The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-03-19
AS to the I. I. Boards
Sneria1 Counsel.

4 kJfJ(O1o1 &od11oSA@
In lengthy editorial entitled
about Cobwebs and Things" the Tai
| lahassee Sun AYERS that there are
some cobwebs hanging about The
;Journal mental vision and, assuming
the role of the old woman with the
tbroomstick. Editor L'Engle rises sky
fward and Journalward for the ex-
oppressed laudable purpose OF clearing
tup the atmosphere through which he
ssays The. Journal has been looking
lat the policy of the Trustees Of the
IL l. Fund in-the employment of special
counsel. The Sun asserts that
There are cobwebs on the sky encom-
passing our mental horizon. which must
needs be brushed away. So 1 will mount
my little broom to brush a few cobwebs
that / see hanging to the sky above my
good friend Mayes. editor of The Pensa-
cola Journal
/ would not attempt to brush the cob
webs from the sky above some editors.
because it would be loves labor lost.
They could not see things clearly, no
matter what process was used to clear
! away distractions.
! But with Mr.. Mayes it is different. He
Is willing to see clearly. and can not see
clearly on one particular point which he
/ is now discussing, because of some cob
webs.
| Mr.. Mayes has INDUCED in some criti-
! cism about the expenditure of attorneys
! fees made by the Trustees of the Internal
I Improvement Fund. He says, in recent
issue, that if the attorney general needs
legal help in the proper performance of
| his duties he should be given this assist
ance. but 1t should be given him only on
his request, and when this is done, the
services of these lawyers should be under
his direct supervision
| The editor OF The Journal makes use of
this expression and then criticises the
! Trustees because they employ special
counsel. and further says that the Trs,s-
tees have done wrong TO pay out @such
\ lavish sums forsspecial COUNSEL and that
they are doing wrong today in paying one
man $1,000 a year for his Services
Or original friend OF the Sun then
| goes on to state in effect
l. That the Trustees have the
right to employ special counsel and
tpay' whatever fees they think best.
2. That the Trustees are not under
/ the supervision Of the attorney-gener.
al as to the employment of counsel.
9. That the Encouragement is not
the legal adviser of the Trustees.
4. That $4,000 per year for a
special attorney is not an unreason-
able price to pay.
5. That previous attorneys have
been paid more than that; and
/ 6. That the article published else
where In the Sun (Which The Journal
Teproduces to-day ought to be the
means OF brushing all of the cobwebs
that are left, out of our mental sky.
| We do not care to go into a special
ldiscussion OF any of the propositions
stated above, because, details ommitted
and cobwebs brushed away, this whole
lmatter hinges on the question Of
whether or not the expenditure of
more than $4,000 for special counsel
during the past two years was reason.
able or unreasonable.
The mere fact that Judge Rane,
drew some s2s,e11.S3, as special coun-
sci. in addition TO his pay as attor-
ney-general. during all the years that
he represented the Trustees, only
proves, when taken in connection
with recent similar expenditures.
/ that the Internal Improvement Fund
has furnished some exceedingly fat
living for more than one attorney
since the payment of these fees began
IN 1869.
( If the encouragement is not or can
not be the legal advisor of the Trus-
tees, them there is no reason why
he should be associated, in the capac-
ity of an attorney, with the special
counsel that they employ. IL a special
attorney is to be employed. there Is
no reason why he should receive
double the salary of the attorney
general for services which consume
only portion of his time And If
this special attorney is not going to-
be required to live at the state capt.
tai, like the other oficsrs or employees
of the state government do. there is
absolutely no reason in the world why
The Trustees should par che travelling
expenses Of this attorney to and from
the capital. merely for the privilege
of letting him practice law in Jack
sonville
The Journal is not opposed to proper
and adequate payment for ability in
ans Lac vhA1A proportianate services