564 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Mar. 8,

could possibly grow from leaving their salaries open
to increase, for any bribe, attempted to be given, in
the shape of increasing their salaries, would be too
gross and public a scandal to be accepted even if it
were offered.

I wish I had been able to send you a more fully reas-
oned statement of my views, but as you desire to have
them anyhow I have endeavored to give you a fair
outline of the process by which my own mind has
been let to the conclusion which I have stated. I am
very glad to be able to entertain the opinion which I
have expressed, because the salaries which our Judges
are receiving are simply discreditable. I have never
referred to them, in conversation with any of our pro-
fessional brethren in other States, without causing an
expression of astonishment at their inadequacy.
While it is gratifying to know that under all difficul-
ties we have been able so secure the services of a body
of Judges, who are so worthy of their high position,
it is painful to reflect, that they cannot, by any pos-
sibility, accumulate anything from their salaries to
pi o vide for old age, or for the support of themselves
and their families, in any of the contingencies which
may remove them from the Bench.

Very truly yours,

S. T. WALLIS.
BALTIMORE AND OHIO CENTRAL BUILDING,

Baltimore, Md., Feb. 27th, 1892.
INCREASE OF JUDICIAL SALARIES.
Hon. James P. Gorter,

Senate, Annapolis, Md.:

DEAR SIR: As requested by you we have examined
the provisions of the Constitution relating to judicial
salaries, and with pleasure give you our views upon
the same.

The 24th section of Article 4, of the Constitution of
1867, provides that "the salary of each Chief Judge
and of the Judge of the Court of Appeals from the
city of Baltimore, shall be $3, 500, and of each Asso-
ciate Judge of the Circuit Court shall be $2, 800 per
annum, payable quarterly, and shall not be diminished,
during his continuance in office. "