New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-12
THE JUDGES, SALARIES.

THE JUDGES SALARIES.
We regret to see that the Judges have at last
entered the career Of extravaganza pursued for
many years by the City Councils. On the 2Oth
of April last, almost if not quite the last day of
the session, bill was pat through the Legisla-
ture authorizing the Supervisors OF the City and
County of New-York to raise the salaries of the
Judges Of the Superior and Common Pleas
Courts, and of the Surrogate, Recorder and
City Judge. BY whose influence and at whose
request this measure was promoted we do not
know. tits very certain, however, that it was
not generally known that any such move was in
tended, and that the Taxpayers were not con-
suited upon it. The question Of exercising the
right given them by the Legislature comes up
this evening before the Supervisors, and it is
understood that report will be made to raise
all the salaries to SC, 900 year. In the general
rush for the spoils and increase of salaries
which has been going On for years past in the
municipality the Judges, with the exception of
two of the members of the Supreme Court, have
not heretofore participated. They are now to
come into the general move, and become identi-
fed with the other Office. holders.
We regret it. Upon the purity of the Ju-
dietary the interests Of the whole community
depend. 1t is a mistake to suppose that good
men cannot be found to accept Judicial Of
fees at the salaries at present paid. 1t Is not
always money that induces men to take places
on the bench. There are higher considerations
than pay which influence good men. Bad men
however are always ready to accept office for
the sake of "the spoils" 1t is not the salary
of 81, 500 a year which induces Mitchell and
Roosevelt to sit in the Supreme Court As long
as we can get such men for such pay let us keep
them. Raise the salaries and you at once make
them an object for ignorant and perhaps dishon-
est men to reach after. And we all know that
in the struggle for office it is not the pure aud
the good who stand the best chance to succeed
The present Judges accepted office at the
present salaries. If they had not deemed them
adequate, they would not of course have become
candidates for their Offices. 1t cannot be sup
posed that they are in favor of the present
move--much less that they are the authors OF
it. Indeed, We remember well that the late
Recorder refused to accept an increase of salary
when rendered to him. 1t has an ugly look
when judicial officer consents to receive
money, no matter under what guise it is given
to him. 1t is well known that many important
questions are constantly coming before the
Courts in which the interests of persons who
have demands against the City founded on con-
tracts made with the Common Council are to be
passed upon. 1t is very easy to see how the
Judgment may be biased in such cases. Take,
for instance, the case of the Fort Ganseyoort
property. in this case a conveyance of City
property, made by authority of the same body
which is now about to increase the salaries, was
set aside by the Supreme Court, with one of the
Judges sitting, whose salary is fixed by the Con-
stituton at $4,000. There can be little doubt
which way the wishes of the Common Council,
to say nothing of their interests, lay in this mat
ter. Perhaps with another Judge, deriving salary
and appointments from one of the parties TO the
controversy, the result might have been different
Not that We have any doubt of the integrity of
our present Judiciary. Far from it. With
their present salaries they are above suspicion
Who can tell what they will be when the pay is
such as to offer inducements to political hacks
and ofice-seekers to fill their places
But we are told that there is another motive
which is inducing some to favor the present
move, and which has been openly spoken of as a
reason for their favoring the increase A wor-
thy official lately said: "There are three Judges
"to be elected this Fall, and we Zone of the po-
" litical parties meaning) intend to have them.
" Now 60 for this move, because, dye see, we
evil assess the candidates $4,000 apiece to-
"ward the expenses of the election. This will
q" give us 5000 to work with, and with this we
d" can buy the City"
Pure and excellent official! How many votes
do you expect to get for your measure on this
consideration