The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-03

prcme Court judges get more money.
Captain Pattcson, of Buckingham, agreed
with Judge Phlegar that to increase tho
salaries In an appropriation bill would b.
unconstitutional. Argument In favor of
the committee amendment was made by
Mr.. Thomas. of Lynchburg; Mr.. Machen,
of Alexandria,; Mr.. Sadlcr, OF Powhatan;
Mr. Wickham. OF Hanover, and others.
1t was stated by MIR. Wickham that one
OF the reasons which actuated the CO..
mittee In recommending the advance III
salary was the fact that the different
condition under the new Constitution had
resulted In greatly increasing the work
of the Supreme Court. This increase of
work amounted to about thirty per cent.
Mr.. Wlckham was beginning to address
himself to the constitutional question
raised when, desiring as chairman of the
Finance Committee. to close the debate.
he yielded the floor temporarily for a
statement by Mr.. Fulton, OF Warren.
Agreeing with other senators that the
salaries OF the Supreme Court Judges
should be increased Mr.. Fulton. declared
that 1t should be done In proper form.
A statute already existed fixing the
salaries of the judges. II new statute
were proposed amending or repeating the
old, Mr.. Fulton said he would vote for
It. But to increase the salary In the APP
preparation hll was. he believed, i'm
proper and Unconstitutional The way to
deal with the matter was by amending
the statute, which could be done only. in
separate bill. The clause in the APP
preparation hill could not be an amends
ment nee the Constitution provided a
different method for amending an act. II
4. was n repeal of the present statute
then, at the expiration OF the two years
of life of the appropriation bill. there
would be no statute governing the sala-
ries OF Supreme Court Judges.
The next General Assembly would have
to make a new appropriation and It's
hands would be tied. since 1t could not in
crease or decrease the salaries, during
the terms of the Judges and would have
TO give 5000 again whether 1t desired
TO do 30 or not. Various questions were
asked of the speaker concerning the
policy of the State in the past as TO
increasing salaries in appropriation bills.
which II was held had been done for
fifty years and with reference. at some
time or the other. TO practically all tho
salaries. Some reference was also made
to the position the Senator from War
rem had taken with reference TO some
of these Increases. Mr.. Fulton objected
that this was simply obscuring the point
at issue which was not what custom
had been or what individuals thought or
had thought. but what was right and
proper under the constitution. In this
connection he began statement opening
with the words THE Senator from Han
over undertakes 10 dodge
Mr. Wickham was at once on his feet
strenuously objecting TO the language.
THE Senator from Hanover Is lodging
nothing. he declared, THE Senator
from Hanover does not dodge"
For a moment the two Senators were
both talking at the same time, whilo
the chair raped furiously for order.
Hating the speakers. President Ellyson
required the clerk to make a precise
record of the objection of Mr.. Wickham
and then allowed Mr.. Fulton to proceed.
Mr.. Fulton explained that he did not
use the word in an offensive sense. but
simply as meaning that the tendency of
the questions of the Senator from Han.
over was TO divert the attention of the
Senate from the main issue.
At the hour for adjournment the debate
had not yet been closed. Mr.. Stands, OF
Southampton. arose TO speak. Mr.. Lassi-
ter. OF Petersburg, who was in favor of
the committee amendment. inquired IL
Mr.. Wickham, OF Hanover, would be sat
isfied with bill to be introduced by
unanimous consent and Immediately pass
ed amending the existing statute SO as
to increase the salary of the judges to
5000. This would meet the constitutional
objections made. Mr.. Wickham Indicated
that he would gladly support such a
bill, provided. the committee amendment
10 the general appropriation bill were also.
adopted. The chair was vacated at $50
2. NJ.
Afternoon Session.
When tn, Senate reconvened at 4
o'clock the appropriation bill was taken
up again. The Lassiter separate bill in
creasing the salaries to 5000, was Of
fered and was given immediate consdera.
tion 1t removed practically all objec-
tions ION the constitutional questions,
though there was still much opposition
from members who protested against
an advance in the salaries at this time.
The provisions regarding the reading and
printing OF the bill We're dispensed with
and the measure was then placed on its
engrossment. Judge Phlegar offered an
amendment reducing tho amount to 81
900. an increase Of $500. or half of what
the committee recommended. Judge
Phlegar pointed out that while under
the new constitution the duties Of tho
Judges had been Increased, the salaries
had already been advanced $1,000 since
this constitution went into effect. BY adj
ding 800 more the salaries would be
increased so per cent which he thought
would more than compensate for the
additional work.
After a sharp fight the Phlegar
amendment was defeated by a vote OF
81 to g.. The I.hssiter bill was then ordered
to Its engrossment, and a moment later
was passed by n vote OF Is to 9.
Buttressed by this bill the COMMITTEES
amendment to- appropriation Lii then
went through without any great diff
Guilty.
After disposing of the normal school
! matter and voting down an amendment
offered by Mr.. Lasslter, OF Petersburg,
adding 5000 to the $4,000 for the sup