Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-02


Gentlemen. the customs of people in
the days when the existing law was
passed were not in harmony with the
customs of the people of today. Let
us pass law that will be just and
reasonable" .
The report Of the committee on
judiciary Ought not to pass" was &C.
cepted by vote Of LOT to Is.
Murray Of Portland informed the
House that he had an amendment to
offer to the bill to provide for a uni
form poll tax and as he wished to con-
suit with members of the committee
ABOUT 1T, on his motion the act was
tabled until Wednesday morning.
"a Salaries Of Justices
Winter of Auburn started the de-
bate on the act to increase the sal
aries of the justices of the supreme
judicial court from $4,000 to $500 per
annum when he called the bill from tile
table. He yielded to Bragdon of Per-
ham who made a rafting speech
against the act. Bragdon moved that
the bill be indefinitely postponed.
THE subject of salaries and fees is
the gentleman from Perbam. Every
person on the payroll of the State or
the county has been coming to US ask.
ing for increases in salary and inti-
mating that if his salary is not raised
the office will be vacated" continued
Rep. Bragdon.
AS designations of public officials
have been less frequent than strikes
OF men engaged in industrial pursuits.
perhaps we Go not appreciate the sit
uatlon. Our tax rate is becoming
burdensome. We cannot support our
public officials the way they do in
richer. states like Massachusetts and
New York. A public official should be
content with the standard Of living in
Keeping with the wealth Of the State.
THE position of justice of the SUI
preme judicial court is most hon
orable one and invariably the position
has Been filled by the most honorable
men Maine has produced. / do not
think that the salary Is sufficient at
the present time. but if you raise this
salary Of $500 at this time, you can't
go to your homes without being ready
to re-adjust the salary list of the
whole State. The only way to re-
adjust this matter is by a recess COM
m1ttee of the Legislature to investi-
gate the whole subject of salaries and
fees. If we attempt to adjust salaries
by separate acts you will find that the
man with the. pull will get the largest
increase. l feel that I am taking the
position of the farmer, the laborer and
the taxpayer when l move the indefi-
mite postponement of this BILL"
Wadsworth of Winthrop declared
that he believed in economy and that
he felt sure all the people of Maine
did, but that this question, as all
others should be approached in a spirit
of fairness. People of Maine did not
object to paying for what they re-
ccived; what they object to paying for
is that which they do not receive. lie
did not believe that the judiciary was
the most expensive branch Of the
State government. 1t was these men
who decided the laws Of Maine, who
interpreted the laws enacted by this
Legislature. 1t was a work which re-
quired men of brilliant intellect
These justices could not delegate
their duties to others, as could the
heads of other departments.
1.-THE court" said he, stands be-
tween the big and the little. / have
in mind at this moment a case which
the court decided last year. It was
where an old lady was to lose a great
amount of property, but the court de-
cided the true way"
Maine, he said, had the best type Of
manhood in her court and he wanted
to see it remain so. He wanted a SAL
airy so that when the Governor had &C.
casion to appoint a justice of the su-
.preme court he would not have to can
vass all the lawyers in the State to
find one to accept the place.
Weatherbee .of Carroll spoke in op-
position to the bill. He opposed 1t be-
cause six Of the eight justices of the
court were between the ages of go and
20 and would, therefore, soon retire
on pension.
Rounds Of Portland speaking for the
increase declared that he had no apollo
gies to offer either for himself or for
the committee. The judges were
practically isolated from all the rest
of the people. He said that he was
one Of the low men and that he came
up with the others. ,a-,, a4' So
I'VE have kept $4,000 under the rec
concentrations of the budget commit
tee," said Mr.. Rounds, land If the
other committees of this House and
Senate will do as we'll the people Of
Maine won't object to this raise
He moved to table and recommit to
the committee. but the motion was
lost. s-<,.-
Carroll Of Norway said that he was
opposed to excessive expenditures. but
that he tried to be fair minded. He
did not think 1t right to ask the judges
OF the supreme court to work at the
same wage as the locomotive engineer
who ran the engine of the train on
which we rode, yet that was what the
present salary did.
Dodge of Portland said that as
general proposition he was against
salary raises and would fight them to
the bitter end, but this was different.
This had no relation to the other re-
quests for salary increases which had
come in. He wanted to see the Maine
court kept at its present high stand
ard and it could not be at the present
salary.
Croxford Of Newport said he had
canvassed his constituents and they
were. to man. opposed. to the raise.
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