The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-08-29

duet aud character for place and posi-
ton. Then, for n judge, or even n man
of approved qualities for the bench, to
have mingled in the caucus or cOnYen-
ton, would have fevolted the public
sense Of decency and pr0prlety.
Now Judges and asp!rants for Judge
ships b0asl Of being jockeys and whip
pprs.in ut the polls aud at conventions.
| am told that lawyers now frequently
"buH" the judge, that is discuss with
him the merits OF the cases, in the tri-
nj of which he must preside. II any
lawyer had 80 approached the "cheapn
Judges, those who were "pnssing rich"
on twelve hundred dollars u year, as
they were forty years ngo, if he had
escaped being kicked from the pres
ence Of such u judge, he would have
received such look as would have
brought silence If not shame. Then
Judges were selected on account of their
probity their dignity aud their learn
ing, not because they had been useful
M party managers, or because by evil
or questionable means they had &C.
quired such fortune rs would enable
them to contribute largely to an cleo
tionecring fund.
While believe that If such offices
as President, members Of Congress, OF
Legislatures, but especially judges, and
many others, were purely honorary,
they would be filed by TAR purer and
ADLER men than they are now, | would
not Withhold from them respectable
maintenance. Further from this, |
would not go. Society owes no more
than this to those who engage in pub
lie service. Men are now constantly
found among Us abandoning every
other prospect in life and engaging all
their faculties and energies in the
race for Office. These men have no
worthy ambition. They seek Office
with the sole view of building up new
fortune OF Of restoring n dilapidated
estate. They crowd out of Office all
who have patriotic desires to serve
their country-all who would willing
~ serve their country without thought
OF gain.
1t is not high salary that tempts the
best and most capable men to desire
place. Although, take him all in all.
but one Washington has lived, there
are many who think as he did on this
subject. There are maay who have
bowels Of compassion for the people,
and who, If they had the means, would
prefer taking support from their pri-
waite fortunes to taking 1t from the
scant subsistence OF those who In real
ity bear all the burdens of the State.
IL Is worthy OF note that II IL the rarest
thing for an official, living upon Il
small salary, to become II defaulter, or
To be guilty of population. On the
other hand, when the salary is suill-
cfntly large to tempt cupidity and
invite competition, there are always
found those who invest In the chances
of the Office. They spend money in
elcctloncering for the party, or best0w
gifts upon the source of power, or upon
those who have influence. They draw
In advance upon the resources of the
office, and often acquire, In the race
for Office, habits of idleness and luxury.
II they succeed IN their object, they
must repay the obligations incurred
and crafty the tastes acquired. Oite /
this requires more than the official in
come however large. The conse-
qucnce Is that career of fraud and
POPULATION is commenced, to end in
public disgrace, unless the party has
stolen enough to buy the verdict of II
legislative committee, or hire the pen
Of reporters and interviewers.
Our Judges have now too little to do,
and are much too largely paid. In
reference TO their lahors don't speak
of the Supreme Judges, who, while they
are migratory, perhaps have arduous
duties TO perform. They should be sta
tionary. There should be but one
place of holding the Supreme Conrt
The state should provide comfortable
homes for the judges Mt that place. and
require them to reside there during
their term of Office. A suitable library
should be provided, with study for
each Judge in the library building.
Every one In the habit Of consulting
authorities knows what an aid flmii-
iaIity even with the location of books
on the shelves must be to an indus
trious and careful judge. Ifthe judges
were stationary they would always
know what authorities were ut hand
without inquiry or search. These are
not small matters. They consume
time aud cause distraction OF thoughts.
IL the Judges were stationary, all the
time lost in travel would be saved.
With thissimple change, recommended
both by economy to the State and to
the judges, they could dispatch twice
the business now performed and do il
better. Their salaries could then be
much diminished, and ii such should
be the case, have no idea that one of
the present judges would resign. III
they did, they could easily be replaced
by better and more competent men, for
no man ever refused u judicial position
on account OF the salary, who was iii
for the place, unless he had a large
family dependent upon his official In
come. Ii II man IL thus encountered,
1t is the result of his own conduct or
and he must accept the
penalty of his own acts. 1t is not for
the State to peovide for the care and
OF an indefinite number
children OF dependents my more than
for depraved or luxurious habits. AS
to supplying Judge, according to the
view of Puhlins, with the means of
hospitality, This is simply absurd. 1t in-
1olues the idea of vnriably salary,
shifting according to the taste of |
the Judge for simplicity or dis
play and splendor. Besides, true hos
pitalty Is inexpensive, but when con-
founded with vulgar ostentation, its
pecuniary requirements are without
limit.
Publius measures the ability of
lawyer by his income from his prac-
lice, and concludes that able men will
not abandon lucrative practice for
ess remuneration on the bench. The
'rt OF "getting on In the worldn Is an
accomplishment that affords u poor
,riterian either of ability or attain
nents. Judged by this criterian, what
a