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

Morrison Of Penobscot had taken
from the table the Senate Doc. No.
81, relating to the salaries Of supreme
! court justices. which had been tabled
pending acceptance Of the report of
committee on salaries and fees max
ing the salary $500. Morrison Of
fered an amendment making the sal
airy $4,000.
Harrington of Kennebec arose in
protest. He said the Budget Commit
tee had unanimously recommended a
salary Oft $4,000 and the committee on
,, salaries and fees unanimously rec
commended $500, with no opposition
at either hearing. He knew of what
| &C nfronted the Legislature in the de-
| mands for money but appealed to
senators not to begin the policy of
retrenchment with the judicial
branch of the government, which
| safeguarded the rights and safety of
the people. The lawyers know and
. realize the situation; the others
should apply their business methods
to it.
The salary of the justices have
been $4,000 since 1903 and personally
know that we are likely to lose some
members of the bench, for these men
cannot afford to remain with the
present salary. Suppose the slate
was wiped clean: could we get men
! we want for the bench for that money
to protect your rights and property
harrington read Chief Justice Cor
nish's statement before the Budget
Committee and urged the Senate to
remember that the judges when they
went to the bench locked the doors
to all clients and devoted all their
time to the services of the State. He
was emphatic in his belief that the
people of Maine did not expect the
judicial department of their State to
be cut down or hampered in any way.
Gillin of Penobscot heartily en-
! dorsed what had been said. The
action of our supreme court justices
for 100 years has been proof absolute
that they had held sacred the trust
of the people. 1t need not be said
that any justice Of our supreme court
could earn five times as much as his
present salary and he believed that
the gentlemen who represent here the
business interests of the State ought
, to look into that and the fact that
| the court is safeguarding our lives
and liberty and property and when
! we die, protect our loved ones and
their property.
They don't work a mere eight
hours; they work into the night and
when you awaken in the morning,
you awaken under reign of law and
order, enforced by them.
The salary you are going to give
them is but drop in the bucket.
compared with the great service a
great court is giving the great peo-
pie Of the great State of Maine. He
hoped the business men of the Sen
ate. in the interests of business and
law and order, will give the supreme
court justices of Maine at least
enough for them to live respectfully
while they are serving the people.
Cobb of Kennebec--I want to speak
to free from my mind what has been
on 1t since l heard Justice Cornish
address the Budget Committee, be-
cause I have heard all the reports Of
our spending money and running into
bankruptcy I feel that we should
cut where needed, but give where it
is deserved and feel that $500 is
none too much for the supreme court
. justices. We should give premium
for ability, quality and preparedness.
When we go to law. we want men
of aptness and fairness of mind. We
have them. highest in the profession.
If the salary is high, we should have
men equal to 1.-THE best is none too
good The salary should be made SO
that the young lawyers should start
out with ambition to land on the su-
preme bench. I feel that they should
have the $4,000 recommended by the
committee.