Bradford County telegraph., 1906-08-17

The IAve Oak Democrat gives the
following strong and timely editorial
'ndorsement 10 one Of the pending con
'situtional amsndments:
There 10 one amendment 70 the con.
Itisottou Of Florida 60 be voted on at
ne November election which the people
lnouid not lose Nlght of, and it is so
paaanly 10 the intereot Of right and jus.
ace enas We don't see how any fair
minded man can object TO IL. We r.
ler TO the amendment which provides
Lot an increAse In the salaries Of our
ss.se supreme Oourt judges to siOooFr
Annum eech. We believe their present
pay 10 4S00O Per annum each. The posi-
tion o. 2 supreme court judge in any
Ssase IN the Union n rightly considered
- IN exAltod one and it IA the invariable
cuseom o. the people to select with
great care the men upon whom this high
oisttnCtton % 10 be conferred. The
dusaee Of the position are arduOus and
exactang, calling not only for deep and
varied learning In the law, but for char.
oCeers dignity, conscience, industry and
peI.onal repute beyond reproach. In
SoGtso0, the supreme court judge must
nave come mp nom the ranks of the bar
wish established reputation a. sue,
Cesoful prACtitioner In vital touch with
the law - . living force and progress.
ivo omenOo-n0t moro cumbrous mass
Of deed learning embedded in calf bound
volumeo. It 10 the glory of our country
and . large part Of its strength that our
supreme judges are, with rare excep
lions. men Of this character. And herr
IN Florida We are conspicuously forum
aeo IN having supreme bench composed
Of judges whose motives and abilities
are alike beyond question and to whom
the bar and people Ill look with fules
confidence for just decisions of issue
involving the lives, liberties and proper
ty rights Of our citizens, which ar,
being constantly submitted to that higl
court.
Mem who rise 10 such exacting re
quiremeuts and do such work a. that ar
laborers richly worthy Of their hire, an
no right-thinkiug citizen of FlonG
would begrudge them at least decen
pay tor their services. They are no
getting II ct present. Three thousan
dollars per year or 485OO per year is in
adequate and unjust compensation to
man measuring mp to the standard OF
supreme court judge and doing the wor
that he Ii required TO do. To hold N
salary down TO such level as that is b
cheaper the court both in its own esteer
and the esteem Of the public. and ii
inevitable result In the end will b a..
only cheap mon-aecond rate me- ,r
seek the supreme bench Of Florida, iC
lawyers Of superior ability and charal
ter cannot afford to sacrifice the larg,
compensation Of . successful practi,
for flle honos Of tho judgeship. 1t ma
be that some other state In the UniC
pays its supreme judges a. little rs Flo
IDA does, bat we doubt Il, and it is ce
tain that In nearly all Of the states tn,
are better paid than here.
The present salaries were fixed MAJ
yeAIo ego. and since then the cost
living has increased 1t least 80 per ce,
This consideration alone should reno
Ill doubt - 70 the justice and proprie
Of adopting the amendment prOvidil
for the 1900 salary. IL 10 . fact, we a
reliably informed, that during the Ia
few yeass four Judges have been COZ
pelled b retire from the supreme ben
of Florida for no other reason than tn
the salary would not permit them
properly support their families, educa
their childrou and lay mp even {
smallest pittanoe Tor old age, when tn
would no longer Be able either to ser
upon the bench or return to the pra
Hoo. There should BE- no such par
mony on tho part Of . great state
paying for the services Of faithful pu
10 servants in discharging ::the high,
judicial functions Of the commOnweall
The tax psyees would never feel t
added burdap, end uext November
% I'll 20 10 to polls and make the v,
Tor the ameasdmont unanimous.
The supreme court Of Florida mi
not be permitted 70 Degenerate int
house o2 refuge for broken-down
second. rAts lawyers willing to We
cheap"