The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-01-12
A correspondent of the Detroit News say.

A correspondent Of the Detroit News says
| see by Governor Bagley's message that the
University is again an applicant before the Leg
islature for liberal appropriations. l think we
are going too FAR in this matter OF higher edu-
cation, and that a check ought to be promptly
applied. Here we have the University, the State
Normal School, and q host Of high schools
scattered over the State, all supported, in the
main, ut the public expense, and all practically
free to those who can afford the time to avail
themselves OF their advantages, which, luckily
or unluckily, all can not.
Now, IN the first place, contend that after
getting beyond the range OF common school
education, the public provision for which l do
not complain of, there are few students who
are not able TO defray their own expenses, ana
it is unju st to those who do not pursue their
studies beyond the COMMON school course TO
have the others so largely do il at the public
expense.
am mechanic. It takes me as many years
to learn my trade as il does my neghbor 10 go
through his college course. The State renders
me no aid. What l learn / have TO pay for In
services rendered, while my professional neigh
Dor has his tuition paid for by the taxpayers,
OF whom may be one. Is this right? Is it
democratic
Again, we have too macy " educated" men,
and, consequently, too many professional"
men-too large an element OF n-producers
OF drones, who live and grow fat on the oil OF
| Tue QOlcsL DrOuuC6I, HOW Is IL III taxes an
extraordinary good mechanic to earn i've dol
lars per day. l call upon professional man
for services and he charges me i've dollars or
| ten for an hours work-and half the time then
so blunders that the services are worth nothing
to me. II l demonstrate at the charge he re-
minds me how long ii took him to learn his pro-
fesslon, forgetting that it took me just as long
to learn mine. Or he may say that it is not
every hour that he gets a job, and 30 he must
charge enough to pay for the time he is loaf
ing in his office waiting for work to come This
is where the trouble lies. We have so many
lawyers and doctors turned loose upon US by
| those frauds, the law and medical schools, sup
ported by the state, that they can only all live
by robbipg the public BY the magnitude OF their
fees.
Take the case Of the lawyer. have little
trouble with my neighbor or my employer, or
with some person with whom am doing bust
ness. feel that have been wronged, and IN
my innocence | appeal to the law to set me
right. go to the first lawyer OF my acquant-
ance and tell him my story. He says | have a
good case and advises me to bring suit at once.
/ Am certain to be successful, and il / am the
costs will be thrown upon my opponent. tell
him to go ahead. Then he deIcately hints at
the custom of charging retainer. He will be
reasonable with me, as friend, and charge me
$50, though in such cases the practice OF the
profession IS to charge 300. Will this be your
entire fee for attending the case? | ask. Oh,
no, he replies We usually have our retainer
in advance, and then charge for subsequent
services according to the time and labor gwen.
For such labor We charge per diem OF 515 or
$50, and from that up to $50 day. and in i'm
portant cases even more. Well, l say, IL you
charge separately for all the work done, what
the devil is the retainer for? This nonpusses
him, and all he can humble is something about
the practice OF the profession. However, as
the losing side pays all the costs, and as I am
certain to WIN, submit to the professional
md fha amt haOinQ In dina lime
ends in q verdict perhaps in my favor, though,
after all the assurances OF my counsel, the GER
talntlee OF success are no greater than | have
found prompt returns in the shape OF prize
to be in Burk's lottery. l may be beaten, and
then / am consoled with the cool remark that
there is nothing certain in law--that the strong
est cases are sometimes defeated through the
stupidity OF judges or the venality of juries
But we will assume that am successful. In
due time get my damages, or what fraction OF
them the court grants me. ask my attorney
for q final statement OF account and he hand.
me his bill. Well, say, that will now be paid
by the other side as part Of the costs. Oh, no
he replies this is no part OF the taxed COSTS
, though there is an attorney fee fixed by law re-
coverable from the defeated party, but it is {
mere nominal thing-ten or twenty dollars OIL
, 80. Well. that al least will be deducted from
this bill. Wrong again the taxed attorney fe,
IL professionally" regarded as perquisite by
the lawyer OF the successful side. Thus he hal
his per diem FOR work actually done, and his re
tainer and the costs recovered from my oppo
, nent as a surplusage, for which he renders M
sort OF equivalent. What is this but profes
. sional robbery What manufacturer or trades
man gets retainer IN addition to the full valu,
, OF the goods supplied? What workngman ha
retainer IN addition to his per diem? VIII!
should the lawyer, educated at your and m.
expense be permitted 70 exercise SOFT OF RICH
] OF eminent domain over all with whom he ma,
be brought IN professional contact?
I fear | am making this communication too
long, so will leave to another occasion thu
plundering propensities Of the medical pro
fesson.