The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-31
present pay of Judges could not ind

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the best legal talent 10 accept positions
on the bench could not obtain, for none
would dispute that the Supreme and
Superior court benches of Nortn Caro-
lima were as capable and efficient as
those of any state In the union. He
urged that, aside from other corsidera-
ions. this was the time of depression.
and that it would be a strain upon
the people Mclean said he would OPP
pose this bill, not because Of Iii feeling
to the lawyers of the state. If his bill
were adopted it would put the hands
OF the Judges into the treasury to the
amount OF SIS, $50. and this was no
time to increase salaries. If the salaries
OF judges are increased the other state
officers would ask for an increase and
this would be letting down the bars for
q literal stampede. Officers Of the state
had said 10 them that il the salaries OF
judges were to be raised SO should Their
own. Jones said he concured with the
remarks Of those who opposed :he bill.
That the appropria lions to schools
would soon come before the Senate n
the pension bill would De considered n
that these were muc more worthy OF
further financial consideration than this
bill. Turner offered an amendment
making the salaries So, 900 instead Of
3d. 0
Scales said he felt it incumbent upon
him to answer some of the arguments
offered against the bill. He yielded to
none in the matter OF care for the in
sane, and wou go as far as any mar
IN the Senate in taking care Of these,
and he knew this legislature would
tax the proper step in providing for
those who cannot now be admitted into
the hospital for the insane on account
of lack of room. He would yield to no
one in regard to the old soldiers. The
state had kept them on beggardly
pensions and ought to be ashamed for
50 neglecting them. He realized the i'm
pOrtance OF education and that every
human being in these states should be
educated. Discussing the bill he said
was simply a matter Of business. Every
man on the Supreme and Superior court
benches was there at a personal a
cial sacrifice, and # he were worthy OF
lis position he was worthy of his hire.
This was not an increase of salaries,
except nominally. A few years g
hey allowed passes on the railways
but; this had been taken away from
them and meant i loss of about S4O0 or
$500 annually. It Is required OF them
tC hold special terms of court without
compensation. That before this was
done they eked out about $500 annually
from the special terms. It was not right
to look upon the $500 as the salary.
The gross receipts of a merchant do not
represent his actual income. He must
deduct his expenses. The net results
to a Superior court judge must lie con-
sidered. Hotel bills, railway fares and
minor expenses cost not less tran $1,0oO
every year, leaving the net salary $1.750.
With this he must maintain his home,
! keep up Insurance., educate his children.
There is not a harder worked class of
PEOPLE in North Carolina than the
| Judges, and the hardest work a judge
has to do is when he is nominally on
vacation, going over old records, etc.
The average judge In this state does not
have a two weeks vacation in the year.
The bill is for the good Of the oeorlc
in the state, as the law now makes 1t
impossible for a poor man to be d Judge.
He says that IN his discussion the
| name of Governor Glenn had been dag
ged in and tina he desired TO correct
the statement as those who had spoken
of it had lone the Governor a great in
Justice. The bill regarding Governor
Glenn's salary was introduced by the
Governors closest friend, and MS name
could not be used in opposition 10 the
bill increasing the judges salaries, nor
to do the bill injury. He had introduced
the bill and the papers of the state had
lauded the governor for his great hon.
octu and ma on9 njnG1S character In
| telegraphing that the bill introducing
his salary be withdrawn. He was will
ling to withdraw the bill and stand the
odium, but now it was being aired
again. It was doing both the governor
and himself a great injustice. The
, Governor withdrew the bill because he
saw there would be opposition TO it.
Mclean explained that in referring
to the incident of the bill increasing
! the governors salary he was not aware
of the particulars. Scales AID be
knew Mclean did not know what he
was speaking about and that therefore
knowing the whole state also was la
boring under a misapprehension he
desired to explain it. He hoped the
amendment would be voted down as
he would prefer that if the salaries
were not fixed at at least $500 the Oil
should be lost. Alexander offered an
amendment fixing the salaries fCr
judges at $500, with $3.50 for expenses.
Coke sent forward a substitute for the
bill amending the act of 1908 by st"ik-
ing out the word $3.50, and inserting
$3.50 for travelling expenses. Gillian
said he was mortified by the trend Of
arguments against the bill. His son
~stituents heartily favored an increase
in these salaries, and the amendment
| could not find Judgment in the judg-
ment of the Senate. This action was
essential to the keeping UP of the dig
nifty Of the bench what was actually
necessary for its maintenance. FIem-
ing said he had proposed before the
committee that the salary be made s3,-
600 a year. Mason, of Castor. sale
the state was able to pay better sala-
ries. Coke withdrew his substitute.
Williams said he had a letter from ex-