Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-01-26


the lawyers is the text for MANY COM
plants in these days, when economy
is being largely tpracticed. bJ the
rich, and urgently preached to the
poor. Wherever members Of the le'
gal profession are employed by the
government in positions Involving
professional practice their financial
rewards are far beyond the scale Of
those received by other government
officials. however difficult dangerous
or brilliant may be the service of the
less fortunate branches of oftlcialdom.
The three highest legal officials Of
tn government, and a considerable
body OF judges, draw larger salaries
than the prime minister of Great
Britain. The highest officers Of the
navy and army, whose duties often
involve physical hardships and the
risk of death, are poorly paid in COM
parison with those who represent me
government in the courts. Today
the people are beginning to ask why
this should be, and members OF he
democracy in politics, as we'll as la
boring men, are asking the question
insistently 1t has become a burning
topic with the democratic organs OF
the press. Why should the lord chan
cellor, whose duties are largely orna.
mental, be paid more than five times
the stipend Admiral Jellicoe receives,
is the frequent query. -
Shining Target.
The Office of lord chancellor is the
most shining target for attack. That
Office is now costing the government
S125,OOO year. 1t commands sal
airy of $4,000, and a pension of $685.
600. Lord Buckmaster is drawing the
salary, and three living predecessors,
Lords Halsbury, Loreburn and Hal
dane, are receiving pensions.
Lord Halsbury held the office for
ten years and has been retired for
ten years. Consequently he has
drawn three-quarters Of million dol
lars for ten years services. Lord
Halsbury is 80 years old and although
still vigorous, cannot be expected TO
continue long on the pension roll.
kLord Loreburn held office for seven
years and has been retired little
more than three years, so that he has
BEEN paid $475,O00. He is So years
old. Lord Haluane, was in aftice two
years. and has drawn pension some.
thing more than a year. He is just
under 90. years of age.
TMavrRe AsnlIith
Lord BHckmaster has sat on the
woolsack insthe house of lords lit.
tie more than one year. Current COS.
sip among politicians has it that he
is keeping the Wpolsack warm for Mr.
Asquith, twhoy according to belief will
succeed thereto when the war has
ended. A prime minister who con
ducts the cabinet through a great
European war hardly could be grudg
ed any reward entailinES dignity, ease
and good income. Lord Buckmas
ter is "a years old. andsx before his
elevation (for elevation isS, the only
word English writer's consider com
mensurate' with the process of rails
ing a statesman to the keepership Of
the Great Seal and the King 'stScon
science) he was not popularity Rated
as one of the greatest lights of the
British bar. If the understanding fol
the reversion of the office to Mr.. AS
quith be true, Lord Buckmaster may
enjoy long life with an assured in
come of $4,000 for comparativel,
brief services.
| Lucrative Posts,
Even more lucrative than the dig
nifty of the lord chancellorship arr
the posts of attorney general and so
licitor general, The law officers, a:
they are called, have been paid sal
aries of $4,000 and 100000 respect
lively But their duties include prac
tice in the courts, and for court ap
pearances they receive fees, so tina
the salaries have been regarded al
retainers. During the fiscal yea
1894 the attorney general cost thu
government about 100000 for salar!
and fees, and the solicitor genera
about $4,000. Sir Rufus 1saacs, nov
chief justice, who visited the United
States last summer as one of thu
committee to arrange the Anglo
French loan, was attorney genera
part of that year, and Sir John 81
mon, now home secretary, part of thu
year Sir John Simon was solicito
general part of that year, and 81
Stanley Buckmaster (now lord chan
cellor), part Of the year.
During the year mentioned ST
John SimOn's receipts from the gov
erpment for his services were, II
American money, just about one hun
dred thousand dollars. This was ;
record year and the average for thu
preceding ten years was much lower
Sir Rufus lsaacs gained very hand
some fee for appearing as counse
representing the government in tn