|
|
|
but must go for dollars and cents alone. He believed that
just as much talent could be secured at the present sal-
aries as at the proposed increase.
Mr. Merrick moved to make the salary of the chief
judges $4, 000, and of the associate judges $3, 000, which
he thought was the lowest sum at which a proper degree
of efficiency on the bench could be secured.
Mr. Kennedy desired to place himself on the record as
in favor of giving the highest salaries to the best men.
He was in favor of raising the compensation to such a
standard as to induce gentlemen of talent and distinction
to accept seats on the bench. He was willing that his
taxes should be increased for this purpose. To use a
common and somewhat vulgar expression, he was not in
favor of saving at the spigot and letting out at the bung.
The placing of an inferior order of men on the bench at
low salaries, who did not possess the requisite knowledge
of the science of the law and the jurisprudence of the
country caused erroneous decisions, which subjected the
people to great expense and inconvenience. He did ne;
wish to be misunderstood; he was in favor of a proper
economical administration of the affairs of the State, but
this was the very last matter which should be subjected
to that rule. It was a most unwise economy which would
impair the proper administration of justice. He was not
one of those who were to go before the people; he wanted
nothing, and in this matter spoke his earnest convictions.
He was proud of his position on this floor, and was deter-
mined to do what he thought was right, undeterred by
any fear of popular clamor, and he should vote for the
highest salaries which had been named. He believed that
a reduction of these salaries would be a great wrong to
the mass of the people around them.
Mr. McKaig said that, in the last ten years, the bench
had not been occupied by more than second-rate men.
Of course there were exceptions, but they proved the rule
that, at the present rates, competent judges could not be
found. In England a judge was generally a lord. It was
a matter of honor there, but here it was a matter of dol-
lars and cents, just as the gentleman from Charles, (Mr.
Stoddert, ) had said. The members from the lower coun-
ties said they could get good judges for $2, 500. Very
386
|
|
|
|
 |
