The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-07


the Judge on delivery. he should be sc
| cured I'm some place by the jailer. an'
the expense taken out OF the appropriation
made to the asylum. This Is a very I'm
portant matter. Let us put an end to th'
! | long and cruel confinement In the Jails. 81
these unfortunate people. In nearly ever,
jail OF the Commonwealth they have made
the day and night hideous with their raw
J ings under the very caves Of the court
house. where justice is melted out 10 the
worst criminals in the land, and pro-
lection is promised to the humbest
Give the judges the power 10 correct this
and IL will quickly be done Time and
time again have appeals been sent TO the
Governor, By citizens and officers begging
that he interpose, and that lunatics be
removed from the jails 10 the asylums.
He IS powerless; he can afford no relief.
In many cases. when the superintend-
ents were applied TO. the lunatics were
received. In some cases they were
not. and the reply was mo ROOM IL
should be made their business 10 provide
for them In the best manner they can;
II Is not the duty OF the jaiicr; the
superintendent could provide a place
for the lunatic better than the Jaiier, and
they are the chosen custodans OF the
| iInatics, with numerous resources In their
| hands TO keep and care for them. If the
judge orders man to the penitentiary,
! does the Superintendent refuse to take
him because the penitentlary is full?
RecoiDme ndstion.
III my recon menda lions find favor with
| the Legislature. / would advi ,e that the
| superintendent Of each Of the asylums,
| and the chairman of each OF the boards
! Of visitors, constitute committee to
carry out the proposed changes. and that
they select one asylum for lunatics. and
for the harmless idiots and imbeclcs The
other asylums be used, and these asylums
8nG that patients be distributed between
should be called Homes for the Poor,
them in proportion TO their capacity to
accommodate; that one physician be Sc
lected for each of these homes and l
sufficient number of attendants. and that
the rest be discharged. and that proper
bill be enacted to carry into effect these
suggestions. / object to the law, and not
to the superintendent.
Insurance
There Is no law requiring the asylums
to be Insured. and some of the ether in
stitutions belonging to the State are rot
insured. l suggest that a special act be
prepared. requiring the board Of visitors,
out Of the appropriation granted to each
institution. to insure all Of the principal
buildings in some reliable company.
Pay of the Ju ges.
One Of the most important duties which
will devolve upon the Legislature this
session will be the election of judges
for the cirtuit court and judges Tor the
Court Of Appeals. You cannot use too
much consideration and caution in the Sc
lection Of these important officers.
Before you proceed to the election. the
salaries OF these officers should be In
creased: they are now so low that some
lawyers. eminently qualified for the posi-
ton, and whom this Legislature might de-
sire to call into the service Of the State
cannot. in justice to those dependent upon
them. accept the position. The judge
should be the superior in point of legal
attachments 10 any attorney in his cir
cult. The salary now received is below
the price paid for a first-class man in
any leading business I'm the country.
A irst-class railroad man commands
much more than this sum: so i'm the
insurance business so in our banks; st
Is the same in the professiOns i'm our
colleges; in the departments of the United
States Government in Washington. and
even i'm the important departments of
the State Government. The Superinten-
dent Of Public Schools gets better pay;
the Attorney-General, the Auditor of Pub
lie Accounts. the Treasurer. all receive
more salary and yet the circuit judge
ships are the most responsible positions
In the State, requiring more learning.
labor, and real capacity, and are worse
paid
Why We're the Salaries Reduced
When Virginia was readmitted into the
Union the State had been divided; her
population scattered: her resources ex-
hausted. She was oppressed with enOr-
nous debt; her financial condition was
so distressing that she was unable to meet
the interest on her bonded debt; but she
determined 30 make every reasonable |
sacrifice to re-establish her credit and to
resume the payment of her obligations
To show her determined spirit, she in |
creased the taxes upon her people !
wherever 1t could be done without disas- |
ter and reduced the salaries Of all her |
officers which could be changed by the |
Legislature.
The salaries of the judges were reduced |
TO the present inadequate sum- Without |
murmuring they have faithfully laborcd !
and discharged their duties. The debt |
has now been settled. and It has demon
strated that the present assessment OF |
property, with the present rate of taxa |
ton. will be more than sufficient TO meet all |
the legitimate expenses OF the Govern |
ment, and at the same time permit the |
salaries of the judges to be raised to Il |
figure commensurate with their duties |
and responsibilities.
The judges are more closely criticised |
In their conduct than any other class of |
men, they cannot enter into the various !
bushes SEES of life first, because they have |
no time; and secondly, public sentiment |
will not allow 1t. If they do. they will al |
once be declared swindcrs If they succeed; |
II they fail, this same sentiment will |
charge them with epithets just as unkind. |
A circuit judgeship in Virginia dooms |
man 10 poverty. They should be re-
lieved of any apprehension OF this kind |
They should be able to provide something |
for their old age. and should be paid a
salary which will make them easy in |
their circumstances. and thus relieve |
their minds from such a foreboding I'm /
most countries, especially in England
and the United States, at certain age !
the judges retire upon their salaries,
and this makes them easy i'm mind: IL
enables them TO provide for their fami-
lies, ana secures them against poverty
In their old age. If our judges are suf-
ncientiy paid, 1t would give us the most
competent men in the profession. and
the country would be relieved Of the APP
prehension OF a result which Judge
Marshall deplOred when he declared Ia
the Convention of 1899 that "The great.
est curse that an angry God can innict
upon a sir ing people. is a corrupt, igno-
rant; and incompetent judiciary"
But IL may be said that you will find |
many who will take the position at $1,000.
You can without doubt, ana il you were
to reduce ii TO $500. still you would he
able 10 fll the Offices. but can you get
"A mo af |