Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-19
JUDGE PETERS
Urges the Raising Of the ST.
preme Bench Salaries.
An interesting Letter from Him on
an Important Matter.
The Chief Justice Takes Firm Stand and Fra,k.
" Defends Il.

e4' Inns afternoon, the various petit
tons that have been presented urging
that s'1e salaries of the judges of the
Maine supreme court be raised from
1900 to $4,000 One of the most inter-
estAag arguments to be presented to the
| committee is the following letter from
ehie1 Justice Peters which he sent to
member of the Penobscot county del
esation. He strongly urges the in
crease in salary, and frankly explains
| why he does so. He. says of himself
| that during the time he has been on the
bench he has spent more than $50. 900 in
excess of the sum he has received in
salary and yet does not bear the i'm
| putation of having lived extravagantly
He suggests that unless the salary is
| raised the State may find that only
'gone-bys" or decrepir old men will
| take the office.
Here's the letter in full
Bangor, Me-, Jan. 8. 1899
Frederick II. Parllhurst. Esq, House 81
Representatives Augusta:
Dear Sir-Yours of the 4th inst. was
duly received. inviting. in behalf of
yourself and your associates of the Pc
nobscot delegation, my views of the
necessity of raising the salaries of the
justices of the supreme Judicial court
by the present Legislature and I am
happy to do i right thing as | think
am doing. by a compliance with your
request. Were my interest in the ques-
tion simply financial one. l should
hesitate long before l would be willing
TO participate personally in its discus
sion. But as ii cannot but be evident
to all that my further continuance in
judicial office must at the best be for a
comparatively brief period. | trust that
public opinion will at least accord to
me sincerity of purpose when I de-
clare that it is vastly mora for the Wei
being of the State Itself than by any
private considerations that ann intlu-
enced to urge upon the Legislature.
through yourself as one of our repre-
sentatiNes, the propriety and justice of
increasing the judicial salaries.
| have never been an advocate of
high salaries for any kind of positions
in the public service, and l do not now
deem them best, nor do 1 approve, IS
many of The bar know. OF eXtravagant
charges for professional services which
in my judgment have sometimes been
excessive in the practice in this State;
but l think a fair and just amount for
salary of the judges can easily be
agreed upon If the result is arrived at
upon a true appreciation of the facts,
and without prejudice. My opinion is
most emphaticaly. that $4,000 is not
enough compensation for the services
and expenses of d judge of our high
est court, and that $4,000 is not too
much fer a permanent salary, but
would be as nearly a just and right re-
suit as perhaps could be reached under
all the circumstances.
| have long seen that a gap existed
and was gradually Widening between
the value of the services of the judges
and the compensation received by
them: and | think that if my friend
Governor Powers. who is naturally an
economist in public affairs should eX
press his opinion on the question ha
would have to say that his late expert
ences in filing a vacancy on the bench
have led him to think so too.
| will take it for granted that no per-
son will deny that a judge of our court
should receive an amount of salary
that will be sufficient to afford reas
enable support for himself and his
family, such as will be ii respectable
support in his official position. He has.
as a rule no opportunity of earning
money outside Of his salary. He can
g ;,,t, r,-tc-
ana usually do, practice law in other
tribunals. He may accept the task of
sitting III references in order to exc
out his deficient official compensation,
but in my judgment he ~better have
salary enough to leave those alone and
give his whole service to the State
Judge has many expenses mat are
not perhaps fully appreciated by all
persons. Besides all the usual eXpen-
ses OF living and the education of his
children he must maintain law IL
brary for his own use, "A constant ana
costly expense to MIN. His travelling
and boarding expenses at the courts
when away from home are decidedly
heavy if he lives in such places as
COMFORTS with his official position
and those are expenses when nave
been steadily increasing. ] have al
WAYS believed that the sensible peo-
pie of my State would not be satisfied
with it's judges taking inferior rooms
and chances at hotels, which as rep
resentativeS of the State we are likely
| often to receive calls from eminent
I Judges and other officials from other
states. and constantly from gentlemen
| OF our own bar; ana have always de-
ported myself accordingly. or endeaV-
ored to do 50. All the judges have al
wavs felt that they owed to the state
as among it's representative men GER
| tain degree Of respectable living ara
conduct that would comport with th@'
dignity of their office and public po-
| sition: but these things add to their
! expenses.
Another quite serious burden EeW
| cast upon the judges is the eXpenss
| of typewriting. 1t has really becci':e u
necessity for the judges to have all
their opinions and much of their cor
respoudence copied by typewriters, .tnt'
the work paid for by themselves.
nres,ime it would be considered
! lust ard equitable il Il judge should
| receive salary enough to afford nm an
r.,rur Is A CLASS OF PEOPLE
IF