The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-19

Is very unsatisfactory one 10 some cases, confess
Mf SHIELDS, presume il IL not competent for me
TO move an amendment to the amendment now But |
see that the salary OF the judge OF the district court OF
Missouri 5000, and that OF the Judge OF The district
court OF Illinois is only 81 500.
Mr.. PETIT Indiana is the same.
Mr. SHIELDS, The labor OF the Judge OF The district
court OF Illinois 10 greater than that OF the Judge IN MIS-
ries OF the two judges on the same footing,
The question was then taken on the amendment offer
ed 10 the amendment by The senator from Maryland,
tMr PRATT and it was agreed 10,
The question thea REQUIRED upon the amendment re-
ported by Mr. BRADBURY iron the Committee on the
Judiciary amended.
Mr. MASON. learn from the honorable senator,
mir. BRApBuRY,l who has charge OF this amendment.
that the salary oil the Judge OF the western district oVr
gina was no, before the committee. was not aware
that the subject OF the increase OF these salaries be-
fore them, or should have presented the TO them.
Al the last session bill was reported from the Commit
the Judiciary passed the SeRae, hut did not pass
the House, and cannot pass there liking the salary
OF The Judge OF that district al $4,000. move to amend
the amendment by Inserting provision TO that effect
Mr. RUILER. | thought that bill had passed both
houses II was taken up out OF lis order here, reco-
lect that amended by increasing the salary of the
district judge Of New Hampshire also, and thought ii
had become law.
Mr.. HALE. No. sir.
Mr.. BUTLER II it did not pass, in my opinion it
Mr. BRADBURY We have made the scale of com
pensaon to correspond somewhat TO the amount of du
ties performed. am satisfied that the honorable
from Virginia (Mr. Mason fixes the compensation at
greater amount than by the scale to other judges
throughout the country Tor the amount of duties
performed 1t is perfectly obvious that it try 10 ad
just the salaries by each senator prescribing for his
State, il will be scramble here by each to get the
salary of the Judge in his Stale high possible
II there this blIl doubtless there are
they be corrected hereafter But appeals made
by segators from every State to the committee that the
salaries OF the judges IN each State may be increased
The committee cannot, in all cases. be of the
amount of labor devolved upon the Judge They
governed in their decision in part by reference to The
airy paid to the chief justice of the highest court in each
State In the eastern district OF Virginia the salary Of
the judge I'll 500, and in the western district it 81 800
The duties arduous, the Judges being Obliged
sit but very small portion Of the Year. aud venture 10
say that there very few Offices under the State gov
ernment OF that State that desirable those OF
Mr. HUNTER am afraid these amendments are 60
ing TO embarrass the bill We cannot have up the whole
and fees OF the whole of ha, branch of the public
service upon this bill We shall not have time to do
thai.
Mr.. GWIN. Is this fixing the salaries of district at
The PRESIDING OFFICER. No. sir but The sala-
Mr.. GWiN Ills bu, a prelude to the attorneys We
have just passed fee BILL and the ink OF the signature
OF the President making il law scarcely dry. hope we
are mol now gong TO have additional legislation on the
least will let us have few months to try the new Ia -
II il does not work well, we consider il at the next
Congress and alter it,
Mr. BUTLER This relates only to the salary OF
judges.
Mr. GWIN But the attorneys follow.
Mr. MASON. ] reply TO the senator from Maine
IMr. BRADBURY who has charge OF the amendment,
will say thai bill increase the salary of the Judge of
he western district OF Virginia was reported by his CON-
mttee at the last session well matured then, and
] think il is perfectly right that the amendment 10 The
amendment should pass W.
Mr.. WALKER As understood the amendment
when il was read, thought there was some lack of uni
fomi,y in the compensation 10 be given to judges
therefore think the conversation must have been fixed
by the committee by some very indefinite rule.
Mi BUTLER. twas indefinite.
Mr. WALKER. What that rule was, do not know
Mr. BUTLER The salaries of the State judges.
Mr. WALKER The TACT must be admitted by every
who will look al that provision. that there is most
extraordinary diversity in the compensation given 10 the
Judges The chairman of the Committee on the Judi
ciary Mr. BUTLERl says, in kind OF side bar way
that the rule for fixing the compensation taken from
the States suppose he that the highest salaries
which the States give their Judges is such salary
should be willing 10 allow. That would be very
just rule, 10 for know that The raie OF
compensation fixed in some States may be governed for
the time being BY particular state OF feeling IN regard
10 men, and II will not be regulated by the amount OF
duties be performed the importance of those duties
Read the amendment carefully, and then tell if there
is not the most marked difference IN The rate of The salaries
given TO judges who reside north of given line, and
that given those who reside south OF that line cam
not account for this IL may be that 10 the southern
States the expenses oil living much greater than 10
the northern States that there is necessity Tor giving
the judges higher compensation II that be So II would
be good for the increase OF compensation. But
Tor my own part, can scarcely believe there is much
difference.
can scarcely believe there is much difference be-
poses 10 establish 1t may be there is amount
OF duty TO be performed by The Judge IN the one place
than in The other; but 1t would that there could
scarcely be great difference IL proposed IN the
amendment before the Senate. What has lud Ie
10 do He has give his time the public, and be
do more ii his salary Is increased Tue character oil
the litigation, and the degree OF It's Importance must be
about great in section oil the country, where this
jurisdiction attaches at all, as !, is in another The
cases which fall within the jurisdiction of the
have about the character throughout the United
States. Then, If Judge can but give his Tune, and
give more, II is his duty 10 give the whole OF IL.
why there is such difference in the rates OF
compensation this proposition would create. Much
less any for establishing them upon this
bill We have Just laid aside amendment which
offered to the bill, because had not time 10 discuss IT,
and because II was moved on improper OCCASION and
to an Appropriation bill
Now, If understand lhis distinct bill has been re-
ported from the committee making provision for in
ton offered amendment the civil and diplomatic
appropriation BILL and il must be taken exception to
the general principle, without discussion, and without
looking INTO IL TO the why the discrimination
10 made in the salaries OF judges in the different States
We to take it, and II must be put upon the bill, and
il must 60 10 the county. Ii will produce dissasfsc.
ton. arm perfectly confident that II you will give The
Senate opportunity deliberate and consider and de-
bale this after. uniform system than that pro-
posed by the Committee the Judiciary be adopted
wsh that the proposition before nigh, be adopt
ed Tor perfectly confident that the result OF il would
be that the judges TO whom u - proposed to give the
smaller salaries would complain, and think that all ought
TO be leveled up 10 the highest rate u would be doing
the country great injustice, for you never those
which are fixed too high eveled down.
Mr fEITiT. The salary OF judge cannot be de-