The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-29

minimum and leaves future legislatures
TO fix these salaries This state has here
tofore and is now rapidly increasing In
wealth and population, and a constitution
too restrictive in its provisions has
already proven prejudicial
Every senator upon this floor had ad
mitted that the present salary is too low
but, by way of argument, say that the
people will defeat any constitutional
amendment permitting an increased sal
ary.
Now, Mr.. President, when we consider
that the most of the states are paying over
$4,000, and some as high as 7,000 per
annum to their supreme judges, certainly
our people don't want similar services for
less than the average (S5000) salary.
A certain class of politicians make their
races before the people on the one sole
cry of economy, but the people are fast
coming to the conclusion that while
economy is q good feature it is not every
thing in g .vernmrnt. If economy is the
only thing to be considered and is para.
mount to efficiency. then the sooner we
get back to the aboriginal state of society
the nearer we get to such governmental
perfection.
There is q change coming ever the
spirit of the dream of the people and as
education becomes more general and
immigration comes in they begin to
desire to see the government keep
pace with the material progress Of the
state.
If this matter Is fully discussed before
the PEOPLE they will readily see that it is
in the interest of more efficient admin
istration of the law.
1t is no argument to say that because
we have heretofore controlle d good talent
at the present salary that 1t is sufficient,
for this state of things may not continue,
and already in the recent history of our
state, one Of the ablest lawyers in the
state has quit our supreme bench because
the salary was not sufficient to
now on the bench remain there
more as matter Il pride and gratiica-
tiOn of ambition, than for the salary they
receive, and the same will be the case !,
and properly so. with a moderate in
crease in salary.
OF course the people don't expect to
compete With great mOneyed corpora
tions by paying to judges the same sala-
ries received by attorneys OF these corpO-
rations, and indeed the talent demanded
for the two positions is by no means the
same.
At the same time the people appreciate
the fact that there Is a great contest GO
ing on In the courts between these cor
pOrations and the people, and they look to
aH tLuCl6uJ anu court IOT
protection against all encrOachments of
corporate power. Be ii said to the honor
of the profession, that the judicial ermine
has been rarely soiled by corruption, and
men -thoQgh3 unworthy OF SO exalted a
position Would No doubt 'ue honest even
though pinched by poverty; o.. the
people want no such temptation Offered
TO and no such tests of self-denial sui.
fered by men who sit as a court OF last
resort on the lives, liberty and property
of the people. These men should be
given enough to enable then. to devote
their entire time to the study and adju-
dication of the many great questions OF
Jaw and justice presented TO them.
AS our wealth increases 1 am satisfied
our rate of taxation will decrease and
that we can in this aud many other i'm
pOrtant particulars make the government
more efficient without increasing the bur-
dens of government and this much e n
lightened public opinion will demand.
l am as much disposed as any member
here to an economical administration OF
the government, but don't want to
economize on judicial salaries and at the
expense of the greatest interests of the
state and people.
/ am not for increased salaries because
1 fear corruption in the judiciary. but
because ! believe the laborer worthy of
his hire because l believe these Judges
should not be required to perform their
duties under such mental strain as is
necessarily incident to the conviction
that they may upon retirement feel the
pangs of poverty, which can be borne
very philosophically if a man has no
family to share his misfOrtunes with him.
Why, sirs, there are any number OF dry
goods clerks in Texas who get as good
salaries as our supreme judges. ] know
personally at least len drummers who get
better salaries, and yet II is claimed that
a reasonable people Will object to these
men receiving better pay.
The Justice of the peace in the city OF
Dal as receives more per annum than su.
preme judge.
The county attorney of Dallas county
receives more per aDn9m than the COM
biDed salaries of the supreme judges.
Under the somewhat mysterious name OF
"perquIsites." great many subordinate
officers in the state are being handsomely
rewarded, while the most important and
laborious duties are being required of
men poorly paid
The amendment was adopted.
The resolution was engrOssed.
On motion of Mr.. Martin, the SEN
ate adjourned till Thursday.