Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-08-12
That S12, 800 Attorney Fee.

reform organs are hastily ''rising to
EXPLAIN IN every direction. The en-
ployment of three attorneys by Gov.
Taylor at an expense Of 80, 500 to
the state to assist the attorney general
in the railroad cases tried before the
supreme court last year is reform
measure that is giving them a world of
trouble to make palatable to the peo-
pie. Of course every citizen in the
state wanted the issue between the
state and the railroads tried in the
courts, and if the Reform attorney gen
eneral was not equal to the emergency
it was the duty Of the Governor to
engage the services Of some lawyer to
assist him, but they had the right to
expect he would make the extra expense
as light as he could to the state.
It will be remembered that early in
beginning of the agitation Of conflict
with the railroads there was consider
able preliminary skirmishing in the
newspapers. The railroad companies
procured the elaborate opinions of
Messrs. Curtis and Evarts, two of the
ablest lawyers in America, holding the
Potter law to be unconstitutional, and
they were published far and wide.
They produced a tremendous effect,
and were rapidly changing public SEN
timent in favor of the railroads. 1t
will be remembered. also, that Senator
Carpenter who had always advocated
the side of the people III this struggle
with railroad corporations, again enter
ed the lists as their champion, and
published an able review Of those
opinions, completely exposing their
sophistry and maintaining the suprem-
acy Of the state and constitutionalitv
of the Potter law. This manly act of
Mr.. Carpenter did more to reassure
the people in the wisdom of their
course and the justice Of their cause,
and to strengthen the weak arm Of the
attorney general than all things else
combined.
When at last the question got into
the courts, Mr. Carpenter, keenly
alive 20 the Importance of indicating
the state in the pending struggle, vol
unteered his legal services to Governor
Taylor to assist the attorney general in
the trial a0athout charge to the state.
One would naturally suppose that our
Reform Governor, who prides himself
on his economy, would have gladly &C
cepted this generous and magnanimous
offer Not bit of it; his economy
don t run in that direction. He pre-
ferred to hire three attorneys and take
from the taxpayers pockets $12, 500 to
pay them for service that was offered
gratuousIy. No one will deny that
Senator Carpenter was the peer Of any
one, or even all three combined, with
the attorney general thrown in, in
point Of legal ability both as council
and advocate. Why did not Mr.. Tay-
lor engage him? Plainly because if
Senator Carpenter should win the case
it would SO add to his popularity with
the people that he would be still more
potent instrument to spread confusion
in the enemy's ranks and pave the
way to a speedy overthrow of the dem
ocratic party with it's little reform at
tachment. The party must be saved,
you know, if it does cost ST., 500 Of
the peoples money to do it.
There is another kink in this S12,-
500 business that deserves a passing
notice. Mr.. Sloan, attorney general,
appointed his brother, I. c.. Sloan, Of
GAINESVILLE, an able lawyer, his assis-
tant. The assistant drew his salary
with commendable regularity as long
as there was nothing to do, but when
the great railroad case came up and
there was work on hand, Mr. Sloan re-
signed the office and some now forgot
ten man was appointed in his stead.
The next we hear of ex-assistant attor-
ney general Sloan is that he has been
employed by Gov. Taylor in the railroad
case and for his services he charged the
state s., 900. After the case was de-
cided 'tother man resigned the Office
Of assistant and Mr.. Sloan was reap
pointed. He was in office again and
$4,000 ahead by the cute little trick.
That is where part of the $12,50O
went, 50 needlessly wasted by our very
economical governor
Contrast the course of Senator Car
penter in offering his service to the
state free, with that of / G. Sloan, who
jumped cut of Office, sold his service
to the state for $4,000, then jumped
back again, and you have fair illus
tration of the difference betWi2zt the
Republican party and this bogus fraud
of party that PIRATES so loudly of Re
form.
This single transaction is a good
sample of the way in which the aft airs
of the state have been managed during
the last two years. But the end is at
hand. The voters are beginning to see
matters in the proper light and call
things by their right names, and they
will put al aztinguisher on this reform
foolishness by electing the Republican
ticket from to lizard on the I'd OF
November ext. God speed the day.
n