Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-25

over again. would you expect to at
tract to the Bench OF Maine at
5000 the type of men that you want
to stand between you and your
property rights? do not think SO,
if you will just let that get right
down inside of your heart and let
that weigh even against this need OF
retrenchment. 1t is good business
Isvant to read to you what Justice
Cornish said before that committee
on the budget, and the Senators
should not forget that it is an en-
barrassing thing foh the Court of this
State. They are not men who can
come here and ask Senators and
Representatives to vote for them. 1t
is not in keeping with the dignity OF
their office, and they realize the fact.
1t is only through those who believe
in this that they can at all reach the
ears of the Legislature. But ! do
want to read this, being a large por-
ton Of what Justice Cornish stated
before the budget committee.
q I'VE cannot 80 down to the Degis-
lature and ask for things because
we are placed in a little different
We cannot place ourselves under
obligations and cannot place our
selves in position where we may be
criticised. ! have never been In
the State House during session of
Legislature. We have no means of
asking for these things which others
have a right to ask for and it is per-
fectly proper that they should.
Some good soul last session thought
it. would be fine to have heads of
departments salaries increased ten
per cent. It went through and for
about twenty-four hours I thought I
was head of department 1 found
was not. My salary remained the
same. We could not be here and
had no one to speak for us. I ap-
preciate your courtesy in asking me
to come here today before this COM
mittee.
There is the question OF salaries.
1t is a delicate subject and / feel en-
barrassed. I do feel it is my duty
to do it and hope you won't think 1
am transgressing grounds of modesty
or justice in asking increase of SAL
aries of supreme judges from $4,000
to $4,000 year."
remember that the budget COM
mittee on salaries and fees unani-
mously, without a single soul ap-'
pearing before that committee in OPP
position, reported $500.
1T does seem with the living ex-
penses as high as they are that $4,000
for members of the highest court is
not excessive. call attention to one
fact. that when judge takes the
bench he locks the door in his office
and all income from business ceases.
A judge locks the door, says good
bye to clients and devotes himself
entirely to the service of the State"
Mr.. President and members Of the
Senate, do not forget that. DO not
forget That these men are, as L
stated before, standing between you
and me and the rights of property
against those things which above all
things today are abroad in the land,
call it Bolshevism, call it whatever
you want to call 1.-THE State. the
judicial department Of this State is
the thing we have got to look to,
and, gentlemen, let us not begin our
policy of retrenchment thcre-
plenty of room for that--let lis not
begin there. ~. ..- s..
He goes on to- say: .- 1.-The State
ought to command and have in SER
vice the best legal men upon which
to place the duties and responsible
ties which rest upon the members of
the supreme court and superior
court. 1t is fair and Just and right
that this salary should be increased
from $1,000 to $4,000. In making
this figure did not figure with the
idea of lacking it up to be cut down
to $4,000 or $1,000 or $500 but placed
1T at the very figure 1 think they
ought to have. Superior court
judges now receive $4,000 in Cum
beriand and Penobscot counties.
kennebec $37C0. Androscoggin $500.
We have no superior court system
such as other states have. This
work falls upon. eight supreme
judges and Superior justices in four
counties. Taking the salaries of
Judges fifty years ago, supreme
judges from 1872 to 1903 received
S330WS from 1908 to 1921, for past
eighteen years, has remained I'M
changed, $4,000. L think you will
agree that $4,000 today is not as good
for purchasing purposes as $4,000
during the years 1903, to 1914 That
amount has remained unchanged.
IL is q serious matter to us and we
ask you to give it careful conyidera-
uon.-Eight Supreme Judges would
mean $4,000 year"
That is on tho basis of $4,000 OF
course the bill before you is a $500
proposition. And the Justice made
this statement:
Salaries of Supreme Judges would
be $4,000, just the cost of two miles
OF State road" The Justice showed
ne didn't know what State road cost
because you can't build some of our
roads any two miles for s64, 900, but
the analogy is there. IF explained
to the people," he goes on, they would
not rebel at action in granting in
crease.-I do not believe the State
would be doing an injustice to any
one in granting what we ask"
Now did not ask Justice Cornish
whether he wanted me to read that
or not, but read it because I believe
1t is right should read it, that you
might know what he said to the bud
get committee, that you might know
how he went about this matter,
Mr.. President and fellow Senators