Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
LAWYERS AND LAW.
Their Defects Pointed Out by Far
Famed David Dudley Field.
CONSERVATISM A GREAT FAULT.
TwO-Thirds of the Jury Should be Able to
Render the Verdict.
THE INCOMES OF NOTED ATTORNEYS
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DISPATCH 4

CORRESPONDING OF THE DIsPATCH.i
NEW YORK, April Sit is the hope Of
fame rather than fortune which animates
the young man VINO takes up the study of
the law. Yet fame brings fortune to the
lawyer. There is probably no profession so
greatly overcrowded as the legal profession.
Where one succeeds in it 100 fail, or at least
attain neither fame nor fortune. Lack OF
ability is probably the chief reason for
failure. There are hundreds of practicing
lawyers in New York City who do not make
even decent living. but there are others
who make fortune every year.
1t is the corporation lawyer" who makes
the most money. By the term corporation
lawyer" is meant the lawyer who conducts
the legal affairs Of a railroad or other cor
poration and not the counsel to a munich
pality. Every large corporation has
lawyer whom it pays a fxed annual sum to
which are added contingent fees that may
double or treble the first sum. The fixed
amount ranges from $1,000 to S25, ,000
There are lawyers who have "desk room"
costing them So a month or $50 year and
there are others who have offices that cost
them S25, 900 year. The Offices of one firm
of lawyers in the mammoth Equitable
building cost them the last named sum and
their other Office expenses make the total
about $50, 900 a year. The income OF this
firm, which has several members, is under
stood to be $3.50, 900 year.
ROSCOE CON NKLING's EARNINGS.
Roscoe Conkling earned S100, ,090 q year
after leaving the United States Senate, and
coming to New York to practice law he was
literally overwhelmed with business. There
were better lawyers in the city than Mr..
Conkling, but there were few who could
command as much attention in court. He
had great reputation as statesman and
orator and what he lacked in one way he
more than made up in another, His strength
lay in his ability to convince judge and jury
by the manner in which he conducted a
case. Where another lawyer might excel
him was in the presentation of the law
points. Another politician who has made
great deal of money in the practice Of the
law in New York is Ex-Governor Hoadly.
He iolned firm of corporation lawyers not
long after leaving the Gubernatorial chair
in Ohio. His individual income must be
$50, 900 year. He devotes himself mainly
to preparing cases" for his firm.
Ex-President Cleveland has had more law
business thrust upon him since he took an
Office In New York than he can attend to.
He has refused some very remunerative
business because it was of such a character
that political capital would have been made
of 1t. He declined the position of counsel to
the largest life insurance companies in
America. A fair estimate of his present in
come is S25, 900 year. He might easily
make four times that. He does not appear
in court at all. He has, however, served as
referee in a number of cases. This is not
large paying work.
MR.. CLEvELAND's LAW BUSINESS.
The greater part of Mr.. Cleveland's in
come is derived from the preparation of
opinions on important legal questions ior
corporations. Mr.. Cleveland also draws up
a great many contracts aRd agreements COW
erine extensive transactions. He has an
office in William street, close to Wall, but