Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-03-26
WILMINGTON, DEL+
Tuesday Afternoon, March 2e.
JUDICIAL sALARIEs-DELAwARE FINAN-
EX-SENATOR sABLsBURY's IHAccURA-

CIES.
Senator saulsbury, in the course Of recent
discussion in the Senate, opposed proposition
to an increase of the salaries Of Judges OF the
U. s. District Courts, to $1,000 per annum. He
said in the first place, ct Judges could be had
for lees and instanoed the fact that Judge Hau
who for forty.iye years sat on the bench in this
District never received more than $500. He
further instanced that the Judges of the State
Courts. in Delaware, received much less than the
salary proposed, though he added that he should
like to see their pay increased.
The comment which naturally suggests itself
on the expression Of these opinions is, that to
object to paying proper salaries to United states
Judges, because the Delaware Judges are under
paid, is unsound, as well as unjust. The fact is
that the salaries of the Chancellor, and Judges
Of the State Courts are pitiful, and would be
altogether insufficient, for their decent main
tenance, we're it not that the gentlemen holding
the positions have private means.
The Senator also urged that in some districts
the business was greater than in others, to which
Mr.. Trumbull answered that his amendment
requiring judges in districts where the business
was light to assist those where it was heavy,
met that difficulty. Mr.. Salisbury, however,
still objected that the Judge Of the Delaware
district, (for instance,) would net understand
maritime questions, arising IN New York, and
hence the transfer plan was impracticable.
To all this, the manifest reply is, that while all
the judges may not be absolutely familiar with
the questions arising in some districts, they are
fit, il they are fit at all for the place they hold,
to give assistance, generally, to each other. And
the instance which Mr.. Salisbury makes to point
his objection is a poor one for Maritime ques-
tions" continually arise in the District of Della
ware, as, considering our situation, it would be
strange if they did not.
The conclusion Of the Senator's remarks, how
ever, was the most remarkable. He could not
close without glorifying the State of Delaware,
which, as its present condition is largely the
work Of his own hands, was substantially glorify
ing himself. He desired that the Senate should
" keep down salaries, and then the Govern
ment, Gust listen y =
"- might be like the State in which
have the honor in part to represent, able to pay
one hundred cents on every dollar Of her public
debt without onerous taxation. This government
is taxing the people Of this whole country yer.
GENEROUSLY for the purpose OF meeting her liabil
ties, while the State which have the honor t.
represent by strict economy, not only in refer
enes to salaries, but in everything else, with
tax rate OF forty cents on the hundred dollar
for county purposes and for the public debt o
the State, Is enabled to meet every obligation
and to-day her bonds will bring their par vau
in any market in this country"
Mr. salisbury ought not to talk such nohsenz
in the United States Senate, or anywhere ava
from Marshy Hope or Bill sapp's Corner. Tn
State Of Delaware is not able to pay one hul
dred cents on every dollar of her public deb
without onerous taxation" and well he know
it. 1t cannot even meet the interest, except |
heavy taxes upon the labor and business of Ne
Castle County. He, doubtless, knows that, toe
for he helped make the law by which they al
imposed. He has no doubt seen how they epel
ate, too, for the printing Office Of which he
ostensible proprietor, printed the report, shoV
ing that, Of that tax, in 1870
New Castle County paid s54, Az
Kent County a. $3.50.
Sussex /" " 1868.
Senator Saulsbury's own county, paying lei
than one-ninth OF the tax and not a cent Of i
probably, coming out of his pocket he FIND
courage to tell the country that there is nothir
Generous" about. it! Patient and public. spiritt
man