Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-03


bill exciting discussion, it was laid on the ia
Bile under the rule.
Bill an act to authorize Horace Cole to nav
igate Pennessawassee lake by steam, on its
passage to be engrossed was laid on the table
on motion of Mr.. HARRINGTON.
The House proceeded to consider the salary
bill, under discussion when the House adj
journed yesterday, the question being on the
amendment to lop off one judge when his term
shall expire and retain the salary at its pres
ent figure, $1,000.
Mr.. WALLACE of Belfast, moved to amend
the amendment, so that the salary shall be
$1,000. He appreciated the arguments that
had been made in relation to the dignity and
efficiency of our judiciary. and he would do
nothing by his vote to impair it. He thought
that in view of the two Superior courts and
the enlarged jurisdiction municipal courts
have, that seven supreme judges would be
sufficient for the work. He next compared
the salary with the past, the price of living
now with the past, and claimed that with the
shrinkage in the prices of the necessaries OF
life and in everything of value, 4 salary of
$1,000 was sufficient.
Mr.. HUTCHINSON of Lewiston, considered
the matter of greater importance than any
other subject to come before the legislature.
The competency and honesty of our Judges
whether n stumbling block shall be thrown.
He gave statement of the large amount OF
work they are required to perform, and re-
ferred TO the vast interests that are being
intrusted to their adjudication. Ought the
legislature to do anything that will impair the
efficiency of this tribunal? He had no doubt
that there would be plenty of applicants if
the salary was reduced even to $780, bu.
God save us from the applicants if
they should be appointed to the po-
stion. With poor, cramped, paupcr
lied judiciary, what must the result be?
If there must be reduction he desired that
it should be a reduction of quantity no. OF
quality. He was opposed to the amendment
of the gentleman from Belfast (Wallace).
If there was change to be made he preferred
that change suggested by the amendment OF
the gentleman from Thomaston (Wilson).
Mr.. IVES of Castine had great respect for
the committee reporting the bill and he had
generally voted for their resolves. But he
could not vote to redeem the salaries of our
supreme judges, the highest court in the
State.
Mr.. PIcKARD of Bangor, read letter from
q constituent, stating among other things that
if the legislature broke down on the salary
bill they must take the consequences.
Mr.. IoUSG of Brunswick said if deposit
tons were in order, he would read short
one. 1t was from gentleman " no said,
"protect the judiciary by all means" As a
citizen Of the State, somewhat interested in
business, he desired to have such 4 salary paid
as shall protect us from undue nflut nee on the
part of parties who are opposed to US in court
Mr.. SrAuLDING of Richmond, replied To
some Of the propositions advanced by the
gentleman from Bangor Brown Yesterday
Mr.. HAYES of Vassalboro', did not wish to
go home to his constituents and say he had
not as good an opinion of our judges as he
had of the agents of our wooden mills. He
knew of wooden mill agents that lad received
81 600 year, and one that received So, 600
Mr.. LAMsoN of Freedom, made an earnest
argument in favor of the bill as reported.
claiming that $1,000 was a fair equivalent fot
the services rendered, when compared with tn,
increased purchasing power of money.
We find ourselves, as a State, in deb,
over Ave millions of dollars. and three
fourths Of all the inhabitants in debt He re-
spected our judiciary. But in our present
financial condition he did not think it any in
justice to ask them to come down some where
on an equal footing with others in the matter
of salaries.
Mr.. Brown of Bangor. closed the debate
on the amendment. He spoke of the causes
that led to the increase in the salaries, and of
the Strengthened circumstances of the people
now. The pay of all had dropped, and why
should judges be an exception? He wished
that we were rich as as a State and could
branch out and make show. But we must
cut our garments according to the CLOTH
All are exercising economy. $4,000 to day
| he claimed to be better than $1,000 in 1872
The amendment offered by Mr.. WALLACE to
| the amendment was then re. ected by vote OF
~ to g..
Mr.. PICKARD of Bangor then moved to
amend the amendment so (; s to make the sal
airy $1,000.
| Mr.. WILSON of Thomaston said that as he
might not be understood, he would repeat
what he stated yesterday. lie proposed BY
his amendment to reduce the supreme judges
| from eight to seven at this time, and thereby
save $1,000 yearly. And when the term of
| another expired, unless he (Wilson) changed
his mind, he would be in favor of reducing to
six, and then as the third was approached, TO
| five. He would leave it at five, and he would
have them educate the bars up to the prac-
tice of trying their cases without so much de-
| lay, and not consume whole week without a
single jury trial.
Mr.. PICKARD moved the yeas and NAYS on
his amendment, which the House refused, 20
| to 82.
| Mr.. PICKARD's amendment was then adopt
| ed by a vote of 62 to 43.
The amendment of Mr.. WILSON as amend
ed on motion of Mr.. PIcKARD, was then
| adopted by vote Of 70 to l6.
On motion of Mr.. DANA of Portland, the
House adjourned to meet on Monday at 10
p. M.
CORRECTION In the remarks of Mr. Wilson yester-
day he was err.neuosy reported as saying that our
Judges were increased from three to eight. His
statement was that they increased from six 10
eight. His amendment reducing the salary of the
warden Of the State Prison adopted instead of
being rejected REPORTER.
READ AND ASSIGNED
Bill an act to amend chap. 63 of the public
laws of 1873, relating to the Maine Industrial
School for Girls an act relating to crimes
formerly capital; an act to amend sec of
chap. l24 of the revised statutes; an act re-
lating to the testimony of persons accused of
| crime; an act to amend chap. Is of the revised
statutes relating to ways.
PASSED TO DE ENGROssRD.
An act to amend the charter of the Wassa-
taquoik Dam Co. an act to incorporate the
AndrOscoggin Telegraph Co. A.; an act to pro-
vide for the distribution of stationery to the
members Of the legislature.