The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-05-26
THE PRESS.
Thursday Morning, May 26, 1870.
judicial SalnrIt o.


In speaking of granting pensions topersons
who had filled high stations in civil life, or to
their widows or children, we freely expressed
our opinion adversely to this innovation upon
the practice of our government and people,
and took occasion to signify our regret that
Congress should have passed a law continuing
the payment of large salaries to the judges Oh
the Federal Courts after they had ceaSeo "
render those abors for which these sums ra'e
hitherto been considered a sufficient eq"i."-
lent. We added that we thought tha' '''
quate remuneration ought to be given 1of ser
vices rendered at tie time Of their rend't'o"' |
so that the recipient could properly support |
his family and yearly add little to the sink |
inc fundn which shall constitute his depend |
enc, when flesh and strength fail. TO atiix to |
anv office so small salary that competent
incumbent cannot, with a proper exercise of
Judgment and economy, so provide for the
present and the probable future is disgrace
to the government; but we do not think Con-
gress open TO reproach on this score Ii 5000
to the highest judges and $4,000 to the infe-
riOr be insufficient for the purpose let the sala-
ries be raised to the correct standard; but, he
the amount what it may, let it only be paid
for the length of time during which services
are rendered in return. For the highest and
Oldest public functionary "as well as for the
humblest citizen or Celt who carries the hod
the true republican, democratic principle is "a
fair days work for fair days wages: hon
est and reasonable pay for faithful labor and
nothing where nothing is done. In this, as in
administering the economy of the nation Or of
the Individual, the maxim which John Ran
dolph declared he had found to be " the phi
losopher's stone" ought to be adopted: it is
"pay as you CO." Don't pay next week, nor
next month, nor next year for services rendered
the past week or month or year; don't retire
Judge, or a Senator, or President, to live
in idle luxury upon the same sa airy he receiv-
ed while constantly engaged in the discharge
Of responsible and arduous duties. Every man,
high or low, whatever he may do,-whether
it be to chop wood or chop logic, split rails OF
hairs, make a carriage or drive it's alike en-
titled to receive his wages when he has earn
ed them. To put off the laborer who has
Showed himself worthy of his hire is disgrace
full, either in the national or individual hirer;
but, if the legislators or the laborer's dues be
punctually paid when earned, it is plainly I'M
just toward all the citizens who furnish these
salaries by the sweat of their own bodies to
add anything more as gratuity TO those who
have already had all to which they are Justly
entitled or for which any consideration has
been received.
This indiscriminate continuance of a nav.
ment for services no longer rendered is repre-
hensible also because indiscriminafe: the
gratuity, comes, like the rain and dews of
heaven, alike upon the just and the unjust,
without reference to the manner in which.
during their seat upon the bench, they per-
formed or neglected their official duties and
comes with as little effort as the falling dew
and gentle shower, and doubtless is as re-
freshing to those upon whose happy heads It
descends.
10 the judges of our State Court we do not
believe that suitable salaries are paid. having
in view the consideration of present wants
and future probable needs to which we have
adverted. Compared with their peers at the
bar, with those holding similar positions in
neighboring States, with those giving the
same time, talent, labor and skill to other de-
partments of public business and to private
pursuits and enterprises; in every light, we
think those who serve us npon the bench in
adequately compensated. There has not
been that increase OF salary which the de-
probation OF our currency, the rapid produc-
ton Of the precious metals, the growing
wealth OF the country and the more rapidly
growing demands of times would justify, and
which they require. Add to this the neces-
sity for keeping the judiciary honored and re-
spected by the community, TO which end a
provision was inserted in the original Con-
stitution of Massachusetts and has ever since
been retained that they should have "hona-
DIE" salaries, which no legislature can
diminish and rejecting that man must
not only be capable, honest, just and
fearless thus to retain honor and respect, but
must also conform to all "the linen decencies
OF society;" must while upon the circuits stop
at the hotels patronzed by those leaders of
the bar who derive large incomes from their
professions; and at the same time must keep
up a respectable home establishment; must
encourage by the expenditure of time and
effort and money the public and business en-
terprises of the community; and is called
upon to incur these heavy expenses on &C
count of his serving the State in an honora-
bic and responsible position; the legitimate
duties of which are delicate, arduous and
consuming beyond the belef-ef n,vor citi-
zens; we shall sAA-Isrut the lowest sum at
WITCH competetent men (who are more am
bilious of honor than of wealth and the bet
ter suited for the bench because they are not
mercenary and therefore not venaI) can he
induced to assume the dignity that doth hedge
about Judge is not the proper measure of
compensation to be given to those who faith
fully discharge such labors as we, with our
single court for the trial OF all jury causes
sand decision of all questions of law and
equity, impose upon the justices of our Su-
preme Judicial Court