The Portland daily press., 1899-01-20
THE BANGOR EXPEDITION.
SALARIES OF THE JUDGES.
Hearing Before the Judiciary on Prop
osition To Increase Them.
ESPECIAL 20 THE IRxssj

ESPECIAL 20 THE i RxssJ
Augusta, January I9.-Lawyers came
here today from all parts Of Maine to
urge the proposed increase in the salaries
of the judges of the Supreme judicial
court The legal gentlemen came In such
numbers that the judiciary committee,
which had assigned the matter for a hear
ing this afternoon, found II necessary TO
adjourn to the hall of the House. II is
seldom even here that the men of the bar
are present in such numbers. From
POI tland came large delegation headed
by ex-Gov. Cleaves In its ranks were
Messrs. Clarence Hale George NJ. Soldiers,
Seth L. Larrabee, c. A. Hight, Isaac W.
Dyer, John w. A. Merrill, Frederick
William Q. Eaton. John II. Eogg. John
4. Pagan, W. c. whelden. With the
numbers of the bar came number of
prominent business men. Among them
were President Boothby of the Portland
Board of Trade, J +. Blabop. f. Is.
winslow of Portland, William Enge!, and
J. W. Fairbanks and others of Bangor.
The case OF the petitioners was opened
by Gen. Charles Hsmlin of Bangor, who
spoke earnestly in favor of the increase,
Gen. Hamlin said that of course the
Judges themselves had nothing to do with
the movement to raise their salaries. To
show how the Maine salaries compare
with those paid in other states, Gen.
Hamlin read some figures of the salaries
paid in Connecticut. The chief justice of
the Supreme court receives s45O0 and his
associates $1,000 with an annual allowances
of S. each for travel In Connecticut
their are eight Superior courts whose
judges receive $1,000 and there are courts
OF common pleas with justices who re-
ceive $1,000 eacn. At the close OF his re-
marks, Gen. Hamlin called on Mr.. Park
hurst of the Penobscot delegation TO read
u letter from Judge Peters. This letter,
which received the endorsement of the
Penobs,ot delegation has been printed In
the PRESS.
Gen Hamlin in presenting the next
speaker, said TO show that the sentiment
in favor of the increase is not confined to
members OF the bar but is shared by bust
ness men generally, he would introduce n
representative business man of Portland,
MIR. II. b. Winslow. who would address
the committee. Mr.. Winslow said he did
not propose TO make speech but he took
pleasure in testifying to the general senti-
menJ he found among all classes OF Port
land men in favor of the increase. He re-
garded the movement as commendable
one, and thought that $1,000 was none too
much. II the committee should favorably
report ON this matter and the legislature
should carry out the recommendation Of
the committee. Mr. Winslow was sure the
action would receive a cordial reception
in his section of the state. MIR. Winslow
said that in these days, when people pre-
ferred to read, typewriter letters rather
than to puzzle out the handwriting OF
lawyers. be was surprised to learn from
the letter of Judge Peters that the justices
of the Supreme court have to pay their
stenographers.
Hon. William Engel of Bangor was the
next business man to address the COM
mittee. He said that at the time of the
Inauguration of the governor, he was told
that this was lawyers movement. Mr..
Engel said he replied at that time that he
WAS in favor of the movement MIR. Engel
paid some attention to the claim that
good men could DO procured at small
salaries. Then. he said, we shall have
condition of things where only rich men
can become judges. We do not want in
Maine condition of things where the
bench will be labelled "none but the rich
need apply" Mr.. Engel spoke forcilby
of the need Of an increase of salaries of
the judges and urged upon the committee
the desirability of a careful and thorough
OF the necessities of the
Judges in fixing the amount to be paid
them. Such an examination would show
that the sum of $1,000 named In the
petition would not be an unreasonable
one, MIR. Engel argued that the state was
well able to grant the increase. II was
not state taxation which was burden
some. 1t was municipal taxation, al
thouehIit was sometimes tried to convince
men TO the contrary. Three-fourths Of
the state tax Is paid by railroads, ex
presses, telfg sph companies, savings