The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-02
THE SALARIES OF JUDGES AND
OTHER OFFICIALS.


Der 24th.)
The Winston Sentinel pays hand
some and deserved compliment to Hon
first term in his home county since
his election as Superior court judge
The generous words of commentator
show that Judge Jones is honored
i'm his own home. Closing the words
of appreciation of Judge Jones the
Sentinel says:
"A judge of the Superior court
in this State comes close to the
people. He determines their most
important rights, pertaining to
their lives, liberty and property.
Thus to win the approval of the
people in administering justice is
a great honor: none greater is
granted to men.
And how i'll paid! There are
twenty five clerks of the Superior
court and sheriffs and one-half
of the solicitors of the State who
are paid nearly double that which
is given a judge. What COM
mentaryi'
For the largest measure OF useful
ness, the Superior court judge has the
greatest Office in the State. 1t is like
wise the most laborious and compels
the incumbent TO deny himself the
pleasure and comforts of home and
family. This paper hopes that the
Legislature will see its way clear to
increase the salaries of the Supreme
and Superior court judges. 1t is an
increase that conditions demand and
that will meet with popular approval.
The statement of the Sentinel that
there are twenty-five clerks of the
Superior court ana sheriffs and one
half the solicitors of the State who
are paid nearly double that which is
given judge" is one that legislators
ought to seriously consider 1t is
said that the Treasurer, Sheriff, Clerk
and Register of Deeds of Wake, Meek
lenburg and other large counties all
receive larger salaries than is paid the
Governor of North Carolina. AS to
that, nobody knows because there is
no law requiring any county officer
TO make returns of the emoluments
of office. though there should be Il
statement to some authority from
every official in county and State by
which the taxpayer could know how
much every public official receives.
The Committee on Salaries and
Fees ought to be the strongest COM
mittee in the Legislature. There is
need of q careful and business-like
overhauling of the laws to the end
that all public salaries and fees shall
be fair, and just, and that they shall
be certain and known to the tax-pay-
ers. 1t has been long time since
attention was given to this matter. No
official, in the State or in the coun-
ties. should be paid niggardly sal
airy. 1t is equally wrong to pay lar
ger salaries than the work is worth
essary information and make such
changes as will prevent either Mig
gardly or princely salaries.
This paper believes and has long
believed that all public officials should
be paid a stipulated salary, and that
the treasury. We would make ex-
ception of no officer. There is no
more reason Why a solicitor, for ex-
ample, should be paid by fees than
why judge should not derive his
compensation from the number of
cases he tries. And it is certain that
the judges should not be paid less
salary than the solicitors, for the judge
is denied the right to practice law
while some of the solicitors are so
situated that they can continue in the
active practice OF their profession.
Stop the fec business. Cut it up
root and branch.