The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-02-15
Pensions for Judges.

The Maryland press, regardless OF poiitlcs,
may be said to be quite unanimous against
the bill before the Legislature granting judges
Of courts three-quarters pay after having
served term or resigning because OF disabil-
ity. Our neighbor, the Sentinel, opposed the
bill in a forcible way, and all the papers re-
gard the measure as unnecessary and not
few regard the salaries as altogether too high.
Some argue that the law Of 1888, increasing
salaries, was unconstitutional, and claim that
there was unseemly efforts to gain seats on the
bench when the salaries Of chief judges were
SO, 500 year aud those of associates but 81,
800. 1t is argued, also, that not only did the
ablest lawyers seek judicial positions at these
salaries, but that the purchasing power Of the
dollar was far less when these salaries were
fixed in 1867 than now.
In all the papers discussing the question
which have come under our observation there
has been but one discordant note. The Bel
air IEqis fayors the bill. 1t does not regard
the salaries insufficient, but it says there are
temptations to those on the bench TO "amass
.aoney,n and to keep the Judiciary above re-
proach, pure and unsulied it rather favors
pepsions. Here is what it says
There is no public position which offers so
many tempting opportunities to amass money,
nv methods. which, while not criminally
wrong. are far from right from moral stand
point. as the Judiciary, and the people at large
can suffer no greater misfortune than ques- |
tionable. or corrupt Judicial incumbent.
The Judiciary will not relish the 4gis
grounds for advocating the bill. They will
repudiate the idea that any one OF them is
susceptible to temptation to use his posi-
tons for amassing money, and would say that
anv Judge who would do so should have the
erm;ne torn from him and be cast out OF the |
legal profession.
The pension bill, of course, should become
a law. The people have no right to PICK Up
the ablest lawyers and put them upon the
bench at small salaries, have the bessht OF
their ability for fifteen years, and when time
and labor have wrinkled their brows and sill
yered their hair let them retire broken in purse
and too feeble to take up active practlc again.
without providing for their declining days.
The people should consider the sacrifice they
require of those they place upon the bench
Deprived of all other means of making alylng,
It is a hardship to work an average OF four or
five hours day and receive but 81 800 year,
or So, 800, according to whether it is chief
or associate place that lawyer is forced to
take.
Just think of the sacrifice lawyer has to
make in the seventh judicial circuit composed
of Charles, ST. Mary's, Calvert and Prince
GEORGES counties Is it right to deprive a
leading lawyer in that circuit of making from
S., 900 to So, 900 year, and the pleasure OF
working necessarily, and place him upon the
bench at So, 800 year, and keep him there
for fifteen years? In every circuit, except in
Baltimore, few lawyers average more than
$4,000 year,. and the average lawyer not
over So, 600, but that is no reason any OF them
should be showed upon the bench. Who
knows what might be in store for them
places upon the United States Supreme Court
iudgeships in otherU United States courts, foreign
ambassadorships, &c. This ought to be con-
sidered, and if bright legal lights are to be set
upon the bench they should have larger sal
aries or pensions after their terms end.
Maryland Judge who made will shortly be-
fore he died, aud who served on the bench for
about thirty 1.-TWO years, stated in that will that
be was poorer then than when he first went
upon the bench He also directed that he be
buried in old clothes and in an unadornee
chestnut coffin, so that there would be more
for a relative who needed assistance.
What a shocking example was that of Mary
lands parsimony to its Judiciary
Think of it'll Arch commonwealth paying |
associate judges but $500 month, and when
the end comes requiring them to even econo-
mize in funeral expenses. No proud Mary
lander can stand the thought 1t is enough |
to make every lawyer flee from the State to
avoid being placed upon the bench.
The General Assembly of Maryland should |
make haste to increase salaries of the judiciary |
and provide for the continuance of salaries
after service ends. The honor of the Com
monwealth demands it. The dignity of the
judiciary demands it. Humanity demands it.