Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-06-05

years ago, lie charged JO0n v anu
c. b. Farwell, of Chicago, $4,000 for
giving some information to their En-
glish solicitor about the laws of the
United States bearing on the sale of
their Texas lands, and / know where
he made a life enemy of one of his
closest friends by sending him a bill
for advice given on a legal question
in what was supposed to be a friendly
conversation. In discussing the in
stance of the Farwell affair, Mr.. Reed
took the ground that if he had been a
tailor and friend had asked him for
suit of clothes he would certainly
have expected pay for the material
and the work, and his legal lxnowl-
edge. having been acquired by hard
labor and study, could not be given
away, as he expressed it, like saliva
ton" He was the subject Of n
great deal of criticism in this respect.
He was called avaricious and penuri-
Gus, but never dishonest, and in 1896,
when he was making a campaign for
the presidential ndnliIiR tioIA there
was some unfavorable comment about
Ibis acceptance of financial assistance
from friends when there was really
no excuse for him to incur any eX-
explained. however, that he had no
source of income except his salary.
which as speaker was $4,000 a year,
and he lived in such quiet way that
it was said that he never spent more
than half of it.
Those who were most familiar with
his affairs would have been surprised
if his estate had turned out as much
as $250,O0O. The general estimate was
varied from 100000 to 100000, al
though it was known that his brief
connection with the law firm of Simp-
son. Thacher Il Barnum had been UNI
usually profitable.
The fact that he had $4,000 cash
on deposit with his brokers at the
time of his death indicates the source
of considerable part of his money.
He enjoyed intimate acquaintance
with several of the heaviest operators
on Wall street. and his speculations
must have been very fortunate.
1t is also a surprise that he had re-
tired from his law partnership before
his death. No announcement had
been made of the fact, and none of his
Washington friends were aware that
he no longer retained the profession
al connection which had been so eX-
tensively advertised This confirms,
however, the stories that he intended
to leave New York and return to
Washington to reside. He told me
that he was thinking of doing so be-
cause the atmosphere was more con-
genial here and that the expense of
living was so much less.
| l recall two instances of Mr.. Reeds
generosity which showed that he was
not altogether selfish. \ young man
came here from New England be-
cause he was able to obtain posi-
ton under the government which
would pay him salary sufficient for
| his tuition and living expenses and
leave him plenty of time for his
studies and lectures. but he had
scarcely started upon his course when
he lost his position and tried in vain
to secure another. He went 70 Mr..
Reed among others for aid of his pow
erful influence. After hearing his
story and questioning him closely the
speaker said: Il will loan you the
money to pay your expenses until you
get another job. but / connot do any
thing to help you get n government
position. You do not come from my
state, and if | have any influence al
all l ought to exert it for my OWL
constituents"
The young man accepted his offer
and Mr.. Reed kept his promise faith
fully.
One of his first acts when he be
came speaker of the house of repre-
sentatives was TO clear the capitol q
the apple stands and bric-a-brac shops
that lined the walls. He drove ever,
one of them out, and the corridor
have been clear ever since. Repre-
sentative Van Schaick. of Wisconsin
learned that the woman who kept thu
cigar stand was entirely dependen
upon it for the support of her famil!
and a crippled husband, who was I'M
able to earn anything, and went t.
intercede with the speaker in her be
half.
81 can't let her remain in that cor
ridor,'' he replied, but We'll give he
place near the door of the restau
rant down in the basement. She viii
/ do much better down there he con
tinued, "and / say Van Schaick, he
show eases and counter are yer.
| shabby and unfit to be in a building
like the capitol. l don't suppose sh
can afford any better, but I'll g
halves with you and buy her som
new ones
: DR.. Van Schaick accepted the Pre-
: position, bought new counter an
show case for the woman and stoke
l it up with a fresh lot of cigars. H
then sent the bill to the speaker, VIII
, returned it promptly with a check TO
. half the amount.
J Third Term in History.
| The Atlanta Constitution has sa
: down hard oa- the Cleveland boom, be