The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-03-25
Gall for the eoossi Sauce for tn. Gan

Gall for the Goose; Sauce for the Gam
der.
The reform members Of the Legisla-
ture who claim to be exerting them.
selves to the full extent of the power that
hes in their bodies and brains, in behalf
of the people, by some of their &C reveal
disposition that is hardly consistent
with their preaching.
Ii has been noticed that, wherever the
mea, ak and the pruning knife have fal'ea,
great care was taken to protect from their
keener cuts those persons who have be-
become members OF that honorable and
self protective profession known as The
law.
Wherever the lawyer appears as
cog on wheel in the States machinery,
he is more literally compensated for the
service he renders than any other cog on
that same wheel. Il may be that this is
right; 1t may be that it is just 1t may be
that such a condition is directly In the
foreground of economy it may be that
the spectacle causes the hearts of people,
the plain people, to swell with delight.
These professional cogs have come
together and decided that, for the
sake of economy, the Lay Judges must be
abolished, and the Senate has passed
bill calculated to remove them from
place 10 the judiciary of the State.
II is apparent TO the average mind
that the motive back of the anti-Lay
Judge bill is not as deeply tinged with
an economic coloring as its promoters
claim. 1t provides for the wiping out
of judicial element that may possess
more good horse sense Than the regu-
larly admitted members of the legal
profession, but which is found wanting
when it comes to the sitting of fine law
points-an element that has always been
hateful in the eyes of the profession.
The question naturally arises, is it best
for the people that their interests
be placed entirely in the keeping of a
profession that has such lofty ideas of its
worth and which cares for itself with such
liberalty and faithfnlness when ii comes
to the question of fixing compensation
for its services
The claim is made by the author Of
the anti Lay Judge bill that 1t provides
for saving of something like $4,000
year. II has not been proven that that
claim is true; moreover, that particular
move in the direction of economy wipes
out CT the judiciary of the State every
yes!ige of representation that the plain
people have there and leaves the legal
profession in absolute control of the situa-
ton with liberal compensation under its
nose.
II the author of the anti-Lay Judge
measure was actuated to draw the bill
by an economical motive, would not 1t
have been more in the interests of the
people and in harmony with the pro-
fcssed motive il the Lay Judges had been
continued in their places in tho judicial
system of the State at reduced compensa-
Eon and if saving in The cost of the Law
Judges had been made by slicing off a
hule more of their salaries
The people resent the proposed abolish
ment of the Lay Judges, and that resent.
ment is embittered by the knowledge that
the Law Judges are handsomely provided
foriat their expense.
This method Of economy is good deal
like that of the man who cut off his nose
10 save the cost of handkerchlefs.
II may be that the Voorhees, measure re-
duces the salaries of the Law Judges,
but does it reduce them enough to be
consistent with the cry of economy in the
the din of which the the peoples repre-
sentative branch of the judiciary was
completely Topped off
Why should the Law Judges in Essex
and Hudson counties receive more fer
their service to the people of those cout-
Ties than is paid the State Treasurer, the
State Comptroller, the State Superntend-
ent of Public Instruction and the Com
missioner of Banking aud Insurance, who
give their whole, time to serving the peope
of The entire State2
Should the Law Judges 10 Hudson
and Essex counties receive for their SER
vices within two hundred dollars OF
The annual salary paid the Associate JUS
tices of New York;
The supreme Court Judges of Illinois
are paid an annual salary of $4,000. Is
there any good reason why the Law
Judges ia Hudson and Essex counties
should be paid two thousand dollars more
per year than the Supreme Court Judges
in that Western State receive or is there
any good reason why the Law Judges in
Camden and Passaic counties should be
compensated at the same rate that the
Supreme Court Judges Of Illinois are paida
II is possible that the lawyers mixed up in
tbs politics of New Jersey overestimatc
their worth TO the people.
Ii salaries are to he reduced and ex-
penses cnt down 10 the name of reform and
economy, bring the lawyers under the
knife alongside the people, aud show
disposition to be consistent. if not con-
siderate. Trenton State Gazette