Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-21

to carry out their contracts If any
of them should resign or die, so that
others would have to be appointed 10
fill the vacancies, | have no doubt
there would be many applicants fer
each place at the salaries now fixed
and all competent men.
This is no reason, it is true, why the
salaries should not be based on diff
ferent schedule for the future but
the matter is one which, in every way,
demands much consideration, careful
thought and patient work, to deter
mine what is right and proper re-
Enumeration in each case.
If the whole subject is passed over
to the next Legislature and comInis-
sion or committee appointed to attend
to the matter, as above suggested, in
the meantime the public will have a
chance to be heard, through the col
umns Of the press. on the stump, and
in other ways, upon their side of the
question.
In regard to the salary which this
bill especially provides for, | wish to
say first in my judgment the present
salary is not so large as it should be-
but whether it should be increased from
$1,000, as it now is, to 1920, is a queS-
ton. From 1873 to 1880, a period of %
years, no less a person than our emil
nent chief justice was judge of this
court. During this time his salary was
$2o0o $lf25 and | think for Il year or
two S2109 as il now is. During the
greater part of this period the court
had full concurrent jurisdiction with
the supreme judicial court in all civil
cases IN kennebec county, except real
actions and equity matters; and it
had Iull criminal Jurisdiction, incud-
ing the trial of murder cases. From
1870 to less than two years ago the
Hon. Oliver q. Hall was judge Of this
court with said salary of $1,000, and
with substantially the same jtlrisdic-
ton which the court now has. The
present incumbent has held the posi-
ton Tor less than two years and is
eminently fitted for it, and without
doubt IS giving complete satisfaction
TO the public, and would be the last
man in Maine to detract in anv WAY
from the influence and dignity of any
OF our Judicial officers rather would
/ STRAIN point to see them fully paid
lor theif services; but they are public
oThcefs and the question of taxation is
constantly before us
ne state tfeasurer'S report for 1912
SHOWS that he paid out during that
year Tor salaries of public officers in
ciuding the judiciary, but not includ
ing the pay roll of the Legislature
ABOUT S500,000 dollars An increase If
salary as proposed in this bill. from
Szfo0 to 4200 would be an increase of
ABOUT 90 per cent. | have no doubt
that many of the 81 bills providing for
an increase of salary of other public
oihcefs above referred to, in Justice to
all may call for as large d per cent
OF increase as does this: and no doubt
the public officers who have not asked
the Legislature at this session for anv
increase Will, in justice, require pro-
portlonately large increases. II .his
percentage OF increase is applied to all
the off1ceTs of the State il would in
crease the salary roll $3.50, 900, which
would have to be raised by taxation
in some form or other
Hence | think you will see the ms
tee Of having this subject patiently
ana carefully considered. taking much
more time than is possible for the
Legislature, at this state of its session
to give to this important matter.
If YOU should feel that there are any
special cases among the 81 pending.
where the salaries are so radically
low as to demand an increase for the
next two years, l would not be OPP
posed TO the same, in case you provide
commission to read just the entire
salary list, whose report may be acted
upon by the next Legislature.
/ cannot believe but what the distin-
gulshed judge of our superior court
VIII agree with the position | am talk
ing upon this matter, and would pre-
Ter to wait two years for an increase
of salary rather than To be subjected
TO criticism as he might be under the
act which you have passed.
That part of the act which changes
the jurisdiction of the superior court
Tor kennebec county and the superior
court for Cumberland county. in both
civil and criminal matters, in my judg-
ment is not of such importance that
the administration of justice in either
county VIII be in any practical way
nlndered or delayed for the next two
wears on account of my veto of this
act, Tor the reasons above given, but |
think they should come TO me in a
separate bill from that in which the
salary of the justice of the superior
court for Kennebec county is fixed
especially as il includes the jurisdic-
ton of two different courts in two
counties of the State and applies To
the salary of only one of the judges
of said court
trust that yoa may act upon the
suggestions herein contained rather
than present tn Ele for approval the
50 measures fer increase of salaries
or any considerable part thereof at
this session of the Legislature.
fSigned) WILLIAM T. HAINES.
Nov gentlemen, just word on this
matter. As you will remember, short
~ after we convened here bills began
to come in for an increase of salaries;
they came in to such an extent that
special committee on salaries and Tees
was appointed after we had been in
session about four weeks. That COM
mttee had a feeling at that time that
this was not the proper time or the
proper way Of taking care of the aues-
ton of salaries and fees, but mad a
feeling that there should not be