Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-02-05
Judges Salaries.


have full remuneration for his services
This is but justice, and is in accordance
with the scripture doctrine, the laborer
is worthy of his reward" This rule OF
action holds good in common business
transactions, and the mechanic, artisan,
and day laborcr rcccivs to-day large in
crease of pay, because he can command
better wages than in times past, and Also
because he cannot support family at
present prices of the necessarics OF lie
This is but Justice to the laborer, it is not
generosity or grace, but doing right
Now in the matter of the judges OF this
State. there is good sense, strict justice
and fair dealing i'll increasing their salar-
les. We commend the following article
from the Progressive Age to the attention
of those who have this matter in keeping
1--WE netice that the subject of raising the
salaries of the Judges of the Supreme
Court has been introduced into the lcgis-
laturc The salary of the Judges of our
Supreme Court has always been far be-
low the standard of other States, and is
now entirely inadequate to meet the IN
creased expense of living, travel, taxation
and the high cost of law hooks and other
professional publications necessary for an
intelligent administration of justice
Approaching this inadequacy, members
of the bar and the press of the entire
States. without distinction of party. have
4 Of tlt.,,r
salary. Many of the clerks in the depart
ments at Washington get better pay; while
the heads of bureaus receive Very nearly
twice as much. The expenses of family
have doubled since the present salary was
established +: twenty five hundred dollars
is practically less compensation than
eighteen hundred dollars were at that time.
Wood that then cost S4,50 "A cord fit Tor
the fire, now costs $500. The same may
be said of the price of coal, and almost
every article of family expenditure. That
indispensable article, cotton cloth. 50 eN
tcnsvcly used, has treblcd in price The
price of labor, always slow to advance, has
increased i'll very nearly the same ratio
even the humble wood saver no less than
the skillful mechanic demands double his
former per dicm.
Judges are human, and must have food,
and clothing and books. They, too, have
families TO be supported and cducated.-
They are moreover, appointed at period OF
life when their professional services are
most rcmuncrativc, and they should he
able to lay up something annually for
their future support
But there is higher consideration III
favor of this measure. The compensation
should be large enough to secure the ser
vices of our ablcst lawyers and best men.
The necessity of engaging i'll other pur-
suits to make up the deficiency in their
salary should not be permitted to divert
the attention Of our Judges from their
official duties. The people of the State
have the deepest interest i'll this matter:
they can scarcely oyer-estimate the value
of an upright, Independent and able ju-
dietary. Their lives, liberties, reputation
and estates, Ill greater or less degree,
are in the hands of the Supreme Court.
The tendency of low salaries is gradually
to undermine this bulwark of our liberties
by excluding from the bench all but law
vers Of large wealth or limited qualifcat
ions. Already two judges, Rice and Fox
IIhNt ltSi-Iitupi ACCOUNT vi 'liC iiiditIutt'.
of their salary, and there is reason to be-
lievc that their example may he followed
BY other members of the court.
We. therefore, commend this subject to
the serious and favorable consideration of
the legislature, confident as we are, that
the people of the State desire TO pay the
Judges of their highest court salary
suited to the dignity and Importance Of
their position and to the state of the times
and believing that it is too late i'll the day
for any man or party to make capital by
Withholding this measure of justice from
the Judiciary of our State"