Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-08-06
THURSDAY. AUG. ., 1908.
The Railroad Attorney

one 81 the results 81 the hue and
Org Of the past few years against the
railroads has been that whenever
certain class Of newspapers or poll
ticians wish TO arouse an antagonistic
feeling toward any individual they
allege that be q controlled BY the
railroads. And Notwithstanding the
sourse Of such attacks It must be adj
united that they have been effective
ii forming prejudice IN the Pub'i"
mind against all persons connected
with railroad company, and particu-
larly against railroad attorneys.
1t would be difficult to define q rail-
road attorney 40 pictured by the
demagogues but the impression given
ii that he Il a creature made In guise
Of man breathing FIRE and brim-
stone, combining with the lust Of the
vampire the subtilty Of the fox, and
being as souIless as the corporation
BY which be IL employed. That this
1urid impression has gained credence
may be partly the iault Of the rail-
road attorneys themselves. They
have made no defense to all the pre-
posterous statements made In regard
to them and they have made no effort
10 give the pnblic an idea Of their
real position.
What Is In fact o railroad Attorney
The answer il simple and 1t reveals
none Of the horrors one might expect.
Thelaw department Of a railroad
Ccmpany ID each state consists q .
general attorney, one or two assistant
general attorneys, and one local at
torney in each county through which
the railroad passes. The general at-
torney and his assistants have their
headquarters IL Topeka ofin one oithe
other larger cities Of the state and
have full control Of all legal matters
Al which the company may have an
interest. Their positions are resPon-
pible ones and capable men are re-
auired to Il them. They are paid
rood salaries which 80 rule are their
only source Of income because they
have no time to devote to general
practice Of the Law.
a local attorney 10 retained In each
county through which the railroad
passes to attend to local matters Of al
legal nature. Those are usually Of
miner Importance, Whenever any.
thing ID the way d litigation arises
that involves substantial interests.
the general attorney takes charge and
assumes all responsibility, the local
attorney merely assisting him as he
can. The general attorney appoints
the local attorneys and 10 doing so he
tries to choose the best lawyers he
can ind. He demands ability Of a
high order and absolute integrity in
Bis representatives He does not APP
point politicians as local attorneys and
mctAing whatevsr Of a political nature IS
expected or asked Of them. In comPen-
aati0n tor their services, local attor-
ntys receive annual passes over the
lines Of the railroad within the state
The agreements into which they enter
with the company contains only one
provision and that Is that they win
take NO cases against the company
during the term o. their employment
Considering the small amount Of
work which local attorney does for
the railroad. his compensation Is
probably adequate, but Is usually the
Isal, important item IN HE practice
and one which places him under no
obligations beyond the strict working
q his contract. On the contrary, 81
local attorney sometimes loses a good
Tee By reason Of bic railroad employ
lnsnt and when this happens be is in
olinsd to feel that his contract with
ths company Il . bad bargain. Il is
certain that any attempt % make use
Of him outside Of bic proper employ
msnt would result 10 his immediate
f-..tt..