The Washington critic., 1886-08-03

favor of bill and then 20 in
upon the floor and make the
speech. Henry Clay argued many
cases before the Supreme Court while
he was in the United States Senate,
and Roscoe Conkling does big bust
ness now aided by the great inllu-
ence he acquired while hu was Il poll
tician Matt Carpenter was one of the
ablest lawyers this country has ever
known, and he had big Supreme
Court practice. lie made n fortune,
but he only left $3.50, 600 when he died.
Joe Brown, the Georgia millionaire, Is
a good lawyer, but he does not practice
before the Supreme Court. The bulk
of his fortune has been made by in
vestments, and he believes that mines
and lands pay better than law business.
Senator Eustis of Louisiana is a law
professor, and Tom Bayard studied
law after he found he was not cut out
for a merchant Pig Iron Kelley has
been lawyer and q judge. Holman
earned some of his first money at the
law, and his first ideas of economy
came from trying to live on the income
of his first professional years. Ingalls,
studied law In Massachusetts and went
West to practice. Senator Voorhees, Is
one of the most noted of our criminal
lawyers, and Hendricks was q very sue.
cessful man at the bar. Tom Reed is
lawyer, Mckinley of Ohio practices
law, and all the dignitaries
on the Supreme bench have,
of course, made big legal
regulations before they got their ap.
pointments. Nearly all our Presidents
have been lawyers, and every. one Of
them, except Washington, Harrison,
Taylor and Grant, were members OF
the bar. Martin Van Buren, was en-
gagged to be married before he began
to practice, and 1t was some years be-
fore his income was large enough for
him to wed. Andy johnson studied
law after he was married, and his wife
taught him the handwriting in which
he prepared his legal papers. Both
Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland
were Buffalo lawyers and they both
had good practices. Frank Pierce
used to make as much as $4,000 and
S10,0 year at the law, and he pre-
ferrcd the bar to politics. At present
1t is not uncommon for a half dozen
Representatives to be away from Wash
bStOh tiNl ut u llIliC, lllllR law CtiSts,
and 1t Is not uncommon for q Senator
dump up from his seat during an i'm
portant debate and move Off to the
Supreme Court to make speech
in favor of some corporation.
Law in Washington pays and
it pays well when the statesman
practicing is man of large political
influence. Many of our great men
come TO Washington to live after they
have retired from politics. They hang
out their shingles and make fortunes at
the law. Joseph L. Mcdonald has
lately opened an office here, and ex-
Secretary George Boutwell, has been
practicing here for years. jeremiah
Wilson, the noted star route lawyer,
was once Member of the House from
Indiana. He now makes $50, 900 a year
as Washington lawyer. Judge Shela-
barger, who was the noted Member Of
Congress from Ohio back in the sixties,
is Wilson'S partner, and his annual
fees are from six to ten times a Con.
gressman's salary. Judge Mcrrick,
another man connected with the star
route trial, who died recently, is said to
have made from $40, 900 to $50 900 out
of that trial alone, and there are a
number of Congressman who, after
they leave Washington, go to New
York to live, but practice largely be.
fore the courts here. x-Postmaster-
General Tyner is practicing law at
Washington; ex.Secretary of War
Bclknap has law Office here, and
Phil Thompson of Kentucky is another
cX. Congressman who is trying cases
before the Washington courts.