The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-02-04
AN UNwIsD PRECEDENT.

| =
-66 not vOting-the Senate bill t" retire
Judge Hunt. Associate Justice OF the
supreme Court Of the United States, ON
a pension Of $lO.0N u year; provided
'.That the said Ward Hunt shall resign
the said office of A~-.n.iate Justice oft
Supreme Court Of the United States
within thirty days after the passage OF
this act" The facts in this case are
thes,: In 1872 Judge Hunt was appoint-
ed Associate Justice Of the Supreme
''ourt OF the United States Ivy Grant.
After serving five or six years the Judge
vas taken sick, and for the past three
years has hecn unable to perform any Of
his official duties, but during the same
period Of time he has lcen drawing
regularly his salary Of $l0.NN a year.
Under the existing law the Judges are
allowed Il pension Of $lO, 900 n year, pro-
vi,'cd they have arrived at the age Of
seventy years and have served up
ON the Supreme bench ten years.
Judge Hunt j. seventy years Of age,
but has not performed the allotted SER
vice. nor can he perform il on account
Of physical! disability, still he will not
Resign, lut holds to a position in which
h;. can render 10 service to the country.
The supreme Court is so crowded
witt, business that it has be-
con,. inlper,tiveiy necessary Il younger
and more vigorous man should take his
place Judge Folyer, the present Sec
rctary ii" the Treasury, for instance.
! Hence u bill was introduced in the Sem
ate to pension him OFT and thus get rid
o. him.
While the bill WI. under di;;;,:,;,;'.u
in the Senate, Judge E'inuntls took the
occasion, to say that Judge Hunts re!a-
ti:es, though we'll able To d" 80. were
to, .:ingy to take care Of him, AM! that
! il would liz lmnderin= to : spirit
g. avaricc manifested on their part,
s.",ll the Senate take ,as"r:'-
hiA. action upon The bill. Com
'",nts cutie as uncs''n?limtntary to
.'lr.;ic Hunt, We're INDUCED in
"; ,nen,!,ers Oi the House, when tie
. bii! came up for discussion IN that body.
Mr.. Hammond, o. Georgia, VIII" sup
,,urt ed the bill said he did not know
whether the Judge was u man Of nice,
anil tender sensibilities or whether H.
some Of the speeches t!:at have been Ut
tered upon the subject would induce
.'nplc to lwii.vc. he Is !. man upon,
w:!oiil suspicion might 'a;rIy rest that Ii
j. 81 u iCw character AMI ri designing;
purpose. He looked ut the matter a
on, OF practical importance merely.
Judge Hunt holds his Office during his
natural life and cannot lie dispossc>~ cd
Of il without Impeachment, and he can.
not lc impcachc'l unless he commits !,
, hi::, crime Or n,is.lc,..c;;sl"r, and mere
lore say, Mr.. Hammond. II place it u,,-
on the low ground Of trade" and added,
81 enter int" s,"h AN acrlny; '!,cnt
": !! !. .l."n :,$ will give hi:, an un,irc
81, .:.i,is"c Ct n,s:. AMI cannot -, rio,
woul! bay him "u! i: my inic:. Il re-
i'.iT;:' Al.
':';i; it. q specimen q: a.: arguments
advanced in :avor ui the bill I" '.e,l*i":,
oi: Judge liant. Ii strikes u:' !:,.,r: l..
:,r.nr:. IN" in this whole bu~.,.~>- that
snAa.!:~ strnnrI,'' CT :. !:.c; q! :,Iu:.vr t,is-
nifty oa the part ri III" high ctlici:.l.
Having already drawn $D,,G'D Uurin::
~. past three years, for "hir', Il" h:.,
II siLc::d no service 20 :;:c Government,
h" still q: ,;i:- 10 hang OH 10 "A office
tn" .i.uic:; @. which he Knows he j, I'M
",.t 70 j.rr:.::,n. AMI vii. not vi.:.; tie
place to Il r,i,a;l" HAN. unless the Gov
cr:iment i:..:.; him to retire. He has
Teen It'"; t. IL. ','iiiauiS OF Justice !:
ci'i.s t" criticism :h.! y"il.es to resign
Unless Tie ;;,v, I..n,cHl give. Inn. *:,:,-
n" a Yea; ::'!:.,::, tis r. ha;:,uer ut i,.s
natural Ike. vhc pv"cs;"n! whic! the
pas:nv, nt this lii; sets iSo::e. i',au.:!t VIII!
mischief, i. 40. hunl;Iit;:n: 20 The
T.! American people. Mr.. Reagan, of Tex
a~ in Il >!rcc:l in opposition t" the hill,
reflected the sentiments III the urea.
mass Of the people upon this n.:.,t.r. lie
sail: ~ have never been ::..ie to under
stand why j: is that because Il man has
been fortunate enough to hold an Office.
and receive i: higl, 81! larry from the Cow
eminent, that that should give hinl a
title t" receive pay for the balance of Ills
lie. I am Well aware of the fact that
the policy OF the British Government
has been t, pension its employees when
tiey retire from the public service; but
tina: is not in accordance with the spirit
of Our institutions. The object and de-
sign sought to be accomplished 10y that
system in the British Government is
I" build up a titled class, priv
LEGGED class, and an aristocracy Of rank.
That j. not in accordance with the
American system Of government. Our
svsten Mr.. sneaker II exact1v tho 10