Telegram-herald., 1889-10-24

Tia Matter Discussed oy tns su-
pervlsors.
Al IANEDIlIE REPORT eRDERED
FAN Discussion OF tas qa>-sisa - the
Supervisors aad Bskh tAs Jsd<s.-
sss-T4l Attorneys raks = a&ad-
Ihs Aetloa Takea

Yesterday morning the proposed N
crease Of the salaries or the circuit
Judges vas the special order Al the sss-
son OF the Board Of supervisors.
judges Grove and Burch were present
by special invitation, And there were
also present several OI the leading
members Of the bar.
Before entering upon the DISCUSSION
of the sDecial order the usual routine
business was transacted. including the
adoption II a resolution allowing each
member s. and mileage for attending
the two SPECIAL meetings relative &c the
court house.
judge Grove was then invited 70
speak upon the salary question. He
read the .aw and took the ground that
the amendment went into effect April
! a. the same time the amendment did
relative % the Governors salary. GOV.
Luce had consulted the Attorney Cen
ersl and other eminent legal authority
and all had coacurred IA that
view. Regarding the personal aspect
of tine question he did not wish ID say
very much. lie called attention, how
ever, o. the fact that the time OF the
Judges ~ this circuit was taken
up entirely by their judicial labOrs,
while n other ci-cults the judges had
a great deal OF tint 90 themselves and
frequently earned large sums outside.
Judge Arnold, OF Allegan and Ottawa
counties, devOtes about half his time 10
farming, and Judge Judkins, OF Hart,
claims TO earn a sum equal 70 his salary
during ms spare time.
Hon. J c. FitzGerald addressed the
board in about the sam strain. He
SAID there could be no DOUBT regarding
the fact that the amendment went into
immediate effect. The Judges were
capable men and were doing much
harder and larger amount of work
than the members OF the bar. and IN
ms opinion earned fully $1,000 year.
Judge Burch said that he could not
understand the principle that the people
could not amend their own cOnstitu-
ton. and he was surprised that the
hoard should raise question which
has no where else been agtated. he
nothing, but was satisfied 70 leave that
with the members Of the board.
Hon. r. ". Buttertield argued siren
uously in favor Of increasing the sala-
res.
Supervisor Walker thought that the
only question for the board 10 decide
was not the cOnstitutiOnality of the
amendment, but whether the Judge {;
-. a zaN - n
as he was concerned ne was ready 10
vote upon that at any time.
Mr.. LOOMS regretted that the Legal
pOint had arisen The main question
was whether the salaries should be
IN sed.
George y. Thompson compared the
Judge salaries with those of other
county officers, and said that if the
Judges were not worth more than s2jO(
year they were not 1T TO occupy the
bench.
Peter Doran expressed very similar
views and thought that a salary should
lee paid high enough % command the
best talent, and that 10 would be a saw
ing 90 employ Judges whose decisions
would not be reversed by the supreme
Court.
Supervisor Carlyle opposed the in
crease. Supervisor Withey moved %
lav ON the table until January. Lost.
Supervisor LOOMS moved that the
report boz referred back 70 the commit
tee, and that they be requested 20 re-
port at this session whether an increase
be deemed desirable. and. If so, what
iucre0sc. The motion carried.
THE election of a superintendent Of
poor WAS next in order. and resulted In
tne reelection OF Asa W. Noech.
The board thereupon adjourned.