Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-03-13
JUDGES SALARIES.

The Tennessee Legislature seems
disposed to adopt a general system OF
retrenehment and reform. Several
bills have been introduced for this pur-
pose but the proposition to reduce the
salaries of our judges we regard as un-
just and unwise We believe reduc-
tion will force most of the judges of
the State to resign, and the result will
Oe the selection of incompetent men,
and thus increase litigation and expen-
ses. 1t is, in the end, economy to the
State to pay such salaries to ourjudges
as will command the best talent in. the
State. The salaries received atpresent
by our judges are niggardly, barely
sufficient to afford decent living. The
costs OF living and values of all kinds,
have greatly increased, and wages of
all kinds have advanced since the time
when the salary of Judge was estab-
llshed. Business of allthe courts has
greatly increased, and the labors
of a judge are greater than formerly.
With the present salary judge lives
to exc out bare existence. With in
creased labor and responsibility it
would be unjust and unwise to force
them to resign. There is no branch Of
business, however humble, that does
not afford better pay than is received
by our judges, on whom depends more
of the safety, security and prosperity,
as we'll as the well-being of society,
than all others combined. 1t is said
that judges are paid in honor, but hon
or will not feed them and their fami-
lies, who need food, fuel, and clothing
as other people. And if 1T be an honor
to occupy such stations, as it certainly
is, why should the poor be excluded
from sharing it? Why adhere to a
rate of remuneration which none but
the rich can afford to accept? Shall
this honor be kept exclusively for the
rich? Mr.. Delano, the Secretary Of
the Interior, estimates that two mil
lions in 1870 were but equal tOone mil
lion, two hundred and slxty-six thou
sand in 1860. How is it possible that
judges can support themselves and
their families on less salary than they
now receive when it costs double the
amount to live now that it required
fourteen years ago, when they received
nearl y the same salary now allowed?
There is no employment, requiring an
equal amount of labor, learning, expe-
rience, energy, character, integrity and
expenditure of mind and muscle, so
poorly paid as our judges. A redue-
tion of their present salaries will pro-
duce vacancies, confusion, incompetent
cy, and instead of promoting economy
would increase the burdens of the
State. The retrenchment proposed by
reducing the salaries ofour judges does
not mean economy. 1t will force men
of ability to resign and to commence
the practice of law, where there is no
responsibility, and where the compen-
sation is adequate to the support of
themselves and their families. Many
of those clamoring for the reduction of
the salaries paid our judges would not
serve in any capacity for the amount
paid them. The remuneration of our
judges will not compare with the sala-
ries paid to the officers of our banks,
civil engineers, and railroad superin-
tendents, where the work is certainly
not more onerOus or responsible than
that. performed by our judges, and GER
tainly require as much talent and time
to prepare for a judgship as for any of
the above named positiOns.-Memphis
Appeal.