JUDGES SALARIES.
Mr. Scott's bill [S. 45] relating to the salaries of the Supreme, Circuit, Civil and Criminal Circuit and Common Pleas Judges and declaring an emergency, coming up-
Mr. BRADLEY moved to reconsider the vote adopting the the amendments fixing the salaries at $3 500 and $2 500. He desired the salaries should remain as in the bill $4,000 and $3,000.
Mr. BELLAMY made the point that the bill having been read the third time could not be amended now
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR decided the motion out of order.
Mr. CHURCH moved to recommit to the Committee on Fees and Salaries, with instructions to fix Prosecuting Attorneys' salaries at $1,000
The motion was rejected
On motion by Mr. BRADLEY the vote ordering the bill engrossed was reconsidered; and, on his further motion the vote adopting the amendment was reconsidered
Mr. HANNA favored increase of salaries of ail Judges and of Prosecuting Attorneys.
The question recurring on the amendment striking out '$4 000" and inserting "$3 500" for Supreme Judges, and striking out '$3 000," substituting "$2 200" for Circuit Judges-
It was agreed to by yeas 21, nays 17.
Mr GREEN moved to increase the salary of Common Pleas Judges from $2,000 to $2 500,
Mr BRADLEY moved to lay the bill and pending amendments on the table.
The motion was rejected, by yeas, 14; nays 25
Mr CHURCH renewed his motion to refer the bill to the Committee on Fees and Salaries with instructions to fix the salary of Circuit Court Prosecuting Attorney at $1 000, payable quarterly.
Some discussion here took place on points of order, when-
On motion by Mr. TURNER, the vote passing the bill to the third reading was reconsidered
Mr. CHURCH now pressed his amendment.
It was rejected by yeas, 17; noes, 23.
Mr. GREEN moved to make the salary of the Common Pleas Judge $2 500.
Mr. ANDREWS would be as willing as any one to raise salaries at a proper time, but now, while the people are crying for retrenchment and reform, we should give heed, And he opposed adding a single dollar to the salary of judges as long: as we are burdened by the present incomplete and faulty judicial system
Mr. BRADLEY moved to amend by increasing the salary of Supreme Judges to $3,950; Circuit Judges to $2 975; Common Pleas Judges to $2400; Circuit Prosecutors to $900, and Common Pleas Prosecutors to $500
Mr CARSON moved to lay the amendment on the table.
The motion was rejected by yeas 19, nays 21
A division being demanded Mr. GREEN argued in favor of increasing the salaries of the Supreme Judges. If the present judges were paid in proportion fothe salary received in the time of Judge Blackford, they should get about $6,000 or $7 000 per annum.
Mr TURNER favored an increase of salary because the present pay will not command the talent and learning that is desirable. As between the two classes of Judges he should prefer to see the Circuit Judges salaries increased, but he favored an increase of them all. He also much desired to see the present judicial system reorganized and suggested improvements that should be made.
Mr. BRADLEY also thought it more necessary, as between the two, to raise the salary of the Circuit rather than the Supreme Judges.
page: 61[View Page 61]Mr. SHERROD. This question does not admit of discussion when it is remembered that both of the great political parties in the late canvass were pledged to retrenchment and reform He protested against such measures at this time
Mr ARMSTRONG moved to strike from $3 950 the figure "9' and insert "0"
Mr. HANNA spoke at length in favor of raising all these salaries or none of them, and against making flesh of one class and fish of another.
Mr. KINLEY moved that the bill lay on the table, with a view of offering a resolution that the Committee on Organization of Courts be instructed to report a bill reorganizing the judicial system of the State, etc.
The amendment was rejected by yeas 17, nays 22.
The amendment (Mr. Armstrong') was rejected by yeas 14, nays 25
The amendment making the salary of the Supreme Judges $3 950 - being the first division of Mr. Bradley's amendment - was rejected by yeas 16, ans 24
The second and third divisions of the amendment was also rejected
The fourth division, referring to an increase of the Prosecuter's salary, was also rejected
Mr HANNA moved to amend by making the salary of the Prosecuting Attorney of the Circuit Court $800, payable quarterly
It was agreed to on a division - affirmative 17, negative 14
Mr HADLEY moved to increase the Common Pleas Prosecuters' salary to $500
The amendment was agreed to; and then -
The bill was ordered engrossed for the third reading.
