The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-02-02
THE PAY OF RETIRED JUDGES.

Under the above head, we pub
lshed an article in our last issue and
invited discussion on this important
subject,
In response, a number of communl-
cations have been received, and we
make no apology for devoting apor-
ton of the usual editorial space to
give the views of those whose uames
are appended. They all present logl-
cal arguments in accord with the
trend of emil htened public opinion,
and their careful perusal is urged by
those especially who oppose this
law.
"You have requested me to state my
views upon the proposed repeal OF the
Judges Pension law.
at has been said that that proposition
meets with the hearty approval OF the
citizens of Maryland in general. The fact
is, have heard some of my neighbors
signify their assent to this proposition.
| must confess myself that / was not
very much surprised by this sudden turn
of affairs, because l know only too well
the great burden of taxation under
which our people are struggling, and
here assert that no man Ill the county
feels the pressure of taxation more than
lido, and that no man in Hartford county
pays more in taxes to our county and
State, in proportion to the actual income
arising from the property taxed. No
man, therefore, in the county would be
better pleased at a reduction of taxa
ton than myself The expense of main
tanning my family is also very much
larger in proportion to my income than
like. and l would be very much pie ased
tomake my income little more in excess
of the outgo, but you may trust me when
l say that am not going to begin that
reform by striking off those items of cost
that are most essential to my life or my
health.
THERE'S no office in the gift of the peo-
pie of MARYLAND of more Importance than
the office of him who is to sit and judge
between man aud man; between a strong
man and a weak man; between a poor
man and a rich man; between the soul
less corporation and the private citizen;
between the State and those who make
it their pleasure and their profit to trans
gress the laws of the State, and thus
overthrow the happiness and well-being
of mankind. To fill that office so as to
make it what it now is in this State,
calls forth the best qualities of heart and
mind of which the human being is capa-
BILE. That office is force in the educa-
ton. the uplifting and the protecting OF
ha Tod
and when it is filled by man who unites
all those qualities so necessary to hll 1t
for the well-being of the community in
which we live, who is there amongst US
that will begrudge the money that
makes the office attractive to such per
sons who alone are capable of filling it
"If one wishes to see this matter in its
fullest light only let him imagine this
office il the hands of an incompetent
or a constituencies man. Language
would fail me to describe the almost help
less condition in which society would
find itself, and | shall not attempt it.
but, some one will ask, does it take
money to make good judge? will not
evade the issue. | say, yes, it takes
money to make a good judge, and com.
pared with what a farmer receives, it
takes a good deal of it l will not say
that it requires money in every case to
make good judge. for if it happens that
you can find man who already hasit in
abundance, and one who would like the
honor and would also be capable of fill
ing such position, you might have a
good judge without much money. But
where do you see such men? They may
grow elsewhere, but they have not been
seen in any great abundance in Mary.
land. So will pass by the exception,
and look little at the rule, that it takes
both salary and pension to make good
judge
This is no new proposal. The United
States judges are paid salaries and also
have pensions. These men have almost
always been of the highest character,
and when we come to consider how few
complaints have been entered against
these men, through the length and
breadth of this whole land, it cannot be
said that this system is at fault, but
there is good ground for saying that the
system has contributed much TO this
very happy result.
Let US look this question squarely in
the face, and let every man ask himself
squarely and fairly the question-would
you, had you the requisite qualifications,
abandon law practice, the remunera.
ton of which was in excess of Judge
salary, to accept that place, however
honorable? Would you be willing, say
at the age of ffty-six years, to accept
that Office knowing that you must aban.
don your whole business, and knowing
that at the end of the fifteen years service
that you would be retired without pay,
when if you had kept up your practice.
at the end of fifteen years your chances oil
income would not be impaired say,
would you do it | think you would
not do it, and think you are an unfair
man if you will expect Others to do what
you would not do yourself
'Iappeal to all thinking men to rise up
in their might and make known to all
our people the unreasonableness of the
present outcry, and especially appeal TO
all who have interested themselves in the
work of the Law enforcement League,
to come to the front and do what they
can to stay this unwarranted attempt to
make the office of judge contemplate in
the minds of all our people. beg of you
all, if such an idea haunts you, not to al.
low the notion that perhaps some un.
worthy judge may reap the fruits Of this
law, to turn you away. Wrongs may
have been done by judges in different
parts of the State, and there may have
been more of them who are unworthy
than we know of. but that is not the
question. The office of judge must be
made attractive to our best men for all
time to come 1t is the present only that
is ours. The past we can never recall,
but the future is before US, and let those
who come after us know that this gen.
enration has not lived in vain.
Perryman." CHAs w. MICHAEL.
81 desire to add few words to what
has already been said respecting the pay
of retired judges.
1.-THE policy of repeating this law is
short-sighted when we reflect upon the
good results that are bound to follow
the consistent effort to strengthen our
judiciary. Maryland has never suffi-
GENTLY compensated its judges in order
to attract the best material to the bench
While it is true that slight increase was
made few years ago, yet there is scarce.
ly successful lawyer at the bar today
who would be attracted by the pay they
receive
1T is important to get the very best
men, and a competence must be assured
those who are dependent upon their exer.
tons to make living. High calibre
men are always cheap at almost any
price, W hen we measure the results.
Under the Constitution, our judges
must be lawyers, and out Of the number
of those Learned in the law" the per
centage who make good judges is small
indeed So when we find men of I he de