The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-24
BIG INCOMES COMMON.
Professional Men Who Make From
$4,000 to 100000 a Year.

The lawsuit of a PHILADELPHIA physi-
clan, who seeks to recover a fabulous
sum for medical attention to the late
senator Magee of PittSburg has attract
ed attention in this city, says the Phil
adelphia Inquirer, and causes consider
able speculation regarding the income
of professional men generally. An in
CURRY into the subject develops Surpris-
ing results and proves that Philadei-
phians are in the front rank of money
earners. There are many professional
men in the Quaker city whose incomes
amount to more than 500 900 a year
and more than a score who make a
larger amount of money in twelve
months than is paid to the president of
the United States during the same
period for governing a nation with
population of more than 100000 of
people-not to mention the many more
millions in our new possessions.
Corporations, as a matter of course,
pay immense salaries. 1t has not al
ways been possible to obtain the exact
figures, but those given approximate the
amount paid.
Alexander Johnson Cassatt president
of the Pennsylvania railroad, receives
$4,000 a year for his services as tho
chief executive of that great corpora
ton. incidentally it is said that he re-
ceives smaller salaries from many of
the branch railroads which are part and
parcel of the great system over which
he has charge
Presidents of the distinctly Philadel-
phia Insurance companies get all the
way from $4,000 to 900 a year. The
presidents of the various trust COM
panies receive not less than $4,000
year, and in some few cases a much
larger amount than that.
The prominent lawyers of the city arc
big money makers. John G. Johnson.
for instance, who is regarded as one of
the best corporation lawyers in the Uni
ted States, has not for many years made
less than 100000 per year from his law
practice. He is kept so busy that ne
scarcely has time to eat a noOnday
luncheon, and those who know him best
frequently find him trying to satisfy his
appetite with a hurried luncheon of pie
and milk. Samuel Dickson. Thos. Hart
and George Tucker Bispham are law
yers who have an extensive practice
among the corporations. Some of these
men, and others as well. are retained
! by corporations, receiving as high as
S25,0O0 year and being paid for then
services besides. Many of the great cor
porat1onS regard II as a matter of prud-
ence and economy to secure the services
| of big lawyers by paying them hand
| some retaining fees by the year In
this way it is not possible for the other
side of the case to obtain the services OF
| these lawyers,
Physicians, as well as lawyers and
other professional men. sometimes make
enormous sums of money from their
practice. In Philadelphia doctors fees
I
| $3.50, 600 for the same period of time. The
charges of the best physicians are al
ways guided by the size of the pocket
books of their patients. Some individual
| fees are tremendous.
| 1t has been said. but never admitted
or denied, that P. A. B. Widener once
paid his attending physician 100000
When DR.. d. Hayes Agnew, an eminent
surgeon, was summoned to attend Pres
ident Garfield after the chief executive
had been laid low by the bullet of tbs
assassin, he gave no thought to The
question of money. but summoned al
his skill in supreme effort to save
the life of the stricken ruler. When tbs
4 bills came up to be settled his fec
amOuntd to the modest sum of SIS 900
Among the surgeons and physicians OF
Philadelphia who enjoy an especially lu-
crative practice may be mentioned Drs
LaPlace, DeCosta, Beaver, Van Lenneo
Hare and Tyson Some of these men, Il
can be confidently asserted, receive more
in fees in the course of wear thar
President Roosevelt will receive as sal
airy for u months work in the White
House.