The Washington times., 1911-01-26
THE INCREASE OF SALARIES
WHERE THEY ARE NOT
NEEDED.

The attitude of Congress toward the
salaries of the Federal judiciary is
typical of the general disposition OF
the national legislature to increase the
compensation of people who least need
it, and give no consideration to those
most needing it.
1t is but very few years since the
salaries of all Federal Judges, from the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
down to the newest district judge,
were roundly increased.
Yet right atop of this comes the
proposition further to advance all cir
cult judges from 81 900 to $4,000. 1t
was voted down in the House by the
close showing of l35 ayes to l57 noes.
TO him that hath shall be given
never had better illustration in pro-
fame affairs than has been given by the
carnival of salary raises in this Gov
ernment in recent years. There is
hardly a man in the Federal service,
holding a position for the honor, dis
tinction, and opportunity of which
men will strive and struggle, who has
not had his salary handsomely raised.
There is always good excuse for it. We
do not question that. Nor do we pro-
test the policy of liberaIity in salaries,
if it is justified by the services Sc
cured.
We concede freely that the cost of
living has greatly increased, and that
the opportunities in outside employ
ment have become so much larger that
the Government needsNto pay npre if
it would keep its average of capacity
and character up to that of the bust
ness and professional world.
But if that be true as to the higher
and more. distinguished places, is it not
true, also, of the humber and poorer
paid positions? If the difficulty of
supporting a family on $1,000 a year
the salary of a circuit Judges such
that there is need of raise to $4,000,
why not some consideration for the
man of 500 a year? Is it not barely
possible that he could make intelligent
use of an increase to 81 600 year?
1t is good to observe that at last one
effort at raising salaries in the higher
ranks of service has been blocked, and
that in its blocking attention has been
called vigorously to the disparity be-
tween the $1,000 man and the 500
man.
The 500 man has the same physical
needs as the 81 900 man, or the $4,000
man. He must eat food bought at
present prices, he must buy the cloth
ing on which our benefcent Congress
has thoughtfulIy imposed tariff rates
which have become the largest argu-
Ihnt in favor of turning out of power
the party responsible for them. Listen
TO this plea for the 1000 man, which
Representative Tawney made yester-
day, and then ask yourself:
If all that eloquence is justified i'll
portrayal of the worldly woes of a
81 900 Judge who has a life certainty
of his salary, for heavens sake who
shall be able fairly to present the case
of the poor devil at $7O0!" Here is
what Mr. Tawney said for the man who
at $1,000 a year cannot decently sup
port his family:
Every member of this House knows
that there is no man occupying posi- |
ton of circuit judge or of district judge, |
who is dependent wholly upon his sal |
airy for his living, who can live in keep
ing with the dignity of the office which !
he holds and at the same time educate |
his children as he desires them to be
educated, and as they ought to be edu- |
Gated. on S,00 a year, even when his |
travelling expenses are paid.
Every man on the floor of this House |
who has children feels il is his duty to
educate them, and he knows very well
that at least one-fourth of the present |
salary of the United States judges is |
required annually to educate single ]