The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-02-02

cordance with the services that they rem.
der
The stronger our judiciary is, the
greater the peace and contentment OF the
people. The judge sets the moral stand
ard of his viciuage, and there should be
no question about a reasonable financial
reward for these high requirements.
Flintville" H. CLAY WHITEFoRD.
''Inotice in the proceedings Of the State
Legislature that bills have been intro
duced TO repeal THE Judges Pension
Law" AS one of the people, would like
to enter my protest. as it would be ak
ing a step backward rather than for
ward, to repeal this law.
THE Office of Judge is most important
one, and upon the discharge of the duties
depends to very large extent the
healthy condition Of the affairs Of state
and county The judge has v,rv much
to do with the financial and moral con
ditions of our State, and a competent
and efficient official can save the taxpay
ers more than his salary, to say nothing
of the moral effects upon the condition
| of the people. Is it not false economy to
reduce the present or prospective com.
pensation Of the judges, and thereby lail
| in the future to secure the services OF our
| best men, thus i ng by ine fiIcent man
agement many times more than the pro
visions of this law costs the taxpay erS
The amount of money required for
this pension falls so lightly on our people
| that is scarcely worth considering. and
| at no time in the future can it far exceed
| the present cost, as the provisions Of this
u II he
reaches the age of 20 years, and the ma
| jority do not live long enough to be re-
| tired because of age.
at is not only customary for the army
and navy officials and the federal judges
to be provided for in old age by their
government, but the railroad corpora
tions. from a strictly business stand
point, find it to their advantage to pro-
vide for their employees in declining
years.
"The cost of living has in recent years
materially increased, and on account of
| having to be away from home more or
| less on official business, the judges are
put to further disadvantage.
TN this age when the opportunities OF
| business are SO great; when an ordinary
| man can make more than the salaries
paid our judges; when millionaires are as
common as were men worth 500, OOO
| few years ago. the man competent to
discharge the duties of Judge is able to
make far more than the salary attached
| to his office.
1T is not reasonable to expect man
| togive up lucrative occupation to take
one less remuncrative. | venture the
| assertion that there are not a few, but
many MEN in Hartford county today en-
gagged in business who would not ex-
change their net profits for the compen-
sation paid our judges
| 1T seems that the question of cost is
secondary one and really entitled to re-
ceive but little consideration. The most
important point is to secure the very
best man for the place, because the best
is the cheapest, the most economical, and
by far the most satisfactory. The good
results that thus come cannot be meas
ured entirely by dollars and cents.
Let our people come tiand stand be-
hind their representatives and urge them
not to repeal the law.
Deer Creek" GEORGE E. SILVER.
at is with much solicitude that have
read the suggestion that Judge VanBibber
may resign. l do not know what private
reasons there are bearing on the matter,
but if it be the result of what seems to me
fhoughtless clamor against the "Pen-
sion Act" hope he may not be too much
influenced by it. | was an advocate for the
passage of the Act, and have heard no
sufficient reason for its condemnation.
1T is well, always. to have economy in
view but not parsimonv, for there is
that withholdeth more than is meet, but
it tendeth to poverty and if it shall in
this case tend ito a poverty of fitness
in the Judiciary it will be calamitous.
know the salary of judge seems high to
the common run of US, but are not the re-
quirements high. and do we not get more
than value received? Compare the salary
of our Judges with those of some other
Courts, or even with the pay of govern
ment employees and corporation officials:
Is it not desirable to have the highest
qualities of mind, heart and training
possessed by those into whose hands
oftimes the upholding of the law and the
peoples chiefest rights are placed? And
how does Judge VanBibbers salary COM
pare with some of the members of the
Bar, and which of them having the same
high qualifications, would accept the
place?
Il do not accept the annuity derived
under the so-called Pension Act as a
charity donation, but fitting testimon-
ial and we'll earned reward for faithful
service, dividend on an investment OF
rare order OF talent and consecrated ser
vice, coming at time when they may
we'll be relieved of their arduous duties
and the need of entering again into the
ranks of those engaged in the battle OF
life
Think for moment, my we'll meaning
friends, what pititul result your i'll
directed efforts in the name of economy
shall produce if it deprives US of the
superior ability of not only Judge Van
Bibber, but others of his high grade,
and compels US to place the ermine on
less worthy shoulders! Thenin the name
of the wide circle of our whole citizen
ship, in a spirit of justice and gratitude,
let the Onslaught on the Pension Law
be stopped and let the Legislature re-
member the laborer is worthy of his
hire and stay the hand raised against
it. A H. HULL
| Forest Hill"