Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-06-03

hold their against the bar Of the Court which
they preside. Isi[an vtssH svswtar
Fifteen years ago, we fixed the salaries Of the Su
preme Judges at fifteen hundred dollars In 1s43 at
the darkest hour Of State embarrassments,
duced their salaries to thirteen hundred dollars Now
when our State has grown IN wealth, when the mem
beFs Of the legal profession making two dollars for
every they made in early daysj-now in the day Of
prosperity, wealth and business both increasing
rapidly upon us-we fix the salary Of the highest Judi
cal officer in the land the rate the wages OF
an active clerk or salesman in city store. If the Ju
dietary of Indiana fall not into disgrace and dsrepute
throughout the Unon assuredly it will not be our fault
We shall have done our best TO bring about such con-
summation.
Bot shall be told that the bill raises the salaries OF
our Circuit Judges from eight hundred to thousand
year do not object placing Supreme and Circuit
Judges on par for the expenses OF the latter are
cessary greater than Of the former and perhaps the
talent demanded is nearly great II Tor talent not
for dignity propose 10 pay The expenses oil Presl-
dent Judge while travelling his circuit especially now
that these are enarged) cannot be less than two hun
dred and ffy TO three hundred dollars yearly; leaving
him for support Of his family, two dollars day; just
the wages commonly paid to a good mechanic; to a
iourHeyman carpenter, for example, or brick layer.
And WHY, we shall be asked, should Judge, sitting
in the shade of Courthouse, relieved from manual la
bor be paid higher wages than brick layer, exposed
under the burning sun, risking his life lofty scat
fold enter not the inquiry to the abstract JUS
tiee of this. Enough for my present purpose, that,
throughout the civilized world different sorts of talent
command different prices. We pay bat a dollar for
for half hours visit OF q physician. We
command the services OF skilIn mechanic for
dollars day; while for days service of skilful
torney counselor are compelled to give five per-
haps ten, perhaps twenty dollars.
The question not whether these rates are right
wrong. They the market rates; and whoever goes
into the marke be il individual or State, must sub
NIT to them Iron, pound for pound, may be more in
trnsicay useful than gold But if, for any special pur
pose you gold, you must give the market price
for IT, even if it be hundred times that OF iron.
Hear what plain, unpretending democrat, whom no
will of extravaganza arstocracy, says of
Judges Salaries Governor Wood, Of Ohio In his last
message puts FORTH this subject, what paper pub.
lished my residence Justly calls Aigh toned and
manlv recommendation" He says:
Judges are excluded from being candidates for any
other than judicial positions. They are separated from
their families for than half year. and frequently
at great distance khey expense, which IN the
extrayaqances Of the times, is, with them unayoidaby
increasing They must give up every other business
occupaton books be purchased and read and their
entire attention honestly devoted to their duties, to re-
tain the confidence OF the people, and give public salts
faction Their families must be supported, and their
private affairs followed by neglect instead Of care
Does ordinary justice require honorable and liberal
support, other words adequate compensation for
those whose time and talents must be exclusively de-
voted TO the Statel Under democratic institutions ex
ravsgant salaries should be paid, but honest
beraity, and Just compensation would be economy to
the State and receive the sanction OF the people"
And he wound up by saying, that he trusts it will not
be longer supposed that the distinctions of position
adequate compensation for those on whom they are
conferred rhen they are left rih little else than old age
and miserable poverty"
In pursuance of these recommendations the salaries in
Ohio have been put of Circuit Judges at fifteen hundred
dollars, and of Supreme Judges at seventeen hundrd,
year.
What does this bill propose to give Governor!
Thirteen hundred year. He does not live upon it.
Our present Governor, than whom you will not find, in
hundred frugal in his habits or more reasona.
oily economical in his style of living Sinks to my know
ledge, between six and hundred dollars year. of
his private income in order make the ends meet.
Is that right or nstl ayl or democratci Ought man
10 pay six seven hundred year. Tor the privilege OF
being Governor? The aristocracy of Great Britain
ny the principle fully out as members of Parliament
providing that they shall receive per dem and shall
pay their expenses The result is that but
rich men be members
would not accept the office Of Governor, under such
a law unless had a competence OF my own; unless
could live as gentleman; not as spendthrt, not in
aTstOcratlc show; but plain, unpretendlng gentle
man. maintaining a reputable establishment, exercising
gentlsmany hospitality This is what the people oil In
diana expect and properly expect, of their Governor
They do not wish him stlned TO the pay Of clerk In
dry goods young assistant engineer hard
ly hedged from College. Whatever their representa-
tives may think lear do it is not the people who
wish the salary of their Governor put low that
but rich can, in Justice to his family, accept the
office.
Some years since while in this city, authorized,
by number of influential democrats, to tender, far
their exertions might it, distinguished
Governor. did so, expressing my opinion, that he
could obtain the nomination without difficulty, and
member we'll his reply: Mr. OWEN, should like TO be
Governor of the State of Indiana. 1t would CRAFTY
what trust is honorable ambition; and should hope
discharge the duties of the Office, without discredt u
myself the State. But am too poor man to accept
the nomination, and my residence to Indanapo-
lis, il elected. 1t would six eight hundred a
year besides the salary and that have not to give"
This is all wrong! Ii is Just wrong extravagant
salaries: tempting TO luxurious splendor, would be- The
extremes mischevous and aristocratc. Democracy
and true economy lie in the golden
To some thousand dollars may seem a salary amply
sufficient for Secretary, Auditor Treasurer Of State
But we ought to bear in mind that compel these Of
hcers TO break their present residences and settle
the seat OF government. That entails additional
pense of at least five hundred dollars year. would
| rather undertake TO support my family, where / now
live, thousand dollars, than fifteen hundred, il
compelled to rent house, and make my residence, at
indianapolis.
One effect of too low salaries attached offices
quHg residence at the seat oil government Is TO give
sort of monopoly in these offices the citizens of In
dianaPolis. They may afford to accept them while 9TH
ers cannot.
There is yet another point be noted in this case
Inadequate salaries are corruPng In their influence
Many OF wont daily to repeat that brief and
prehensiye prayer, OF which of the petitions
Lead us not into temptation II these be thar
empty words let rs remember that poverty has its temp
tatons which now, in the days of Eugene kram arS
/ stronger than those OF riches
boy applied for the situation OF salesman store
what wages must pay you, my ladf' said the mer
chant. Enough, Sir, the honest reply, fior
to live on, without stealing from the till.
And even If in spite of temptation, officers escape
dishonesty corruption, many of the faithful
among them do not escape grumbling, discontened
enbittered feeling; feeling OF injury and wrong;
Of debt and embarrassment in the present pros
pect of poverty increasing with years, in the future
Such is the frame Of mind chow uniting for efficen
public serveeD at this very moment OF some Of those