New-York tribune., 1905-08-07
THE PROBLEM OF COUNSEL.

The problem presented TO the insurance in
yestigating committee in securing counsel of the
right sort is much more difficult than may ap-
near TO the casual observer. If any impatient
person thinks the delay on the part of Senator
Armstrong and his colleagues has been unrea-
sonabe let him take the list of the New-York
bar and pick out the man for the place-a man
free from all entanglements, young enough TO
undertake the extremely arduous labor of a
thorough investigation, accustomed TO delvlng
into business affairs and enough of an account
ant to know what figures mean, skilful cross
examiner, a thoroughly sound lawyer fully the
match of able practitioners who may, perhaps,
be retained to prevent desired disclosures, and
last but not least a man of such eminence in
the profession and such distinguished personal
character as to command entire public conf
dence in the investigation.
This is what the committee has been diligently
seeking and it has not failed TO ask the advice
of members of the bar and others most COM
petent to Judge of the qualifications of available
men. 1t is easy to say that the right kind of q
lawyer can be picked up without trouble, but
high minded. able and independent men whose
suggestions have been invited have found them
selves eliminating lawyer after lawyer among
the leaders of the bar for one reason or an
other For many months now the insurance
of the successful lawyers have been retained on
one side or another of the complicated litiga-
tions which have resulted. The Attorney Gen
eral has just begun suit against the individual
directors of the Equita BILE, and doubtless every
one of them has one or more of the important
legal firms as his counsel. Then other lawyers
are or have been closely identified with great
financial houses which have had relations with
insurance companies with their subsidiary
corporations. In recent years the business side
of law has been greatly developed and of the
many insurance companies in the State there
| are few without several lawyers in their d-
rectOrates, and these naturally the men
whose names would first occur TO the seeker for
committee counsel The ramifcations of the
/ insurance business are extensive. and when all
/ lawyers who have direct or indirect insurance
I ties are counted out, large draft is made upon
the commanding personalities This does not
! always appear on the surface but when the
! committee goes to work as il has done to find
| out the commitments of persons suggested as
counsel the obstacles appear.
No doubt the committee will in due time find
a counsel who will command universal respect
but it is not task 10 be performed haphaZard
The problem of the committee is much more
difficult than that of the LeXOw and MaZet com
mttees, when the principal requirement
cltNeT cIOSS-eAd!llUeE VIII IL hIONieuSe OIL uH-
derground conditions Mr.. Golf made fierce
! onset against the police and their victims and
browbeat them into startling admissions. No
| body ever pretended that the greater part of
| his testimony competent legal evidence.
! Convictions and dismissals indirectly founded
| upon ii were overruled right and left The pub
/ lie temper at that time such and the wit
| nesses were of such a character that these
methods were welcome and effective. Mr. GOff
| did an admirable work, but neither he nor a
| lawyer of the same sort would be useful to the
| insurance Investigating committee. 1t has to
deal with aStute business men advised by the
| abest lawyers. No resource of law will be
| uninvOked to block any revelation which they
do not want made If perchance there are really
| any further transactions the disclosure of which
would bring dscredit on influential persons.
The committees counsel must have all the re-
sources Of legal knowledge and discretion at his
/ command and possess the greatest tact and self
! pose in combination with energy and aggressive
ness TO make complete success of this invest-
/ CATION The committee does well TO make it's
| selection with great care. The pains which it is
| taking TO avoid any mistake in this its first and
/ most important act is an Indication of n pllr-
| pose TO conduct the investigation on the high
est plane.