Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-03-26

Opinions Gisen Concerning A kscent
Charter Amendment
Among aae other rsvlsioas ~ tas eliy
.aarter. 4alch base passed aatA -raaenas "
tae Lszi=l4tlrs Al 8a.g sEait tas uoFer-
nor's .szl.lars ~ 1sesala ias. - eae reLs-
rlsa ~ lhs aa1ies. tsrD a service and salary
~ tie Cas- A.lsfaeg ies ealsf feafure- ~
laa a1aeadlas1a are brehs -h4t las Citg At
tsFnas .aall a4t sns-gs la aaE other Dasi-
aess connected 4ith his profession daring
his tenn ~ ollce. tas terf1 of eisee shall be
tzo ysas.. s1d ths ilait u aI- salary l. 1xed
a. sa.o per geaT.
Heretofore the Attorney has u0t been re-
ssirea 70 -ass has fall time aad talents 10
ths da1ie- 0f tae Once, the term " service
has been f3r one year. and the salary has
not been limited. being hxsd aud determ-
inod - lhe ComaIoa Coaneil.
IzLzoAAA tsprese ntsitise had interviews
with several prominent lawyers II the eats
yesterday regarding the exaeoiene3 and
probable efaets of the ci4anges. The opin-
ions Of sil we're 10 ueaFig alike that b REPEAT
any TO u them soald caase a useless repe-
ntian IT sores and heAee only one inter
vieE l. gwen, that Eith Judge Holmes, tie
substance of which sa- embodied IA and II
dor-ed by the others
The ndgs sad the iatents and purposes
Of the changes were plain enough and could
hardly be misunderstood bat the section, a.
amended &, one OF those winch viii never
be hyel up 30. and FOR this reason be objects
O. Il. iaere may be Que exception. IN the
case oi CO. cl0i.e OF very poor lawyer,
sach as V1g.G c1a-sder the extreme limit Of
ssiir3 q -lesl ld1cement. 4 good attorney,
aad ouls -ucn -loald III the office. could
not affofd All S9lli not accept such pO-
sltion A lawyer practice i the accumala-
ton Of year-. sc h built mp on time, and very
few II any Of the leading lawyers Of the city
would FOR moment think the gift of the
office fattering one, even should the coun-
ell ax the salary at = 30. As a rule, at the
end OF Que term OF service, perhaps two, the
attorney is out Of oiice aud he has has busI-
ue-s 10 build up again. This Is all upon the
sopposition that ne l. living up to the pro
visions Of the charter and does not give
time 10 other business. think several ways
woald present themselves 10 an active attOr-
ney 10 live up q the intents of the amend
snent. 20 far a. All outward appearances are
concerned. and al the same time do about
tha same A. the City Attorney has done here
tofore. For instance the attorney may have
A Law partner. can counsel with clients and
perform a large amount of legal business
through the firm name. he believes
about all the amendments are made for,
a-ter ALL is for the increase III the salary OF
the oince which should and, undoubtedly,
viii be made. A City Attorney Is
everyone attorney. tie must not only
try an cases wherein the city or Board of
Education is a party; perform such profes-
slonal duties as are assigned 10 him by the
Common Council; DE the legal adviser of the
officers of the city. the various boards and
committees. but he must deal out legal opin-
ions % every man upon the streets who
wishes his rights defined. Il was once City
Attorney said the Judge, "and ny salary
was SIS per year, payable Quarterly. and
know something about the luxurie- connected
with the Office" The salary j. none too high
a. it, limit. bu. the clause of little effect and
which viii not be lived mp To should have
been eft from the amendment.
Many Of The attorneys seen expressed the
belief taat there was secret scheme under
lying the amendment and that it was worded
on purpose 10 catch the increase of salary.
All admitted the salary should be larger;
that the City Attorney must soon. If not
already. devote nearly his entire time to the
office. but thought the clause positively for
bidding him to attend to other business,
after the duties Of the Office were done aud
well done. should have been omitted. II
would seem. then. the amendment regarding
thi, section Of the charter viii have but two
efrsct--the doubling Of the term OF service
and the salary. both Of which may he quite
advisable.