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

with the senator from Florida Mr. MALLoRYl that ii
anything 10 DC done We should take The report oil oe
committee as II u.s. Otherwise, | shall move TO amend
for think hat great injustice In the report Isl that
falls short relation To the compensation which should
De paid 70 The district Judge ~ LOUISIANA His business
-cal port but great portion OF The business OF The
valley OF the Mississippi Is in that court Our Judges OF
the State district courts receive 900 the chief justice
receives salary OF IS, and th3 Judge OF the SUI
preme court receives 80 600 shall not object to the
amount given because know II is better to have hall
LOAF rather than no bread. wish, however TO have
slight verbal amendment made IN the clause which re-.
laes the district OF Louisiana The salary OF the dis
lric, Judge is named for the district OF Louisiana II
is indefinite as there are two districts hope. there
fore, il will be amended to make II the eastern district.
The PRESIDING OFFICER That will be done If
there is no objection.
No objection being made, the amendment of the com
mltiee was modified accordingly.
Mr.. MASON. II the Senate will listen to mo.
men will state that here is bill which passed this
body at the last session. II was reported IRON the Com
mtee the judiciary, taking the western district OF
Virginia as an excepted case. IL was mauted in that
committee discussed IN this body, and passed here, Civ
ing that judge salary OF W $780, and good there
was for giving IT, submit 10 the Senate, when the pur
pose OF the committee enlarge certain salaries,
whether il will be right to make this OMISSIONS II was
bare omission OF the committee IN reporting the amend
ment.
Mr. HALE | would ask the senator from Virginia
what is the utls of that bill happen to recolect how
Mr. MASON. 1t is s'an act TO change the time for
holiog the courts OF the district and circuit courts in
the wese'H Ssre, Of Virginia and for Other purposes"
Mr. WALKER. | was not aware that based my OBJ.
lection 10 The amendment upon sectional grounds
called the attention OF the Senate to the fact that there
seemed to be a preponierance ia favor OF high sala
res The southern States over those in the northern
Bat there may be. said before, reasons for IT. 1t
may be that the means OF living more expensive in
the South or that The Judges have greater dulles TO per-
form there But mentioned nat II struck me Az PEE
cuiarly IN the arrange nent OF the salaries.
bnt IN reply 10 the from Georgia, MR. CHARL
TOM will ask him il he expects really TO the
OF in these Judge by increasing the amount
otpay! may induce men, possessing greater amount
OF talent Than the present ncunben,s have. 10 present
themselves for The station when the present ncumbens
are oft he stage Bat do not believe great al
ways supennduced by the amount OF the pecunarS con.
sidera,ion which you offer In point OF fact, at the
present rale OF the salaries they do nothing than
their duty. And il they do in instances neglect
their duty and become Inefficient in the public service, OF
they are not well informed there is mode OF getting
rid OF them They can be mpeachei. do not see tina,
the argument is well taken that must order TO OBJ
tain greater efficiency in the occupants OF the bench, give
them greater amount OF pay cannot sympahize with
that idea.
But TO recur TO another objection which made it is
that the amendment is offered upon this bill was one
OF those who We're anxious TO vote the question OF
abollshng the duties railroad iron. But the argument
was used that the amendment to that effect intro
duced in improper place, and had so down. There
are various other propositions which should be glad 10
adopted but the Senate to have decided ihal
we not to take up these incoAgruous subjects and
have them acted upon on this bill When we look al
the lack OF uniformity IN the salaries proposed to be
given By the amendment and when we consider the
scany materials before the committee which they could
act upon we cannot seems to me- act upon this amend
meni without mature consideration Of the interests
involved than we can now give to this subject
MIR. PETIT. shall vote for the highest rate OF
compensation which the amendment proposes. | have
held that the greatest that betell free people
is an attempt TO starve their salaried officers TO death.
There is nothing that renders Inefficient de-
pendent, and so worthless for their posts The honorable
senator from Wisconsin may talk much ne pieases
about increasing not increasing the talents the minds
ot.Iudges by increasing their salaries Sir, perhaps tai
ent or mind or ils activity capacity 10 act, consists
more IN the examination OF books. and in learning and
studying the principles contained in them than does in
native or original organization And you give Judge
liberal salary, he will be al least able 10 expend few
dollars Tor books TO read, which may carry him
with the progress OF the science that he Is necessarily
compelled TO administer Many OF the judges, oUly
OF the United States courts, but still more OF the State
courts, compelled almost TO hoe the gonnd, 10 plough
and cultivate The SOIL 10 obtain the means OF living in
comfort. Or they are compelled 10 do as ! once heard
OF governor OF Rhode Island being Obliged TO do. he
had so small salary that he compelled TO keep
few and peddle the milk in the city OF Providence in
order TO make a living
Sir pay your officers literally There are two rea.
for IL In the first place, that you may get compe
tent, well qualified men that the best n the State
may be induced 10 take the position. And in the next
place. that they may feel disposed TO give due activity
and Their entire time 10 the discharge OF the duties Of their
othce or IN the Improvement oil their minds IN order TO
hi them Tor the discharge OF them and that they may
meni, and 10 put them above the necessity OF seeking
by any lndecion Tor other compensation. OF all the
wrongs and all the msees and all the frauds nine out
OF ten IN my Judgment that have belalen
Try which has sought to establish and maintain free in
shtuous have resulted from this beggary penury in pay
ing its public servants
Allow me 10 notice a fact that occurred in my
State In the Stale OF Indiana the district Judge paid
salary OF fifteen hundred dollars year, and within my
memory gentleman who rendered the office refused
TO accept it, He of the highest order OF intel
lect and capacity.
Mr.. RUSk Name him.
Mr.. PETIT. | will name him His was Charles
Dewey, cousin OF The Rev 0fvills, Dewey known to
all OF you He refused to accept the udseship because
the salary inadequate Senators here
for him, and be absolutely refused to accept IT, That
the situation OF the | not acquainted with the
difference IN The salaries given TO northern and southern
Judges am not quite clear in my mind that there is not
an unreasonable dlscrlmD alton believe that IeDnes
Is interior Stale well Indiana and that she
the Judge OF The one west Of the mountains which Is
interior district entirely where there be scarcely
business IRON Without receives greater salary than the
district Judge in OHIO, Indiana, or Illinois
am not quite satisfied because Judge lives IN a mar
ltimc district, or on the seacoss that he will have
labor TO perform. The district attorney may have much
more to do but the Judge may not Ii does not follow
that the Judges have the docket,
labor to perform tnan the judges who reside IN the nie
rior, and preside the Interior courts Is true that
have not business 10 the extent IN Ohio Indiana
and Illinois, yet have some ofu We have the bust
OF the government and IN the next place. added TO
that 1t IA used almost exclusive or To great extent as
a collecting court Tor Boston, New York; Philadelphia,
Baltimore, and all The maritime and commercial clues OF
the East. They send their elaine against the western
merchants for collection TO the West. and that court "a
resoried 10, and doubt-thougb not prepared to
from my knowledge OF the fact-wbether the number