The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-30


given up the idea Of teaching The lie ap-
pealed to him and be was interested In
the professional side Of the law more than
In the practical. He happened to mention
to a friend one night that heswould be glad
to accept 4 chair in law In any university.
A little later he heard from the friend, Offer
ing him a place at Cornell University.
Mr.. Carter tried to dissuade him from
accepting the place. The older lawyer
predicted a brilliant career for Hughes at
the bar, but the latter had made up his
mind and left for Ithaca.
That was in 1891. Mr.. Hughes then being
20 years old. He remained at Cornell two
years. Mr.. Carter kept urging him to re-
turn TO New York. Finally he yielded to
his father-in-aw's wishes, but it vas a
very different Hughes that returned. In
his TIVE years stay az ithaca he bad ezer-
cised regularly and built up the substantial
physical structure which he now has.
Hughes reentered the firm Of his father-in-
law, which was known then al Carter.
Hughes K Dwight. The firm continued
under that name until 1908. when Mr.. Dwight
retired and George Schurman. a brother
OF President Schurman OF Cornell. sue
ceeded him. Mr.. Carter died in 1904, and
NATs AHlkDSS DtCdLl0 JIc nbhu VI Juc urn,
which Is now Hughes. Rounds a Sohurman,
|. Long before Mr.. Hughes was called upon
to serve the public as a legislative investi-
gator he was known to lawyers and Judges
as one Of the ablest lawyers in this city.
Mr.. Carter. when asked several years ago
10 express his opinion as to who was the
best lawyer in the country. answered. with
ont a moments hesitation: Charles E.
Hughes
Mr.. Hughes was not known to the public
prior to his appearance as an investigator
because he did not deal with the sort Of
cases in which the public is generally in
terested. lie devoted the, most Of his time
to advocacy. He did not touch divorce
cases or cases Of negligence or assault
He was engaged altogether on difficult
probleus Of law and f~act-work which is
very gratifying to a lawyer but does not
appeal to the public.
DIDN'T TO BE AN INVESTIGATION.
There IL little wonder, then, that Mr.,
Hughes refused at first to consider the
offer OF the legislative commitsee appointed
TO Investigate gas in this city in 1904. He
bad absolutely no desire to appear before
the public. He rather, shrapk from it.
Besides. he had the same opinion as most
other people in, regard to Legislative inves-
LEGATIONS. He old the Investigators that
he would have nothing to do with it. A
message came back to him from Albany.
We are 3.sf tSs truth We mean to
And IL. No. ono can call ue on =
Ihats message set Mt, HaaAes to think
ing. It wan urged upon him that he owed
il az a public duty to accept, aed he con-
sentsAs In that Investigation he estab-
lished a new standard for work Of the kind.
He amazed the specially trainkd men who
represented the gas nonpaniSs. by his
4 d~uiplness IN Rrasping tfeHtechnical prob
Items involved and ,by his lucidity ia pre-
ssntfnE them. u was only natural that
4 the Insurance investigating COMMITTEES
should have turned to him about a year
later. 80, 80 .xEsEr 81 sI
Mr.. Hughes whaf his services were being
sought as counsel TO the Armstrong COM
mittee was in the TyEN.< What the negotia.
tons were which passed between the com
tfnittee andMr. Hughes by cable bave never
I beeH made known, but it is cettain that he
demanded ami received an absolute pledge
that he would be untrammelled in his work
HIS ENDURING PATIENCE.
r One OF the many admirable qualities of the
mah which were impressed upon the public
In the course Of that inquiry was his endur.
ing patience. No point was too trifiing for
his attention and no road too devious fol
him to travel in his search after the truth
II seemed to be only a question of time with
him. II there had been no limit to the
period of inquiry he might be there yet
retracing' his questions to unwilling wit
nessss over and over again..
Those who followed him through the
inquiry are certain that no lack Of patienot
on his part would ave driven him OF
There was only one occasion in the entire
inquiry when Mr.. Hughes's patience really
left him and he showed his anger. THAI
was when Richard A. McCurdy, then presi.
dent Of the Mutual Life, was on the stand.
Mr.. McCurdy's lawyer had implied thai
Mr.. Hughes eas taking an unfair advan-
tage Of the witness; that he was leading
him up 10 a point where the impression
made against him was most unfavorable
and then dropping the line Of inquiry with
out giving him a han to explain. In
other words, Mr.. McCurdy was left in q
position which unfairly exposed him to
Jne dtJdChN - liz HtWspdpclE.
That was the first time that Mr.. Hughes
personal conduct Of the inquiry had beer
questioned in any way. He was angry
through and through. His face became
very pale, his Jaw set hard Inc his eyes
flashed, but not for an instant did he lose
his poise. He waited patiently until thu
Mutual lawyer had finished, then turning
quickly to the committee he said:
THE record is more eloquent than any
thing l can possibly say Of the extreme
courtesy and fairness with which Thu
examination has been conducted. II
have erred at all In my duty to the CON-
mittee it has been in being more lenient
than circumstances warrant. l have agar
and again subdued O very natural inclina-
ton to utter retorts which l think would
have been entirely iustifiable out Of my
desire that no one should honestly dis
credit the fairness OF the investigation
The witness who gets himself into a false
nosition has himself only to blame. Candol
and straightforwardness will ever be treateC
as they deserve TO be treated and evasion
will always be held up to the cOntempi
which il deserves ..
The crowd in the court room at the con-
L--Na