Evening star., 1955-01-25
Parade Of Witnesses
Favors Raising Pay Of
Judges, Legislators
By Miriam Gutenberg.


By Miriam Gutenberg
Attorney General Browneli to-
day warned a Senate judiciary
subcommittee that the Nation
faces the loss Of some Of its
ablest judges and other ideally
qualified" men are refusing to,
take Federal judgeships because
Of the low pay.
The Attorney General led a
parade of witnesses testifying in
favor of pay raises for Federal
judges and members Of Congress.
Maximum increases proposed
range from a $12,500 boost for
Congressman and District Court
judges to a $14,500 raise for the
Chief Justice of the United
States.
Senator Dirksen, Republican,
Of Illinois was the only legislator
testifying at the opening hear
ing. He came as the author of
the 83d Congress resolution set
ting up the Commission on Ju-
dicial and Congressional SAL
aries, which recommended the
increases.
Asks Realistic" Action.
Senator Dirksen urged his
colleagues ito deal realistically
and courageously" with the ques-
ton Of raising their own sal
aries.
The subcommittee. headed by
Senator Kefauver, Democrat, Of
Tennessee, has several bills to
consider. The bill introduced by
Senator Kilgore, Democrat, of
West Virginia. chairman of the
full Judiciary Committee, fol-
lows the recommendation of the
commission and was the one that
got the most backing today.
Under the Kilgore bill the
Chief Justice. the Vice President
and the Speaker of the House
would get $4,000. Associate
justices of the Supreme Court
would get Ns39,5OO. Judges of
the United States Court of Ap-
peals, Court of Claims, Court Of
Military Appeals and Court of
Customs and Patent Appeals
would get $30.50O. Members of
Congress, judges of the Tax
Court. judges of the Customs
Court and District Court judges
would get 1880.
Allowances Also Provided.
The Vice President and the
Speaker, in addition to their pay
raise, would get a $4,000 in
stead of a $4,000 annual expense
allowance and Congressman
would be reimbursed for travel
expenses for not more than five
trips a year between their home
State or territory and the Dis
trict.
Unlike the House bill. the Sem
ate bill makes no provision for
salary increases for United States
attorneys and other Justice De-
partment officials below the rank
of Attorney General. The Sena-
tors were urged to include them
in any pay raise.
Mr.. Brownell reminded the
Senators that during the past
two years more than so new
Federal judges have been con-
firmed. He said that in looking
for suitable men to take these
judgeships I'VE found many men
of real ability who were unable
to accept appointment because
the present compensation is in
adequate to take care of their
families"
Warns of Losing Judges.
He said he was referring to
ideally qualified young middle
aged lawyers" who have not
been able to accumulate enough
avings to afford the cut in in
come involved in accepting a
judgeship.
Warning of the danger Of los
ing many of the ablest judges
because they cannot afford to
continue at their present pay,
he said that some Federal judges
in New York have had to go back
to practicing law. Mr.. Brownell
told the subcommittee that al
most all on-Federal judges in
New York, including municipal
judges, get more than their
Federal colleagues.
Speaking for the administra-
ton, Mr.. Brownell said he was
strongly in favor of increasing
salaries for members Of Con-
gress. He said the Nation has
been lucky to maintain the
caliber of men serving in Con-
gress in vie wof the inadequate
salaries.
I'm going to be q candidate
perhaps in 1885, Senator Dirk
sen said. Anybody can take a
crack at me. but If I'm going to
be voted out because took some
steps to make the salary con-
sonant with the dignity Of the
office I'll cheerfully abide by it."
Imitation Loss Cited.
Senator Dirksen contended
that the take-home pay for
Congressmen today is much less
than in the days when the SAL
airy was $500. taking imitation
into consideration.
Lloyd Wright Of Los Angeles,
president Of the American bar
Association, assured the Senator'S
that II there had been any feel
ing in the country that judges
and legislators should not get
a raise or that the proposed IN
creases were too high I'VE would
have heard about it." He urged
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