The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-01-22
BY Marlen E. Pew.

BY Marlen E, Pew.
Special Correspondence of The
Press.
AURORA. H., Jan. 22-In Albert
J. Hopkins of this town, United
States senator. is afforded an excel
lent example of progression in the
commercial legislative ring that
controls law making at Washing
ton.
While a member of the house
from the 49th to the 57th congress
Hopkins did nothing that would
annoy the bosses. He was pa
tient plodder and safe" man. AID
rich and the more aggressive lords
in the interests of the financial
powers had little fault to find with
Hopkins when he Joined them in
the senate.
In Chicago and in Hopkins quiet
little home town it is conceded that
this confidence has not been mis-
placed. In Washington Hopkins
has usually been found on AID
rich's side. either in spirit or in
action. He advocated legislation
which would give private corpora
tons contracts TO make armor
plate for the government when it
was proposed that the government
make armor plate Itself AS a
member of the house ways and
means committee. Hopkins stood
firmly on the sugar trust side when
the Porto Rican bill showed its
head. He was for the trust in the
Cuban reciprocity matter. He paid
especial attention. supposedly in
friendship for the Illinois Steel
company, to tariff regulation mat
ters.
Allied With Walsh.
We will possibly be able to get
the best focus on the real Hopkins
with Chicago as the vantage point.
There he is a lawyer. his firm be-
ing Hopkins, PETERS & Hopkins,
apparently thoroughly intrenched
with corporate clientele. PETERS
is Hopkins son in law, while the
senator's son, James, is the other
member of the firm.
Adjoining Hopkins Offices are
the Offices of the Illinois Surety
company of which he is wise presi-
dent. In Chicago it does an ex-
tensive business, furnishing surety
bonds for public officials, admin
istrators, receivers, etc. In widely
distributed advertisements of this
concern Hon. Albert j. Hopkins,
United States senator" is boldly
named a director of the company.
Its treasurer and director is Fred
M. Blount, who was vice president
OF the Chicago National bank, one
of John R. Walsh's financial houses
which recently went into liquida-
ton after state and national bank
inspectors had discovered a Jug.
Cling of assets. Among other di-
rectors are John R. Walsh himself:
Ebert H. Gary, chairman of the
executive committee of the United
States steel trust; E. J. Burlington,
president of the Illinois Steel com
pany, and P. j Rennick, a collector
of internal customs.
Hopkins, PETERS & Hopkins are
general counsel" of the Illinois
Surety company.
A Few Pickups.
Less than year ago Hopkins
was attorney In the Chicago drain
age canal condemnation proceed
ings. He worked, it is alleged, only
"a days. His fee amounted to about
$4,000. Chicago was indignant
and movement, | am told, is on
among taxpayers to bring an action
to recover.
After the senator's son, James,
had been admitted to the bar only
a year, he was appointed, through
his fathers influence, U. S. master
OF chancery in Chicago. The Chi
cago bar protested without result.
James occupies sumptuous Offices
and the fee position is said to be
worth about $4,000 a year.
When Hopkins was a member OF
the house the present bankruptcy