such manner as may be required by law. The
Legislature shall provide a suitable annual salary
in lieu of fees and perquisites, as at present exists,
Sec. 27. The High Court of Chancery shall
continue as at present established, with such mo-
difications as may be made by law, until the year
1860.
Costs of the present Judiciary of Maryland
under the old constitution, as estimated by the
Judiciary Committee:
12 associate judges of county courts at
$1,400 per annum, .... $16,800
6 chief justices of county courts at
$2,200 per annum, .... 13,200
1 chief judge of the court of appeals,
extra pay allowed by law, . . 300
Extra pay allowed to judges of Balti-
more county and city, . . . 8,000
The chancellor's salary, . . . 3,000
66 judges of orphans' courts in the
counties and city of Baltimore, at an
average, by actual returns, of $300
to each judge, ..... 17,800
Salary to the commissioners of insol-
vent debtors for the city of Baltimore,
at $2,000 to each, .... 6,000
Salary of the judges of Baltimore city
court, . . . . 4,100
Total costs of the present system, . $71,200
Costs of the judiciary system, reported from
the Committee on the Judiciary, under the new
constitution:
3 judges of the court of appeals, at
$2,500 to each .... $7,500
20 judges of county courts, at $2,000
each ...... 40,000
4 judges of law and equity for Balti-
more city, at $2,500 to each . . 10,000
1 judge for orphans' court business for
the city of Baltimore, at $2,000 . 2,000
1 police court judge for Baltimore city 1,500
Total cost of system under new consti-
tution ...... $61,000
Add for one judge for Howard county . 2,000
$63,000
Costs of the system, as here proposed by Mr.
Jenifer:
4 judges of court of appeals, at $2,500 $10,000
8 judges of inferior judicial districts,
at $2,000 . . 16,000
8 chancellors for the eight districts, at
$2,000 ...... 16,000
4 judges of law and equity for Balti-
more city, at $2,500 .... 10,000
1 judge for orphans' court for same, at
$2,000 ..... 2,000
1 police court judge for Baltimore city 1,500
$55,500
At half past three o'clock, P. M.
On motion, the Convention adjourned until
to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. |
DEFERRED DEBATE.
ELECTION OF JUDGES.
Remarks of Mr. Spencer, Thursday, March 20th.
Mr. SPENCER observed that his whole object
was to reform and to correct abuse, generally—
and among other things, to correct the abuse in
allowing party considerations to control judicial
appointments. He (Mr. S.) was not, at that
time, going into a statement in relation to the
manner in which the Judges were appointed,
and to point out how the evil might be corrected;
but certainly those who went for electing them
by the people, entertained the opinion that the
people would discriminate, and select none other
than competent men. One of the great argu-
ments in favor of electing the Judges was, that
the people would discriminate and not be influ-
enced by political preferences. And, in proof
that the system had worked well, and for the
purpose of showing, that notwithstanding all the
machinery of party, the people had discrimina-
ted and were not influenced by party. Its advo-
cates instanced Mississippi, New York, and
other States, where it had been tried. But the
gentleman, because this political evil had exist-
ed, was now for fixing it permanently upon the
State instead of avoiding it. He was for saying,
"You shall elect these officers, and make politi-
cians of them," while he (Mr. Spencer) was for
removing them" as much out of political excite-
ment as possible, and electing them at a time,
if elected, when party spirit and feeling did not
run so high as on other occasions.
CAUCUS CONSULTATIONS.
Remarks of Mr. Spencer, Tuesday, March 35th.
Mr. SPENCER regretted that the effects of cau-
cuses had not been more propitious; but he had
come as one of the representatives of the peo-
ple for the purpose of making a Constitution,
and he lamented that so much time had been
lost in making one. In considering the diversity
of opinion which existed in the Convention, it
seemed sufficient to authorize members having
ardently at heart the settlement of the great
questions at issue, if they could not do it here,
to do it by agreement and consultation out of
the House. He considered the remarks of the
gentleman from Kent as intended for no other
purpose than to throw reproach upon any mea-
sure which had received the sanction of a cau-
cus outside of the House. He was surprised
that there should be an effort made in this body
to produce such an effect; because, if he was
not grossly misinformed, this very Convention
had taken its inception in a caucus, in which
the gentleman from Kent had been a prime
mover. When organizing this body, and when
delayed from time to time in regard to the elec-
tion of officers of this body, caucuses had been
nightly held for a week in different wings of the
capitol, in which the gentleman from Kent had
taken part; and was one of a sub-committee ap-
pointed for the purpose of ascertaining whether
by any mode the Convention could be organized.
All the officers down to the door-keeper, had |
