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


against it.
Murchie of Calais of the committed
ON salaries and fees told the House
that the committee. despite the fact
that there was no opposition to the,
measure In the hearing, cut the pro-
posed salary from $4,000 to $500 be-
cause 1t thought this sum just one
He stated that in arriving at this de-
cision the committee secured the fig
ures relating to the cost of courts from
other states and found that in the
Union Maine stands, 41st in the total
cost OF its courts. The only ones
showing lower cost are New Hamp-
shire, North Dakota, South Dakota.
Delaware. Arizona and Nevada-all
having a smaller population-and
three Of these pay more salaries to
the Justices than Maine Three states
having smaller population, Rhode
Island, Montana and New Mexico, pay
from $4,000 to $4,000 for judges sal
aries. In reply to Bragdon of Per-
nam. Mr.. Murchie said that there is no
threat OF strike or designations in the
supreme court. He called upon the
House to repose more confidence in the
work of its committees as an essential
to the best interests of the State and
asked for the passage of the measure.
Buzzell of Belfast, floor leader of
the House. addressed the House in
support of the measure, stating that
II appears that the entire matter is
being allowed to become in the minds
OF many people contest between the
laymen and lawyers of the body. "a
mistake was made at the opening of the
session in relation to one of our COM
mittees," said Buzzell. This House
disapproved an unfavorable report of
the committee relating to the fees of
Jurors and it was recommitted to the
committee and the report has been
changed and resubmitted Do not
consider, gentlemen, that this report
Is IN any way leverage on the meas
ure now before the House providing
Tor an increase in the salaries of su-
preme court justices. AS a matter of
fact the Jurors fees measure was left
over from the last Legislature and no
one appeared for nor against it at this
session, so the members decided to let
1t remain as it was. Since that time
there has been a reversal of feeling in
the committee, and the new report is
submitted"
Mr.. Buzzell made a strong plea in
favor of the adoption of the measure
giving the justices a salary of $500
per year. The increase" said the
speaker, will be but $4,000 per wear
Ior the court and Maine will have the
satisfaction of remunerating her
Justices in manner to which they are
entitled"
Maher of Augusta made an eloquent
ana extended speech in favor of the
increase in the salaries of the justices.
He was in favor of the unanimous re-
port from the Budget Committee and
the Judiciary committee which favored
the act. He also declared that no
lawyer members of the House could
nave selfish motive in voting for the
OIL, as the constitution clearly states
that no member of the LEGISLATURE
shall be eligible to an appointment to
an office, the emoluments of which
have been increased during his term.
THE gentleman from Perham
tbragdon) says that an increase Of
slooo a year Is enough" said Maher.
Il disagree with him.. The commit
tee recommended an increase of S25pO
per year l agree with the COM
Mr. Maher declared that the cost of
maintaining the courts in Maine was
the smallest of any state in the coun-
try and that the salary of the Judges
IN this State was smaller than in any
state east of the Mississippi river.
with the exception of New Hampshire.
The best interest of the people is
to insure judiciary which will not
only administer justice but will admin
lister justice in way that will be
said Maher IF the
salary is not large enough, the State
viii not get the best legal minds as
justices OF the supreme court"
(Applause).
Asserting that he had never spoken
in the House from selfish motive.
Hinckley of South Portland opposed
the motion to indefinitely POSTPONE
He said that this was serious matter.
He believed that if the members of the
House thoroughly understood this
matter they would unanimously vote !
for this increase in the salary of
judges.
Brewster of Portland explained. at
some length, the action of the legal af-
fairs committee on the bill to increase
the pay of jurors and said in closing
that all he had said and all that had
been said about what the legal affairs
committee did to that bill had no bear
ing upon the question at issue and
that he hoped when the House voted.
that it would vote on the question of
increasing the pay of judges and moth
ing else.
McIlheron Of Lewiston spoke briefly
In opposition to the bill.
The yea and nay vote resulted so to
30 for indefinite postponement, with
II absentees.
Murchie of Calais moved reconsid-
Grafton of the vote, after he had
changed his vote from no to yes. but
the motion was lost on a voice vote.
New Legislation
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