The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-06-14
VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR
The Judges salary Bin FaiIs to
Receive Omciai sanction.

Governor Beaver has vetoed the bill
increasing the salaries Of Judges Of the
State. In giving his reasons for with
holding the official sanction, he says
"The Legislature undoubtedly has
the right 10 fix the salaries OF the
Judges of the different courts OF the
Commonwealth, and If it were not
plainly evident from the terms of the
bill itself, and from what is known
outside the bill as 10 the intent of the
Legislature In regard TO it (that the
bill is TO have present application and
TO affect the salaries Of all the Judges
Of the Commonwealth now in commits
sioD) il might well receive executive
approval
"If executive action in regard 10 this
bill were TO be based upon personal
grounds it would have received approx
al Immediately upon its passage. Every
consideration but that of hard and un-
relenting duty points to its approval.
The bill as il was discussed in the Leg
slature, as it has been discussed in the
public prints, since its adjournment, as
its intent is viewed by the people and
finds expression in their general speech
and it is known to be regarded by
many of those who are supposed to be
benefited thereby is to be considered
as having present general application.
GAS this question is now viewed, it
is not one as TO whether the Judges
are well paid or i'll paid. 1t is not
question as to whether the men of high
character and of undoubted profession
al attainments who honor our bench by
their presence could make more or less
than they now receive as salaries in
their profession. 1t is not question
az to whether the revenues are, or are
likely to be, equal to the expenditures
of the Commonw wealth for the next two
years. The question is high above all
such considerations as these. No pub
lie question since the incumbency of
the present executive has received such
wide discussion and has been carried
to the executive chamber in such un-
doubted and unequivocal tones. There
can be no doubt tbat if the present bill
became la7 and the present Judges
Of our courts were to avail themselves
of its provisions without legal protest
from any quarter, the Bench would be
degraded in public esteem and its de-
cisions upon other questions fail of the
respect which they now receive and TO
which they are undoubtedly entitled.
"The members of our Supreme Court
especially need relief. The bill affords
them no relief whatever. increased
pay does not mean increased ability to
work. If the Legislature had provid
ed secretary for each member of our
Supreme Court, or two or three good
stenographers for the entire court, re-
lief could have been had and much
more satisfactory work rendered by
the Judges. 1t Is fair TO say, and per-
haps ought to be said in this connec-
tion, that the only Judge to whom the
question of the applicability of this bill
to Judges now in commission was
squarely put, replied without hesita-
tion 1T never occurred to me that this
bill could relate to any Judge now in
commission or that any one of them
could resolve any benefit from it, This,
however, is not the popular belief, and
it is well-known that it is not the belief
of many of our Judges"