High Compliment To Judge Kinne

HIGH COMPLIMENT TO JUDGE KINNE

Supervisors by Unanimous Vote Raise His Salary

THE BAR REQUESTED IT

And the Supervisors Unanimously Saw the Justice of the Request- What Was Said

The Board of Supervisors by an unanimous vote Wednesday raised Judge Kinne's salary to $5,000 and placed the office on a par with that in the other larger counties of the state. The way in which it was done was a high compliment to Judge Kinne and showed the high esteem in which he is universally held. 

The Board of Supervisors first passed a resolution requesting Judge Kinne to appear before them to talk over the matter of his salary. Supervisors Landwehr, Damon and Raymond were appointed a committee to wait upon the Judge, who appeared before the Board and in a very modest address told them that he should leave the matter in their hands. He did not plead poverty, but he was a poorer man than he was 10 years ago. He had been urged for a position on the Supreme Bench, but he would prefer to remain in Washtenaw if his salary were larger. 

Then Messrs. Kearney, Lawrence, Cavanaugh, Towner, Duffy, Kirk, Wedemeyer, Brown, Freeman and Blum spoke briefly in favor of increasing the salary. Hitherto the county had paid nothing of the circuit judge's salary. The people had voted in favor of a constitutional amendment permitting the supervisors of Washtenaw and Bay to vote such additional compensation to the circuit judges as they saw fit. Bay county had increased the compensation of their judge to $5,000. Washtenaw is just as important a circuit as Bay. The Wayne county judges get $6,000 a year. Other circuit judges get from $5,000 to $7,800. Judge Kinne, by compelling the lawyers to work longer hours than in other counties, has saved the county much money. He was making at least $4,500 a year when elected to the bench. No lawyer who was fit for the position but what was making much more than Judge Kinne's salary had been. Judge Kinne did not ask for but $1,500, but his salary ought to be raised at least $2,500. In the 16 years of his service no one had questioned Judge Kinne's honesty, ability or integrity. For 16 years Judge Kinne had been paid less than his services were worth. There were other officers in the county who were receiving. 

John R. Miner moved that Washtenaw county allow Judge Kinne $2,500 a year salary in addition to the $2,500 paid by the state.

Supervisor Schumacher spoke in the same strain. 

The motion was carried by a yea and nay vote and every supervisor recorded himself as in favor of the motion. In this position the Board will be sustained by everyone who knows of the duties of the circuit judge and the manner in which they are preformed. 

The board designated the Ypsilantian, Chelsea Herald and Ann Arbor Argus-Democrat to publish their proceedings. It was also agreed to publish their proceedings in German in the Washtenaw Post. 

A resolution was passed asking the Board of County Auditors not to allow any bills for the repair of public buildings except such as are authorized or approved by the Building Committee.