The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-12
THE TROUBLES OF THE ATLANTA
nan

THE TROUBLES OF THE ATLANTA
BAR.
The fierce attack which has been made
on the lawyers OF Atlanta by BUSINESS men
of that city through the grand jury. shows
| that the feeling there against them is very
/ bitter. OF course II is understood that all
1 Of the lawyers Of Atlanta are not con-
( demned for practices which are regarded
as unprofessional, if not actually dishonor-
/ able. No doubt there are very many law
| yers there who would not stoop to IN
| professional practices. but il Is a question
whether IL is not the sentiment of At
lanta's business men that all Of them ex-
act fees. particularly in receivership cases,
which are TOO large. The courts, however.
are more 10 blame in the matter OF fees
in receiYershlp cases than the lawyers be-
cause they say what the compensation of
the receiver and his attorneys shall be-
Unless the assets are very large in re-
ownership cases there is very little left
rule, for creditors after the costs of
court and allowances to receivers and at
torneys are paid
We do not know anything about the
lawyers of Atlanta, but some things have
appeared in the Atlanta papers which are
calculated TO give the public an unfavor-
able impression of them. One of these
things was a letter from a young lawyer
who went to that city with a very high
idea of his profession. He says he would
have starved to death If he had followed
methods in getting business which are re-
garded by high minded lawyers as strict
ly honorable. He admitted that he had
departed from these methods, but declar-
ed he had to do so in order 10 save him
self from starvation. And what astounded
him when he first went to that city was
that men who stood among the highest al
the bar-men of age and recognized legal
ability-were among those who hustled"
for business.
1t seems that those thought to he guilty
Of discreditable practices are not confined
to those who are looked upon as shysters.
In commenting on the fact that the grand
jury is charged with the duty of investi-
eating the alleged disreputabe practices
of lawyers. the Atlanta Constitution says:
And now we direct a few words to the
members of the grand jury. Do not go
cunning after misguided young men who
have but followed in the footsteps of their
elders. Practices which have been made
respectable by prominent members of the
profession should not find victims in young
men who have sought to initiate those
VIII the grand jury in it's in
vestigation, triumphantly exhibit the
scalp of one of these young men or will
II search the barn for the oldest rats who
set the pace? Will the bar association.
in turn, point TO the young offenders in
stead of the ones who furnish the pat
tern? The people will not indorse move
ment which looks to the entrapment of
the inexperienced youth and permits older
ones who set the example to slip through
the meshes.
The foregoing would seem to indicate
that some of those who stand highest at
the bar are in most need of investiga-
ton. The public mind ought to be relieved
on this point. If the prominent lawyers
are the ones against whom public indig-
nation Is directed the grand jury ought
not to have any hesitation in inouiring
into their business methods. If they are
innocent the fact ought to be known.
but If they are guilty they should be dealt
with just as severely as a shyster would
be. If they have been misjudged they
are entitled to have it known. The public
would be glad to know there are no law
yers holding a high place at the bar who
would engage in practices which are re-
garded by the profession as dlsreoutable.