The Washington times., 1911-01-26

boy or girl in any of the colleges of the
United states. Deduct from the salary
of Federal judge the amount neces-
Sary to educate two children, and what
has he left TO live IN? Without an in,
come independent of his salary he would
have to resign. Every man on the
floor OF this House knows that circuit
court judge of the United States, living
| as his associates expect him to live,
| must necessarily and he does expend
more than he receives from the Gov
ernment. But, Mr.. Speaker, there is an
| other phase of this question. We are
gradually drifting into a condition In
| this country where the public look upon
a Judicial officer as being next to in
| competent for the position IL he in any
way mixes up or becomes Identified
with any industry or business, es-
pecially corporate business He can
not do II. The position of circuit judge
or any Federal Judge is today precluded
by reason of public sentiment from par
tlclpation In almost any Industrial enter
prise. The moment anyone of them Is
the business of any corporation, that
moment their judgments are looked
upon with suspicion and their usefulness
upon the bench is impaired. If 1t were
not for this absolutely false standard of
judicial integrity, judges who are for
tunate enough to have anything TO in
vest might piece out their salary suf-
hcient to make decent living, a living
In Keeping with the dignity of the posi-
ton they hold. / say, Mr.. Speaker, that
when we consider this question upon
the basis of the services rendered, the
position these men occupy and must oc-
cupy among their associates, $500 is not
too much for the Government of the
United States to nay for services of
that kind, and want to say that the
Government of the United States is pay
ing great deal more in a great many
instances for service where the service
is not comparable in Importance to the
services rendered by Judges of the
United States courts. / sincerely hope.
therefore, that this amendment will pre-
vail and will be adopted. [Applause.l
So much for the needs of the $1,000
man. Let us assume that all Mr..
Tawney said is true and justified.
Granting it, then how much of en-
phasis is given to the remarks by Mr..
Pearre of Maryland, who, in opposing
the increase for the judges, said a
word for the forgotten employees of the
lower grades. These also have children
to educate, wives to maintain in COM
fort, sclf-respect TO maintain. Mr..
Pearre suggested the need of these more
modest workers in these words:
Mr.. Speaker. if there be any in
creaseS, let those increases be in the |
way of a retirement fund for the teach. |
erS, which was defeated here the other |
day by depriving the District Commit |
tee of its just rights under the Consti- |
tuition and depriving the citizens of this !
great District OF its proper representa- |
tion and its rights upon this floor. Let |
there be liberal pensions. Mr.. Speaker. |
for the old soldiers: let there be in |
Creases in salaries, if You will, in favor |
of the rural free-delivery carriers. the |
letter carriers; in favor of postoffice |
clerks and others.
why does not the argument that |
there has been an increase in the cost |
of living apply with a great deal more !
force to those than to gentlemen, many |
of whom have independent means, and |
all of whom are now enjoying, not only |
positions for life, without any fear for |
the future, but positions that paw them
an adequate Salary-S70O0 a year-With |
additional compensation defraying their
expenses when they travel away from
their homes, and a pension on retire
ment after they reach the age of sew
enty, when they become superannuated,
upon full and unstinted salary"
Are we forever TO build up greater
and greater class distinctions, to sepa-
rate more and more the strata of So
ciety, by making such invidious dis
tinctions? 1t cannot be done with
safety to our very institutions. The
Government ought to be one employer
instinct with the larger recognition of
every mans right to a respectable liv-
ing and a decent wage with which to
pay for it. We bemosn the widening
chasm between the rich and the poor,
we fear the social results from it. Yet
the Government itself, which should set
A good example of social equity, is
become the greatest offender against
The equities.