at the
age of 10 after 10 years on the bench.
It's obvious that, at their present rates
Of pay, they can save little. particularly
as they are subject to the Federal in
come tax. The estate left by the late
Chief Justice VinSon. as revealed in a
will which he did not sign, was indlca-
tive. Also the chief justice Of the
Southern District of New York recent
ly was quoted as saying that after al
most 35 years on the bench his savings
amounted to $4,000.
No provision for the pension of
widows of Federal judges is now made.
1t is expected that this subject will be
given attention. too, when Congress
meets again.
Autumn Sunset