Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-10

census OF the present Congress SHOWS Gnat
of its 362 members 241 are lawyers Inc pre-
ponderance Of lawyers In our legislative oodleS,
state and national, has been fruitful subject
OF discussion. Some of the otler professions
have been Inclined to loof upon this condition
of affairs as a grievance. Many OF the news
papers OF the country have also inyeighed
against this lawyer monopoly" claiming that
IL tends to make the laws more intricate, more
provocative of litigation, and more and more
subSeryient TO the interests Of the legal profess
Sion at the expense OF all other interests OF the
country The remedy suggested is that the
work of legislation shall be turned over to
business men, who have practical knowledge
of the wants of the country ana OF
what Is required to meet these wants
As few successful business men have the inclin-
alton or feel that they can spare the time to
run for Congress, and as unsuccessful business
men must be excluded from the race, since
their failures may be held to give assurance OF
similar failures In the business OF legis alton,
there would seem to be some obstacles In the
way OF applying the remedy. The lawyers, Of
course, have something to say In their own be-
half on this subject. We have some views upon
the matter from one OF this legislation monopo-
lhfng class that put the defendants case In a
favorable light. Epitomizing his argument, it
Is held that the requirements OF preparation
for the legal profession and the character of
legal business, explain the preponderance OF
lawyers In legislative bodies. Young men who
pursue the study of law are brought thereby to q
considerable degree OF familiarity with the sci
ence OF government In all its branches and come
TO watch Its workings about them with interest.
Then they are led to join themselves to politi-
cal clubs or societies to get opportunity for
practicing themselves In rhetoric and argu-
mentation, and so, through the combined ope-
ration OF their acquired knowledge and their
eagerneSs for exercise in debate they rise Into
prominence within the little circle around
them. Their desire, too, to increase their prac.
tice as lawyers by getting prominently into
public view through politics Is seconded by the
win OF their less Informed and less active asso-
cfates, whose lines of business would be him
dered rather than helped by their prominence
as politicians. These natural causes Will, 1t Is
thought, bring about the results that have
been noted, until, ii ever, a class shan
arise, as In England, of wealthy and cul-
tVated men, cut of from professional or
mercantile life and looking from boy
hood towards politics as their proper sphere
The assertion that the laws are growing more
intricate and more provocative OF litigation as
result OF the conscious efforts of the lawyers
70 frame legislation in such manner as to create
business for themselves, Is pronounced absurd.
The Increasing intricacy of law and the growth
OF litigation Is aScribed to the thickening of
population, the multiplication of industries and
the accumulation OF wealth. 1t Is asserted
that within the last thirty or forty years law
yers have wrought great simplincatIons and
Improvements In the law Of the land; and that
as Tar as the United States Is concerned the
work of law reform has been taken up and per
formed almost entirely by lawyers serving In
Congress and the state legislatures in dull ses-
sions OF the law and judiciary committees
which have proved Of little interest to the pub
DC and press generally.
II Is extremely aggravating that the lawyers
should not only monopolze legislative positions,
but should argue with reason that In the natu-
raj course Of things they will continue to do 80,
and that 1t Is entirely proper and desirable that
they should.