New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-19
COOL.

The times are VIGOROUSLY hard, and avery
large proportion of our people are barely able,
with the most stringent economy, to get bread.
From extensive inquiry and observation, we ess-
mate that the entire landless free population OF
the United States will be obliged tolabor through
the year 1855 for about three-fourtAs OF the
wages they averaged through the three preceding
years, while the cost of the necessities Of life is
scarcely, if at all, reduced. And unless some de-
cided change is soon wrought in our National
Pohcy-for which we see little reason to hope
the prospect for employment in 1856 is no better
than for 1855.
These, then, are times in which the Poor are
compelled 10 practice economy Of which the
Government which they sustain ought to set them
an example. Its resources ought to be SO hus-
banded, 80 expended, as TO give the largest en-
ployment to Labor and the amples. relief to Suf-
fesng. If the Annual Expenditures for Army,
Navy, Salaries, &c, could be reduced to the
lowest figure, and the surplus devoted to some
great work of permanent benefcence like the Pa
cifc Railroad, a very sensible improvement would
be wrought in the condition Of the Laboring Class
generally.
Our telegraphic record of last Thursdays
proceedings in Congress (senate) contains the
following:
"Mr. Toucey introduced bill to increase the sala-
ries OF the Judges Of the Supreme Court which was
passed by 80 Yeas to Is Nays
This is cool, comprehensive, business like. To
what extent Mr. Toucey saw fit to have the sal.-
ries OF those Judges increased, who agreed with
and who opposed him, &c, &C., our teleeraphic
reporter appears to have considered as of no sort
ofcopsequence. But it does not satisfy us, 90 we
turn to the oficial report in The National IateI-
tgenetr, and read as follows:
On motion of Mr.. Toucey, the Senate proceeded to
Judges Of the the IMP S q,
and il was read third time r-..sd by the follow.
ing vote
frAs- Me.r. Allen, Badger. Bsy.rd. Bell Benl.nn-
Brisht, BOdhesd Gas. Clay Cooper Dawson Dodge q Wiz,
Jones Of Tennessee Mallory Mason, Morton P-.ree Petit,
Pl.,t Ru.t Thomson Of jersey TOucsy, Walker and
EASs-M.,u, Br.nerd. Douglas, Fs"enden Fitzpatrick,
Summer, Thompson Of kentucky Wade, ana wi.on-i5
This bill applies only to the Judges of the Supreme
Court.
The report of The Union 10 not materially diff
ferent from the above giving US no clue to the
amount Of the enhanced salaries, nor any othar
feature of the bll-save only that it increases
the salaries already paid, which are $4,000 to
the Chief Justice, and s., 500 zach 10 his eight
Associates.
All these men have a life estate In their Of
fees and certainly their Official labor is not eI-
cessiye. None of them is required or eXpe,ted
to entertain because of his position, Gas Cabi-
net Minister or Governor ISL nor to live in an
expensive place, like either Of the great cities.
In short, there is no reason for raising their sal
aries to 1000 which would not be better rea-
son for increasing those Of the Secretaries of
State and the Treasury to $4,000, and that of
our Governor OF Minister to London to $50, 900.
Yet Mr.. Toucey calls up the bill aud the Senate
puts it through-no Senator thinking the sub
ject worth q remark.
Here is synopsis of another bill, of similar
purpOrt, adding So, 500 per annum to the amount
of the annual salaries of the U. S. District Judges
OF this bill, Washington correspondent says
Mr.. PARKER, of Indiana, is entitled to the credit