Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1909-02-10
The Salary Question.

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100000, and an increase in the
salary of the federal judges is also
contemplated. 1t may be we'll for
our legislators to consider the effect
of the increases proposed. Until
Grants time the presidents salary
was SIS, 5000. 1t was then raised
to $4,000, and now it is proposed
to double it again. There has al
ready been large increase in the
allowance made for the expenses
of the White House, and with each
increase in the expenditures of the
chief executive, the country makes
nearer approach to the court GUS
toms of the old world. Is it i'm
possible to resist the temptation to
ape monarchical institutions? Is
the sentiment which led our fore
fathers to establish a republic and
to frame it with view to simplic-
itv and economy-js this senti-
ment, after all, too weak to stand
against the pressure for the show
and the oStentation that accom-
pany authority in the Orient and
in Europe? Must the president
live so far above the people who
pay the taxes, and so far from the
producers of wealth as to be thrown
entirely with the richer members
of society? There is a tendency,
seemingly irresistible, to live up to
the salary, no matter how large it
is, and doubling of the presidents
salary would mean an increase in
the complexity and in the expen-
siveness of life at the White House.
1t is proposed to withdraw the
$4,000 travelling allowance, in
case the presidents salary is in
creased, but that would not be
permanent; in very short time
the new standard of life would abb
serb the presidents salary and there
would be the same clamor for trav-
cling expenses. Is it not time to
consider whether such expanding
expenses are in harmony with the
spirit Of our government and with
the ambitions and aspirations of
our people?
There is talk also of an increase
of the salary of federal judges, but
is there not also another side of the
question? The Judge, too, lives
up to his salary, and the amount
that he receives largely decides in
what social circle he will move.
Give him $4,000 year and his
summer vacations will be spent
where he comes in contact with
those who, in taking a brief respite
from the routine of life, seek some
quiet and inexpensive resort.
Make the judges salary $4,000
and he will select new summer
resort where he will be thrown in
to association with those who
spend a larger sum upon their
summer vacations. Raise the sal
airy to $4,000 and he will make
another move and enter a new class
and he is naturally more Or less af-
fected by the opinion of the class
with which he associates. Public
opinion is potent influence even
with judge. Dooley says that
whether the constitution follows
the flag or not is a disputed ques-
ton, but that there is no doubt
that the supreme court follows the
election returns. Not only does
the result of an election uncon-
Sciously influence the mind of
Judges, but the conversation which
he is in the habit of hearing and
the opinions that are expressed in
his presence, imperceptibly mould
his thought. If a judges salary is
such that his association is with
those who enjoy large salaries,
and he is shut off from contact
with those who struggle for exis-
tence, it is impossible that he
should not feel their influence.
That man is known by the com.
Pany he keeps is an old saying; it
is no less true that his opinions are
materially affected by the company
he keeps.
An increase in the salaries of the
judges will not only determine the
social environment of the Judges,
but it will contract the circle from
which judges may be selected.
When the president looks about
tor the United Stats court, he nat
urally looks for one who enjoys an
income substantially equal to the
salary which the appointee is to
receive, and the larger the judicial
salary, the greater the certainty
that the Judge will be selected
from among those who have dis
tinguished themselves as the repre-
sentatives of corporations, for those,