The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-10-02
LEGISLATORS SHOULD NOT BE
ATTORNEYS FOR PARTIES
INTERESTED N LEG
ISLATION.

senator Bailey. Of Texas. declines 10
discuss his legal connection with a
Subsidiary concern Of the Standard Oil
company. The only reply TO the criti-
.ism ana the call Of a convention in
Texas 10 try to defeat his re, election
to the Senate. tina senator Bailey has
made is this:
The public seems To be morbid on
this subject OF a Senate or a Repre-
sentative practicing law for pay. 1t is,
and always has been, 4 common prac-
Itice for lawyers in Congress TO prac-
'tice their profession. If a rule is to
be aid down that no man is to serve
in Congress and have business inter
.ests outside, either professional or
otherwise. we Will soon get a body of
professional politicians
The time has come for the public
to be interested in what concerns n
Senator represents outside of the Sen
ate for the people have learned that
in nine cases out of ten the lawyer
represents his clients in Legislative
bodies as well as out OF il. They can
not deny to a Senator the right to
practice law or ngage in business,
u tiny navy a - - $1,000
a lawyer is elected to legislate
he shall not represent Individuals or
corporations interested in legislation.
After they We're elected to the Sen
ate, Mr.. Vance and Mr.. Ransom did
not engage in practicing law, though
they may have occasionally appeared
in some case foreign to their legisla-
l. r. ,-.,,4- .:,l,L, = -
represent a railroad or a trust i'm the
he ought to resign his seat in
legislative body to which he has
been elected. The CHIEF evil of leg
today is that so many Senators
represent interests that need legisla-
ton or immunity from punishment for
violating laws. The Senate is full of
men Who are more concerned with
outside corporations than with legis-
lating for the people, and that is why
people have become morbid" No
IAN serve two masters and no
agent or attorney for a railroad or a
than he gets as legislator ought
to have the peoples commission.
Trusts and railroads understand hu-
man nature and they are always ready
to retain as attorney the man who
the laws. They know that big
fees have a powerful influence in max
ing men conservative" and Jealous
o protect vested rights No governor
Or judge is permitted to practice law.
his law would work a hardship to
legislators, though they should
be required to resign ~attOrneyShips |
or public service corporations before
a member of Congress, paid q
'egular salary, be permitted to appear
n cases for men or corporations hay
ng deep interest in Legislation? ought
hey to be permitted TO appear in
eases when such corporations are par
les? One Congressman who voted for
he subsidy for tle southern Railway
appeared in several cases against that
an allied railroads. He effected
compromises in several cases, greatly
o his pecuniary advantage. OF course
he did not sell his vote, but no lawyer
ought to be placed in a position of
UGH embarrassment and temptation.
1t is better to have professional
1oliticians'' in our legislative bodies
han to have professional men draw
ng pay from powerful interests need
ne legislation or needing immunity.
,ast month in Granville county two re-
lawyers set an example that
to be generally followed. Mr.
4. a. Hicks. who has formerly served
IS State Senator, was local attorney of
he Southern Railway, and when call
"a to legislate as State Senator for the
people ne resigned his position as
attorney. At the same con-
-ention General B.. S. Register was
dominated for the House. He was To-
al attorney of the ~Seaboard and re-
igned his attOrneyship for the rail-
Dad. These gentlemen could have
erved the people and remained rail-
Dad attorneys, but the people are en-
tiled to the full-hearted service of
gislators and when some of the most
important legislation will affect the
ailroads, every attorney who is to leg
slate ought TO diyest himself of his
toward his powerful client so that
le viii be free to serve all interests
Without embarrassment or the sugges-
of interest. The same applies also
@ all others who are in receipt of ia
-ors from railroads. such as free
asses as law agents, directors of lit
lie siGe-show railroads. or otherwise.
Mr.. William f. Snider's gift Of =
TO Salisbury was the most mn
event in North Carolina last
week. No gift is 50 helpful to the
who need help as a public hos-
)ital. Mr.. Snider has blessed the town
the town will bless MIN an hum
iredfold.