Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-11-24
sVpGE COLES s.ETTEfS OF REsIG
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al
now thought proper. in view OF The !
business ofthe Court. am prompt
ell TO do this, because of tho made {
qusoy OF the salary TO the support OF
my family. J have, during the last
ten years, or more, been able to meet
my family expenses by the salary and
the earnings | have realized for my
services as professor OF law, editor OF :
Western Jnrist and as editor OF SER
les OF Iowa Reports and other labQrs.
But now the business of the Courthas
so much increased as TO fairly occupy
all the time and capacity of the Judges
and more, and TO render it impractica-
BILE for me to earn anything outside of
the salary: indeed, nv health and
nervous energies have already been
impaired by the undue amount of work
done hitherto.
And, in this connection, | beg leave
to suggest TO YOU, and through you TO
the representatives of the people, the
fact that the salaries of our Judges are
quite too low ; aud if they were raised
TO Just aud proper standard, they |
would, even then, constitute the mer-
est fraction of tho aggregate of our
judicial expenses. The difference in
the amount paid annually to jurors
and witnesses in criminal cases in an
average county having medium
Judge, over what would be required
under athoroughiy competent, prompt
and well paid Judge, would pay the
salary requisite TO command the best
judicial talent of our State. Disguise
it as we may. it is nevertheless true
that. generally, poor aud inadequate
compensation command correspond
ing talent and service, while good and
sufficient salaries command competent
capacity and efficient discharge of
duties, Extended observation and
opportunities for knowing, coupled
/ with mature reflection upon the sub.
/ ject, have convinced me, that it would
be genuine economy as well as man
ifestation of legislative wisdom aud
/ Justice, to increase the salaries of our
1 Circuit aud District Judges to $4,000
and of the Supreme Court Judges to
$4,000, per annum. These are reason
4 able salaries, and while they are less
than are ordinarily earned by our
good lawyers in the practice of their
profession, yet they are generally adj
eauate to the support OF family and
would doubtless secure the best men
for Judges we have in the State. The
saving to the people of the State in
their several counties. by such an in
f crease Of Judicial salaries, and its re.
. suits, am satisfied, would. within q
, short time. exceed by ten fold and
| more. the cost Permit me, also, To
+. suggest that the increased number OF
cases appealed to the Supreme Court
Q as well as their greatly increased i'm
D portance, require some Legislative
+ change in the number of Judges anc
z in the times and places OF holding tina
d court. One Judge should be addet
j, at once: and to avoid confusion in iht
! succession to the Chief Justiceship, hi
G appointment should be as TO fill va
: cancy till January, A, d., 1873, whei
Q his successor. TO be elected in 1875
d will enter upon his duties. Their
n should be but one term each year. am
o that at the Capital, beginning on tn
is first Monday in October, aud confirm
n ing till The third Monday in June, an
h later, ii the business require and q
y Judges so order. The appearance da
10 for the assignment of ell causes, shout
,r be the first Monday of the month fo
&c lowing fifteen davs service of the nc
lg tice OF appeal. On that frat Monds
ny the Court will assign for hearing til
G. causes appealed, such days in the sur
e. ceediDg month as shall DO converter
IN and sufficient for their hearing an
I'd decision, having regard, also, 10 ii
b. localities from whence the appea
ly come and. the convenience of cou'ns
mt therein. The causes appealed aft
~ June and before the first Monday
is September, would, on that day, be 3
ri signed by the clerk, under the dire
st, ton Of The Judges, for hearing and d
nd cision, on tho successive days Of IL
he October following. BY this arrahg
IN, ment, delays in appeals will be avoi,
he ed, and parties and counsel will kho
". for at least thirty days in advance, u
he very day their cause viii be hear
N, and, that it will promptly thereaft
III be decided; tor the Court will on
nd assign and hear cauaeA az fast az ii CT
sip ttifiefrtlf f. ran ~. go :. -
eli And, since this will involve the n
ars ccssity for all the Judges TO rema
eff together during the term, at the Cal
sht tai. where they can always and co
WI vicinity consult aud have the benefit
ny the State Law Library, suppleme
or, (if practically TO the esalaries of the
ant already elected aud who might not
M entitled 10 The new and increased 81
we ary. should be provided as contin
lat ent expense for this dew duty, a su
lily. sufficient TO make all equal. Wi
en- these changes. and such increase ID 1
yer number of badges Of the Suprei
err, Court and their compensation al
W. such added facilities for the c6rei
m, and wise decision of the causes SD
Gle United TO the Court, | am fully p,
ere suaded tina. the character OF its .
N Indications viii be improved. and t
C." iudicial reputation of our Slate c
aid HANGED
err cannot be trie 20 the promptin
M of my own heart, without expressi
ed herein the profound gratitude ] Fl
ted to the people of Iowa, for the dist
en- guished honor they have done n
ial in first asking.Iny appointment TO
ed Office of Judge of the Supreme Cou
est by the Executive, and afterwards
ion giving me two successive nominate
his thereto unanimously and by accIan
ace ton and confirming them at the pol
are each time by near forty thousand n
DIS jority. The grateful rememberar
her of their Kindness and confidence "
BILE ever remsing with me and constitute
stimulent TO the best effort for TIL
interests nthe other and eo-ordin,
But department of jurisprudence TO viii
be | return the Bar. With q c0nscio'
use ness of faithful and earnest efforts
eir discharge my duties as Judge, bc
the wisely and well; nevertheless I a
are also. not unconscious Of, nor withe
not regret, for errors committed. IIopi
not and trusting, however, that, in I
ave whole, my labors on the Bench for
on last twelve years, shall rebound TO I
'les hest interests of the people, and to
yes honor Of our State, and with ASST
Dus ances of abiding gratitude for The I
bat portunity thus to labor and to hon
lay / am very respectfully and truly,
ra- Your obcdicnt servant,
'ols G. c. COLE
; stick t0It.
NV Learn trade. or get into busine
'a ~ aud go al il with determination Il
=, ~ dcfies failure, and YOU viii suceej
~. Don't leave il because hard blows
~ -, to be struck, or disagreeable work
~ ~ be performed. Those who hG
~, ~, worked their way up 10 wealth a
sne usefulness do not belong TO the shi
less and unstable class; and ifyou
" not work while young man, as
old man you will be nothing. Wa
with a viii. and conquer your pre-