The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-08-28
[From the Cincinnati Gazette.l
Constitutional Convention on Salaries
Comparison Between 1902 and 1879
The Progress of Culpable Luxury

A few days since the Constitutional
Convention at Columbus deliberately
voted that the salary of the Supreme
Judges should be at minimum of S. 900;
it might be as much more as the tegis-
lature chooses. What does the conven-
ton mean? Does it mean that the thou
sands of respectable men of talents and
worth in Ohio can not live respectfully
without S. 600 per annum? Or does it
mean that the members of the Supreme
Court need it more than any other class
of men? A dozen members of the con-
vention testified that the average work
of Judges in Ohio was not $50 days in the
year! They are not called upon for any
official show or entertainment whatever
Did the convention mean to insult thoti-
sands of men who are as able and useful
as themselves? No. 1t was simply a
humiliating confession that they were
guided by the standard of fashion, luxu-
ry, and shoddy. These have established
a certain standard of living and morality,
and the convention had not the moral
courage to resist the false standard of
fashion any more than the Assyrians of
old resisted bowling down to the gods of
wood and stone. In criticising this posi-
ton, we mean no offense to the sensibili-
ties of any man, but the time has come
when somebody should speak the truth,
and we will illustrate it with q little his
! tory. 1t is time for somebody to say that
if the rebellion could not destroy this
government, so neither shall luxury and
shoddyism. This is not political mat
ter. 1t is something which lies behind
all party divisions. 1t is a question of
vitality. 1t is a question whether the re-
public shall live 1t is not matter of
taste or opinion with me. or with any of
| the true friends of republican govern
ment. 1t is a question of life, and to get
a right answer let us reason together l
propose to test the action of the conven-
ton (1) as to the facts; (2) by the action
of the convention of 1902; (3) by the
practice of the fathers; (4) and by the
primary principle of republic
l. As to the facts. Is $1,000 necessary to
live on respectfully in Ohio2 The salary of
a laborer is $3.50 per annum; of well to
do farmer, 81 200; of a first rate book
keeper, ST 800; of q moderate lawyer,
$1,000; of country doctor, 81, 500; of a
Presbyterian clergyman $780, of a popu-
lar literary man, S3000 Now, will any
member of the State convention come
boldly forward and say that neither of all
these classes of people are respectable or
dignifed? Let the convention be polled,
as we poll jury, and let each member
give his testimony. Does it cost him
$4,000 a year to live? Threefourths of
that convention would be delighted to
have half of $1,000 e year. What then,
do they mean? Why, they think it is
popular to bow down to the vanity of
shoddyism, and the insolence of preten-
sion. But we shall see whether it is pop
ular. We mean to try that question.
But as to the facts: The member from
Meigs county (who seemed opposed to
this salary) said that, individually, he
thOnOht If was NO mora than aOOO oh
Well, as Individuality is all there is of any
man, that must be taken as his real opin-
ion. Meigs county has about 10000
people, and is a well to do, prosperous
county. There are 5000 families. Now,
will the member from Meigs be kind
enough to tell me how many of those
5000 families have $1,000 per annum, or
how many need it, or how many will be
made more respectable by such fact?
A member from Hamilton county said
that if you elect Judges for ten years. you
must give them a salary corresponding
to their time and dignity But why elect
them for ten years? Do you believe in
the popular election of the Judges, or do
you not? If you do believe in it, why at
tempt to dodge it by this election for ten
years? The ostrich thinks he is hid
when he puts his head behind his wings.
That won t do in Ohio Four-fifths of the
people of Ohio are too intelligent and too
observing for that. Does any member of
that convention believe for moment
that the dignity of Judge in Ohio de-
pends on how much he eats, drinks, and
wears?
3 Now let US turn from the convention
of 1873 to the convention of 1902 Per-
haps we shall find something which is
alike admonitory and instructive. The
convention assembled on the lst of No
vember, 1902, at the town of Chillicothe
(Ross county,. On the 10Th of Novem-
ber the question of salaries came up, and,
on the question of the Governors salary,
a motion was made to fill the blank with
"t,ceLve hundred dollars" which was reject
ep by vote of thirteen to twenty-one.
/ was then moved that tho blank be
filled with zone thousand" and it was car
red by vote of % to II. Among the
men who changed that vote and fixed
zone thousand dollars" as the highest
salary in the State of Ohio were jeremiah
Morrow. of Warren county, and Thomas
Worthington, of Ross county. Ohio
never had better or more trusted men
than these, and yet they judged that in
1902 81 900 per anuum was high enough
salary for any man. Such was the deci-
sion of the convention of 1902. But what