The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-14

ne left to the Legislature. and this was
q ., strange departure from former posi-
4 sioi i s. ne convention had air sady adopt
should not increase or dirnintst ~. col.
ary OF an officer during his term of Of.
nee ana this section largely increased
s.diarles OF judges row in Office
WISHED TO RETRAcT.
Judge Robertson said he signed the 70
port and was influenced to vote to re-
commend $4,000 minimum salary nv the
Of Chairman Hunton in the
committee. He wished to retract his con-
sent to the proposition. as he did not be-
lleve in thus tieing the hands of the
Legislature or placing matters of legisla-
ton in the Constitution. He strongly
supported the amendment
Mr.4Meredith said the report of the COM
Hlttee was simply to return to the prin-
eipl Ies. OF the Constitution of 1851. and ask
ed why was there not some olltcry against
mat. He urged the defeat of the amend
ment and said that small salaries for
JuuSes prevented any but rich members
nee; OFTEN. the very ablest men were in
Llouerate circumstances and could not
support family on small salaries.
Dr. Mciiwaine earnestly urged sustain
ing lie report of the committee.
MI. Petit said that there were many
remarkable provisions in the report OF
the committee and when he recalled that
one Of the chief cries that called the
convention into existence was the -educ-
tlon OF expenses, he was astoundets at
the propos-.ion to take the salaries from
over hundred judges in ..rgina. and
give every cent of it to thirty judges He
could not permit such a thing without
an emphatic protest
AMENDMENT LOST.
H. ST., 7
taxes in 1851 were as prosperous now as
then The prosperity that prevailed in
Virginia at that time had gone forever
and could not return again.
He said it did not matter what the reve-
nue. of the State was now. 1t was largely
paid by millionaire corporations and the
masses of the people We're poor and help
less. He said it was all right for coun-
sci oe great corporations to talk ancEt
prosperity and cry out for great salaries,
but If they would practice law in the
country a while they would find plenty
of lawyers OF the highest integrity and
ability who would be willing to let the
Legislature fix the salary of judges He
asket, why did Judge PhleGar give up 4
ten-thousand-oollar a year practice to
accept a seat on the Supreme Court
bench? He said that proved that law
salaries would not prevent corporation
lawyers from accepting iudgesiips and
the argument Of corporation lawyers
thus fell to the ground.
Chairman Hunton denied that no say
ing had been made in expenses by the
report of the committee. and quoted MI
Withers as showing it saved over SlS.vev.
He explained Judge Phiegar's willing
ness to accept the judgeship was because
he accumula ted fortune in the practice
and accepted the position for the honor
He argued that the salary should be sui
ficient to permit a man in moderate CIR
cumstances to accept the position OF
judge.
mum salary to Supreme Court judges was
lost-yeas. %; nays, 81.
The committee arose pending consid-
era ton of the amendment to strike OUT
salaries of Circuit Court judges at SZ,9oo'
The convention adjourned at O'CLOCK.