The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-01-25

People Complain of High
Remuneration for Orna-
mental job.

NV Asgoclated Preasl

ett6yakkAHOElAISQaEIE
LONDON; Jan. 25.-( correspo
ence OF The Associated Pressl The
heavy toll OF the lawyers is the text
FOR many compla ints In these days
when economy is being 1aTgly prac-
sieed BY the rich, and urgently
preached Ito the poor Wherever mem-
naoyedi by the governmentlfn positions.
involving professional practice their
financial rewards far beyond the scaie
ofIthose received by other: government
on ,Eials, however difficult, dangerous
otfbrilliant may be the service of the
leRg fortunate branches OF Official:
The three highest legal officials OF
the government, and considerable
body Gof 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 the
government in tho courts. Today the
peopleFnre beginning to ask why this
should be, and members Of the dem
ocracy in politics as well as labortng
mehlare asking the question fnsistent.
~. II has become burning topic
with the Democratic organs OF the
press. Why should the Lord Chancel.
2lor3 whose duties are largely ornamen.
tai; be paid more than FIVE times the
stipend Admiral Jellicoe receives, Is
afrequent query.
The foffice OF Lord Chancellor is the
most shining target for attack. That
office is now costing the government
8S125,000 year. 1t commands a sal
ary of $4,000 and pension Of $685.
600 Lord Bucltmaster is drawing the
Galary, and three living predecessors,
Lords Halsbury, Loreburn and Hal
dane are receiving pensions.
Lord Halsbury held office for ten
years and has been retired for ten
years. Consequent he has drawn
three quarters OF million dollars for
ten years services. Lord Halsbury
5 Is ninety years old. and although stili
Vigorous, cannot be expected to con.
4tinue long on the pension roll. Lord
Loreburn held office for seven years
and has been retired little more
than three years, so that he has been
paid $475, 900. He is 50 years old.
Lord FIaldane was In office two years
and has drawn pension something
more than year. He Is just under
stxtyFyears of age.
Lord Buckmaster has sat on the
Swoolsack in the House OF Lords a lit
StleSmore than one year. Current gos-
SIP among politicians has it that he
isSkeeping the woolsack warm for Mr..
AaQuith, who, according to belief will
succeed thereto when the war has
ended. "a Prime Minister who con-
duties the cabinet through great Eu.
sropean war, hardly could be grudged
anyireward, entailing dignity, ease and
"a good zincome.@ LordS Buckmasterk Is
iifty.four years old, and before his
elevation (for elevation is the only
word English writer's consider COM
mensurate with the process Of raising
e sstatesman to the keepership OF the
Great Seal and the Kings conscience)
heSwas not popularity rated as one OF
the greatest lights Of the British bar.
IL the Understanding for the rcyersion
Sof the office to Mr. Asquith be true,
Lord Buckmaster may enjoy a lone
s1ife with an assured income OF sos
900 for comparatively brief services.
Even more lucrative than the dig
the posts Of Attorney General and So.
Hector General. These Law Offices,
asithey are called, have been paid sal
aries of $85, 900 and $4,000 respective.
~. But their duties include practice
inEthe court1, and for court appear
ances they receive fees, so that the
Ealarios have been regarded as retain
ers! During the fiscal year 1894 the
Attorney General cost the government
aobut, $4,000 for salary and fees, and
the Solicitor General about $4,000.
Sir Rufus Isaacs, now Chief Justice,
who visited the United States last
summer as one of the committee to-
arrange the Anglo.French loan, was
Attorney General part Of that year,
and Sir John Simon, now ONE Secre-
tarys part Of the year. Sir John ST.
monSwas Solicitor General part 0! that