Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-04-23
Judges' Salaries.


To the Editor of the Ledger:
wish to bring to the notice OF the
Legislature of the State OF Tennessee,
through the medium of the press, the I'M
portance of enacting a law fixing the
Salaries of the Judges Of the Supreme
and Inferior Courts of the State at sum
adequate to the necessities OF the lncum-
bents of said Offices.
The elections for Judges in some por-
tons of the State occur on the 10Th day
Of Nav. 1870. and throughout the other
portions of the State ON the last Thurs
day in August. 1870, all for the consti-
tutional term of eight years Both the
old and the new Constitution OF the State
of Tennessee expressly provide that the
compensation of said Judges for their
services shall not be increased or dimin-
ished during the time for which they are
elected; also, that they shall not be al
lowed any fees or perquisites OF office,
nor hold any office of trust or profit I'M
der the State or the United States.
Every intellige 1t person will agree
with me that the Judges of the State
should be paid comp ensation that would
defray the reasonable expensesot them
selves and families, SO as to enable them
10 live in such style as would not re-
feet discredit upon the position.
Every intelligent person will agree with
me that the expenses of living are much
greater since than before the late civil
war: and the labors of the Judges are
much more onerous, and the response
bilities much heavier. since than before
the late civil war.
Every intelligent person will agree with
nae that the mind of Judge should not
be disturbed and diverted by pecuniary
embarrassments incident to the support
&c himself and family, and the Judge,
above every other officer, should be en-
abled to stand aloot from and independ-
ent of the pecuniary assistance OF any
and everybody. =,
Eyery Intelligent person viii agree
with me that judges should be elected
who have devoted years to the study ana
the practice of the law and that usually
they must abandon q lucrative practice
when they 90 on the bench.
The Judges of the Supreme Court are
necessarily absent from home almost
tils whole time, and Of course they are
deprived OF the comforts of home-life,
and their families deprived OF the society
of the husband and father; aadthe per
sonal interest of said Judges must suffer.
Of course Judges are at expense in travel
ing 70 and from the respective places OF
holding the G1nrts, and in boarding dur
ing the sessions Of the Court, Of course
said Court should be composed of ripe
scholars and renowned lawyers.
The present Legislature is composed
of a great deal Of intelligence. Some of
rs members are lawyers; they know
that ths eeHpensation fixed by law,
when a Judge goes iptq office, cannot be
increased by tie Legislature afiergard,
and that Judge Of an interioe court
cannot, under the Constitution, accept
Of additional compensation from the
ConatF Court any more than he could
from the Legislature; and that the dis
cretionary power conferred bg the Legs
lature on County Courts to pay Traditional
compensation to a Judge, not exceeding
$1,000, when that power is exercised in
behalf of 3 dRdge after he goes into
Office Is violation of the Constitution.
hope the Legislature, as soon IS it
meets in the month of May, will increase
the salaries Of the Judges Of the inferior
courts to at least the sum Of $4,000, and
repeal the laws comforting power on the
County Courts in reference to paying
Judges additional compensation, and
that il will increase the salary of the
Judges Of the Sugreme eoeff TO at least
$1,000.
| believe action in reference 10 this
matter is necessary, in order to secure
the first talent Of the bar and the proper
discbarge of the duties Of the offices.
/ hope thai every newspaper in the State
will, before the ihessiag Of the Legisla-
ture in the month Of May, disease the
subject of the salary Of Judges, and
assist TO effect the purpose for which this
article is written. W. p. W