The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-02
fFor ,he Dispatch.l

RIG SUA1GAfkEy Oke.
Ii was long ago wisely said It clients pay
their attorneys Ike a shoe-blaek, they WI
soon have, only shoe blacks for, their atsori
neys." This may be- equally Wen sara y
judges and other public officials. hoWeyel
fortunate the State may have been IN Sc
curing good judges ut staruing r0tes, W. W.
cannot expect to retain them, or s'pp,yt.use ss,
places on the same terms with materiai t1a
will reflect credit on the State or comhlaho
the confidence of the people. -,
We may be told if they resign others VII
fill their places on the same terms.
The same may be said Of the Governo;
and LEGISLATURE. Doubtless one thousand
men or more could be found on short notice
who regard themselves quite equal TO Lhe
nos;tjon. who would undertake the duties
of Governor or legislator at dollar oay
ond even less. But they would not be those
whom the peopIe had selected for these i'm
nortant stations. If the time shall ever
come (which God forbid y when the pubic
oftices shall he let to the lowest bidder
neither the rights nor the liberties of The
neonle will be worth preserving.
The compensation paid by Virginia to hei
Judiciary is discreditable to the State anc
humiliating to her people.
what is forty or fifty thousand dollars q
| = rreat State in comparison with the pre-
seryation of law and order, peace, sllet
and quiet to every home, and protccsioar h W
life. liberty. and fame to every cltlzcn' in n
v;riuons men whose brains are daly 80 90,
IN SECURE these iDesiimable dement's ~ = 49, ~
,nunitv so accustomed to their clyo, III .nSar
th.t thew do not realize from WnsHee .nI
800 ,ra made 70 live upon WIGS seai ce
n,oro than a day-laborcr in menlai ser' lec'
lloiG lh .,. ti;a s,lpcrinlendenG OF q ma
chine-shop. -. IS . county iulloe to dis.
lne ,i,n iiili,Illt and delicate duties OF his
cH !'ah staiion for $500 per dnnu1n; or, cir.
n 'I;t ;ndr,. to hold the scales Of justice with
gu GU. even hand over the fortunes of 100000
'nonle for - 900, is a reproach to the State.
wiser communities more highly appreciate
such services. In England judges receive
from $4,000 to $4,000 per annum, with a
life tenure. The United States pays her
Judges from $500 to $4,000 Other States
of the Union pay from $4,000 to $4,000.
Texas, with a population of S1S,5T9 (only
two-thirds that Of Virginia), has hirtyjire
circuit Judges, at salaries Of $500 each in
gold,-S122, 500-wblc Der county judges
receive more than our circuit judges. Ten
nessee, with population Of ,23S,52 about
the same as ours has sixteen circuit judges
and twelve chancellors, at $4,000 each-SS4,-
900. California pays her circuit Judges ., 900
and her supreme court judges $1,000. Other
States pay similar salaries. Virginia, with Il
population OF 1925, 1G5 has only sixteen cir
cult judges, at $4,000 each, -S32, O0O-being
800, 800 less than Texas pays, with only two
thirds our population; five supreme court
judges. at $4,000; and about eighty county
Judges at 5000. paid by the counties.
There is not a Virgnian Of proper State
pride who is not made to blush at such q
degradation of the most important depart
ment Of the government.
Let the Legislature restore to the county
courts the trial Of felouics, contested cleo
tons, attachments, detinue, and detainer,
with a right of election to either party to 60
to the circuit court, and pay the judges, at
the least, $500 in addition to their present
compensation: give to the circuit judges
$4,000 and the supreme court judges 81, 0G0
(Which is far below the average rates in other
States), and they will receive and merit the
approval of THE PEOPLE.