Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-07
More Pay for Judges
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More ray Tor JuQgeS
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bench were worth $500 a year;
that they could earn that or more
in private practice.
Joseph p. Gould of Bangor,
speaking for the Penobscot Bar As
ISOLATION and for himself. urged the
committee to make a favorable re-
port upon the bill. He said that
members of the legal fraternity IN
my opinion" said Mr.. Gould,
MAINE judges are grossly under
paid"
w. B. Shelton of Lewiston on be-
half of the Androscoggin Bar AS
ISOLATION endorsed the increase. He
thought the people were fair and
broad minded and wanted the
judges of their courts paid as they
should be and that there was no
reasonable ground why the increase
should not be allowed.
Judge Robert Cony of the Augusta
municipal court, and Councillor Pea
cock both endorsed the bill. as did
State Assessor John Il. Dearborn,
who told the committee that to
grant it would only require about
1-ICU OIL Il mill TAX TO pay.
Hon. Matthew Morrill, Of Gray,
was the only one to appear in OPP
position to the bill. He said that no
those potato and hay growers who
were filing petitions in bankruptcy
and it was his opinion that the call
came from the legal fraternity
which was looking for steady job
clear down to the grave.
In his opinion If we wanted more
efficient judges it would be neces-
sary to go out of the State, as was
done in the case of coal dictator
and forestry commissioner; seemed
you couldn't get good men in
Maine. He. did not think judges
now on the bench would resign if
this increase was not given and he
did not believe that they were be-
hind the move. If judges had to
make their mistakes good financially
he should not like to say how much
salary they ought to have, but
thought that the State ought to pro-
vide them with an indemnity bond.
Compensation Of Recorder of Lewis
ton Municipal Court
The first hearing before the COM
mlttee on salaries and fees was on
the bill to increase the compensa-
ton of the recorder of the Lewiston
municipal court. Rep. Fl. f. Holmes
of Lewiston. who introduced the bill,
was the only one to appear in con-
nection with it. He presented the
reasons why it was felt the increase
should be made in very clear man.
ner and said that the fines and fees
collected by this court and turned
into the Androscoggin County treas
urer were greater each year than
those turned in by the superior
court of the county.
Clerk Hire in kennebec Offices
Ralph Leighton. register of pro-
bate for Kennebec County. appeared
for the bill giving the county COM
mlssioners of that county authority
to increase the amount of clerk hire
in the county offices as it was need
ed. He said that the whole object
of the bill was to avoid the necessity
of coming to the Legislature every
time ain additional clerk was re-
CURED. There were times when
more clerks were needed temper
arily, and this would provide for
such emergency. 1t was felt that the
county commissioners were better
the various officers for clerks than
was the Legislature. AS a result of
this lack. he said the registry of
deeds office was frequently two
months behind in it's work.
Senator Hinckley-I think this
would be the first time such author
ity has been granted to county.
Mr.. Leighton-I beg your par
don; the Legislature of two years
ago did the same thing for the reg
lstry of deeds of Oxford County.
Rep. Rounds-Committee didn't
do it; must have been done under
handed.
Mr.. Leighton-All I know is that
it is in the statute.
Rep. kounds-That all may be,
but the committee didn't put it
there.
No one appeared in opposition to
the bill.