Case Name: THE UNITED STATES v. JOSEPH W. FISHER
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1883-11-05
Citations: 19 Ct. Cl. 704
Docket Number: 
Parties: THE UNITED STATES v. JOSEPH W. FISHER.
Judges: 
Reporter: United States Court of Claims Reports
Volume: 19
Pages: 704–704

Head Matter:
THE UNITED STATES v. JOSEPH W. FISHER.
(15 C. Cls. R., 323; 109 U. S. R., 143.)
On the defendants Appeal.
The salary of the chief justice of Wyoming is fixed by the Revised Statutes at $3,000. The legislative appropriation act 1877 provides that a less amount shall be in full compensation for the ensuing fiscal year. The chief justice is paid the reduced amount, and brings this action for the balance.
The court below decides—
(1.) The words “in full compensation” have a clear, distinct, and well understood signification, which cannot be overlooked or argued out of an appropriation act.
(2.) A good exposition of a statute makes every sentence have its operation, gives effect to every word, does not construe it so, that anything . will be vain or superfluous, nor yet make exposition against express words.
' (3.) When ascertaining the meaning of a statute, the will of the legislature must be determined, and the latest will of the latest legislature must control all previous enactments.
(4.) Territorial courts are not “inferior courts" within the meaning of the Constil ution (Art. Ill, § 1), and the provision which declares that the judges “of the supreme and inferior courts shall receive for their services a compensation which shall not he diminished" does not extend to Territorial j udges.
For the purpose of an appeal the court below directed that judgment pro forma should be entered in favor of the claimant for $862.22.
Judgment for the claimant.
Th¿ defendants appeal.
The Supreme Court sustains the views of the court below, butreverses the judgment, and directs that judgment be entered dismissing the petition.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice Woods
delivered the opinion of the court, November 5, 1883.