Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-02-26
A Strike at Lawyers.

1t is really pitiable to see bill pend.
ing before the Legislature to reduce
the salaries of Prosecuting attorneys.
The pay of these officials may now be
IN excess of their worth, but their poor
pay may be the very reason they are
worthless. if they are. The idea of a
man OF character humiliating himself
by serving in an Office such as that OF
Prosecuting attorney of Bath county
for SIS; or Highland 800; or the City
of Staunton 1926. The very sugges-
ton is belittleing and unworthy the
profession in such state as Virginia.
The court house janitor usually gets
more. 1t does seem that the only
place the Legislature ever sees re-
trenehment is in reducing salaries,
and in trying to thus stop some pitful
treasury leak, is certain to cause a
greater one elsewhere. There is no
doubt that this is another attack up
on the legal profession and comes from
a narrowness of mind we did think
the law-givers in Virginia had out
grown. Lawyers are now submitting
to a tax which is an outrage, They
are singled out and taxed as no other
class is taxed. A teacher makes his liv-
ing by mental labor, scientist, lee
turer, a book-maker, a preacher, a
newspaper correspondent, an editor, a
civil-engineer and many others obtain
livelihood by brain-work, and pay
not cent for the privilege. But a
lawyer can neither write a deed, nor
explain a contract without first paying
into the treasury an enormous and
illegal tax. These same lawyers are
still further used in the public service,
whenever it may please court to
compel them. They are assigned to
defend all criminals who state that
they are without means to employ
counsel, and must do the work, or be
fined or sent to prison for refusing.
The sheriff and guards and witnesses
and jurors all are paid, but the patient
ass of lawyer. out of pride or obedi-
ence to some imaginary duty, sur
renders his time and talents, without
compensation, and without thanks, in
the service of State which rules him
by taxation, and then further robs
him by compelling his services, and
stealing his time. The generous Com
monwealth having devised a scheme
by which all her criminals can be de-
Tended without cost, now tries to hit
upon plan, by which all can be
prosecuted without COST
In Bath, a Prosecuting attorney
would have to pay taxes to the
amount of half his salary. and in
Staunton the salary will not pay his
Different and license-tax, and in
every city and county the office will
be degraded beneath that of constable
or Jail guard.
Has it never occurred to the Legls-
lature that good salary hegets
good officer, and a poor one a poor
officer?
Have they never learned that
worthless Prosecuting attorney can.
bring his county or city into disgrace
quicker than any other officer?
Did it ever occur to them that more
money could be wasted in useless pros
ecutions, by some weaklIng in this
office, than anywhere else?
Did it ever occur to them that with
out bold, fearless and able prosecutor,
escaped criminals will walk our streets,
or roam over our country defiant? III
not, they should think these matters
over.
Lawyers fit for such positions ought
never to serve for such wages, and the
Office had better be abolished than
reduced to such low degree. The
whole thing is blow at lawyers, be-
cause they exclusively hold this office,
and those in the Legislature will
doubtless lack the temerity to oppose
the bill