New-York tribune., 1871-01-16
XLYsT CONGRESS-SD SESSION.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

After an Intellectual attempt by Mr.. CUL-
LON Rep. I) to have day assigned fer the business
OF the Committee Territories, and concurrence IN
Senate amendment to the bill for the restoration OF capt
lynch to the active list Of the Navy large number OF
bills for the relief OF individuals and other purposes VI
few new bis were then introduced. among them one
for the establishment of mall steamship service 10 Aus
tralia. . ,-o, MY,
The House then went into Committee of the Whole 10
consider the Legislative Executive and Judicial Appro
MT ARMSTRONG Rep Penny moved to. make the
salary OF e Chief Justice OF the Supreme Court OF the
United <050O instead of $500 and OF each OF the
M Ella rep, \. H made the point Of order that
the amendment proposed to change an existing law anu
was, therefore, not in order. Inc Chairman o'erfueu
Nv Mr. HALE rep, Me- moved to make the salary Of
III ChefJustce $500 and Of the Associates or retired
Mr.. Potter Dem, N " opposed Mr. Hae's amend
said that the salaries attached TO those offices in lIs9
g. 500 the ChefJustiee and 5000 Tor the Assoclae
Justices-was more nearly equivalent III purchasing
power to $4,000 year now than to the sums Indicated
In the amendment OF the gentleman from Pennsyysna'
Those salaries increased In 1855 to $500 ana D
which was equal purchasing power TO $4,000 now He
conrasted the liberal policy OF the Engsn Government
mony practced by the United States Government.
Mr. DAWES Qsep., Mass was satisfied tlat tne time
had come when il not only proper but apsoutely
necessary increase the compensation on the Judges o
the Supreme Court The only question Was as & 70 te sun
tion the provision Of life pension Tor te JUDGES hou
not be lost sight Of He believed that e Present M
nensatiOn should be increased by 5000 year. ana ne
would therefore, support the amendment offered py MI
Hale. ,. , /, ,ou. %, .ho ar,onsnart
which he had offered as being fair and proper one
Mr.. Ella inquired whether this was proper time 70
enter ON the system OF increasing salaries when all
branches of business were depressed, and when the
people already overaxed As to the necessity OF
such increase account OF the Increase IN the cost OF
living the was the fact The expenses OF living
had decreased than so per cent within the last two
Mr. JEYCKEs Rep., r. H. supported the amendment
offered by Mr.. Armstrong contendmg that the upright
Judge was the poor mans counsel and therefore 1t was
10 lie interest OF taxpayers to have the Judge literally
compensated n, ~
Mr HOAR CRep, Mass.) argued on the same side. He
-aid that when the abes members OF the Bar entered
an English courtroom they found themselves IN the
Dreseuce OF intellectual superior The Judge brought
to the determination OF the case weight OF learning
and intellectual power which nothing at The bar could
match On the contrary, tie policy which prevailed In
TOO many the American states had brought about that
saddest OF all speCtacles-justice administered by
ioebe Judge in the presence OF able and powerful advo
Gates The Supreme Court Of the United States was in
dignity and importance. and as scarce OF national
the face OF the earth. To IL brought sovereign
states as plaintiffs or defendants. 1t was a tribunal
which in the last resort decided grave constitutional
questions on which the political rights OF the people
we're to depend and yet those Judges accorded
attoriiey in IA rural district in an interior state.
Mr. KELSEY (ep., \. " warned the House that II II
prepare, TO say there shouldbe nonet could not close
thehooL gates; Il would be compelled to go into gen
era raising OF salaries OF all the employees of the Govern
ment The Of judicial salaries, II made, should
be made in special BILL not III general appropriation
bill
Mr. BECK Dem, Kyl favored the amendment pro
posed by Mr. Hale. Cabinet officers were now paid
$OOO year they began with about the same salaries az
the Judges, but were gradually raised ~ that sum
Mr. BINGHAM (Rep., 0hio) suggested that the gentle
man from Pennsylvania Mr. Armstrong; should accept
the amendment offered by Mr.. Hale, although n the
matter were left To himself he would vote the larger
sum- would then be- satisfied that he had voted nc
than due TO the Court Itself and to the people
behind the Court. =,
MIR BUTLER rep. Mass) said he would vote for the
larger proposed and argued that III proportion 70
the prices OF the country Of the two periods
the first salary ixed for the judges wss much more no
erl than that now proposed. Tue debate further
continued by Mr. POTTER OF New-York In favor OF the
sonri Ella of New Hampshire, and BENTON OF New
Hampshire against it. 80
Mr. ARMSTRONG, in conformity with snggesiehs
Hale instead of his The amendment Was aaoPteu
fixing the salary Of the ChieiJusce al ss snd OF sne
and retired Justices at 5000 each The Com
then rose leaving two pages OF the Dill uhnnshcu
and the House at "a O'Clock adjourned.