Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-02-12
NO.. Al.
MINE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.
Tuesday, Feb. IL.

On motion of Mr.. Thomas of Cumberland,
the House bill relating to Bowdoin Alumni,
was taken from the table, took its several
readings and passed to be engrossed. This
act provides that the Alumni Association may
convey its Memorial building to the College
authorities.
On motion of Mr.. VINToN of Cumberland,
the Senate reconsidered the vote whereby it
adopted, in concurrence with the House, or
der relating to furnishing Haynesvile with
Maine Reports, and voted to non-concur
with the action of the House. Then on mo-
ton of Mr.. Patten Of Pcnobscot, the order
was indefinitely postponed
On motion of Mr.. BRApFoRp of Washing
ton, pending their engrossment bill an act to
incorporate the Union Accident Insurance
Co; also bill an act to amend chap. ls5 of
| the public laws of 1877, relating to life insur-
ance, were laid on the table.
The resolve in favor of Alfred Veazie came
before the Senate on its engrossment and was
considered at some length. II finally passed
to he engrossed.
The resolve in favor ofMrs Ellbert Michaud
came before the Senate to be engrossed and
caused lengthy debate. 1t was finally indeH
nitely postponed, on motion of Mr.. PATrEN Of
| Penobscot.
| On motion of Mr.. Atwell of PenObscOt the
Senate voted to meet in the morning at
o'clock.
! On motion of Mr.. ROGERS of Sagadahoc,
Ordered That the Secretary of State fur
nish the Legislature with thenumber of clerks
now employed by him, their names stations
and pay. Also, by what authority he so en-
ploys.
On motion of Mr.. MORRISON of Franklin,
the salary bill was taken from the table.
The amendment of the House, which is as
follows whenever there shall be a vacancy
in the Office of a Judge of the Supreme Judi
cial Court, by death, resignation, or other
wise, there shall be no appointment to FIJI the
same, but the number of Judges of said court
shall thereafter be limited to seven," was
adopted.
Mr.. MORRISON then presented an amend
ment so that the Judges should receive $1,000
each, instead of $4,000 provided in the
House bill.
Mr.. PArTEN of Penobscot, suggested that
the bill if passed would not affect the present
Judges.
! Mr.. MORRISON said that he saw DISPOSE
tion in the Senate to take measures from the
House and push them through hastily; in
the language of the Senator from Waldo
to pass them without skip OF break. The
Senate should be check upon the House,
and he not inclined to accept everything
from that branch as law and gospel. The
House may make mistakes, and has made u
great one in fixing the salaries of the Judges
of the Supreme Judicial Court He believed
in economy which was bounded BY reason
lie was aware Of the poverty of the State
and the burdened condition of the people, but
he should argue against cutting down the
salaries of the Judges, because he believed
the people could not afford to have cheap JUS
tice. 1t was easy to find men able and will
ing to act in the lower courts and in the Of
fees of the State at reduced pay, but it was
more difficult to find persons qualified to sit
upon the Supreme bench. Such ability was
scarce in the market. and when found such
compensation must be given will induce
the person TO leave his practice and perform
the duties of Judge Probably every Judge
upon the bench could make more in practice
than he receives as a salary. He understood
that the last Judge appointed received a year
before $1,000 for services upon two cases. If
the salary was reduced as much as proposed,
second and third class lawyers would be ap-
pointed, and then Justice would take wings
and fly away. 1t would not pay to institute
this kind of reform. After compliment
ing the high standing of the Judiciary of
the State, he went on to call attention to the
salaries received by the Judges in other New
| England States. The area of Connecticut is
small compared with that of Maine and its
population is less. but the Supreme Judges
receive $1,000 each. Massachusetts has q
very small area comparatively, though its
population is more, and there the Chief JUS
tice is paid Sc, 800 and Associates 81, 900 each.
New Hampshire is not much larger than
Aroostook county, while the population is
only one-half that of our State, and there the
| Chief Justice has salary of S2i00. No
complaint comes from that State of the large
ness of the pay. Think of the size and pop
ulation of Vermont, but that State pays $500
to the Supreme Judges. Rhode Island we
have a half dozen counties that could cover
her up from one end to the other. In this
little State the Chief Justice is salaried at
| $500 and the other Judge at $1,000. IfRhode
Island can pay such salaries without COM
plant can.
Our Judges rank we'll with those of any State
The business of the courts is more than it was
formerly, for it is well settled fact that the
older State grows the greater will be its law
business. In new State, its inhabitants have
not the time to 20 to law, for they are engaged
in other pursuits. Maine does not want
cheap justice, but demands those men for the
bench who will act fairly and honestly. BY
passing bill reducing the salaries of our
Justices a great wrong will be done.
Mr.. VNToS of Cumberland, said that he
did not intend to discuss the merits of the
question. whether $4,000 or some other sum
should be paid the Judges. He wished to say
a single word upon the comparisons which
had been instituted between Maine and other
States. They were not fair. There was no
Just basis for such comparison. Maine pays
its Justices more than New Hampshire or
Vermont, for it not fair to say that New
Hampshire pays S2400 and Maine 5000
This salary may be reduced in New Hamp-
shire. 1t is reasonable to suppose that Mas
sachusetts will cut down its salaries. The
State of New Hampshire the only State
to fairly compare Maine with. The South
and West find resources utterly unknown TO
this State. 1t was not fair to say that Con-
necticut little State. Its resources do
not come from the SOIL but it is a manufac-
turing State, and it was almost as easy 10
gain $40 there 81 in Maine. There was
nothing in Maine like the vast interests car
ried on in Massachusetts. laundering was
once carried on here but it is now gone. So
it is with the fishing interest almost as we'll.
Our resources must be dug from the hardest
and most austere soil. Money has to be OBJ
tained in the hardest way. We must be fru-
gal. Other States have more money and