Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1911-02-16
HON. RUFUS HARDY ON IN
CREASE OF JUDGES SALARIES
[speelal % The pryan Gagle. ]

Especial to The Bryan Eaglel
Washington, Feb. 16.--lf federal
judges can not rear and educate their
children with their salaries of $4,000
and $1,000 year. the salary TO con-
tinue during all the years they are on
the bench and for all the years they
may live after they have retired from
the bench, how do the judges who pre-
side over state courts manage to do
the trick on salaries Of $4,000 or less
year?
This was the query put to the house
of representatives by Hon. Rufus
Hardy, of Texas, in one of the strong
est speeches delivered on the floor
against the proposed increase in the
salary of federal judges. Mr.. Hardy
effectively disposed of the argument
made by Mr. Tawney, of Minnesota,
who declared that the federal judges
ought to have increased salaries, as 1t
was next to impossible for them to ed
ucate their children on their meagre
life salaries Of $4,000 for district judges
and $1,000 for circuit judges. That the
poposed increases were defeated, re-
fleets credit to the member from
Corsicana, Texas, whose speech in OPP
position made marked impression
upon the house and was received with
vigorous applause.
1T seems strange to me-" declared
Mr.. Hardy, that members of this
house seemingly recognize some kind
of right by-which federal officials per-
forming the same class of duties
should receive higher salaries than
state officials. The supreme court
judges OF my state, as I remember,
receive salary each of $4,000 a year.
They have the same class of children
to educate as the children of the fed
eral judiciary that were so eloquently
referred to by the gentleman from
Minnesota (Mr Tawney) as being a
reason why he favored this increase.
He would increase the salaries of
these federal Judges because. forsooth,
they must educate their children along
a scale of costliness suitable and in
keeping with their dignity and station.
The district judges in my state hold
their positions for $4,000 a year and
must be elected every four years.
The reason why the state salaries
are held down is simple and plain.
The taxes we pay for the larger sal
aries of federal officialdom are not
from direct taxation. as are the sal
aries OF the state officials, but come
indirectly, and because the people do
not feel the weight of the tax or feel
the fingers of the taxgatherer as they
go down into our pockets we are as
senting to higher salaries from time
to time whenever the demand Is made
upon US with sufficient urgency. We
raise the salaries of the Judiciary to-
day; we raise the administrative Of (
ficers tomorrow; we raise the salaries
OF the military arm of the government
next day. The end will never come
until we have an official aristocracy
With life tenure in office.
Life tenure is a thing that in itself
ought to be stencil in the nostrils of I
every man who believes in the per. I
Detuity of free government and the
'ule of the people. cloud applause.)
In my opinion, Mr.. Speaker, the
Judges who are elected by the people
stand in every way as high as the
Judges appointed by pull or favor or
rood fortune. The supreme judges of
ny state would be shining lights in
he circuit courts. of the United States
md would grace the supreme court Of
he United States. vet they get only h
lalf the pay, and they have their chill
Iren to educate, too. (Ap-lause.l
In answer to the argument that the
ligh-salaries corporation LAWYERS can
lot afford to accept positions as
Judges at a much lower salary. Mr..
iardv stated that did not make him
eel bad. that he preferred for the
eneh men whose lines have not faller
mong the corporation barons. mag.
ates and potentates."