Evening star., 1909-02-25
Big Fees as Lawyer.

Fortunately Senator Knox does not neet
| the s.. 900 that has been cut off the salary
| of the Secretary of State, or at least he
will be able to get along without 1t, be-
cause of the industry and economy he
practiced while an attorney-at-law in the
| large and prosperous city of Pittsburg
The firm of Knox & Reed was famous
for the size of it's fees. One day not
long ago somebody is said to have asked
Senator Knox:
Did you always charge your clients as
much as you wanted?
No. responded the senator, gravely
I'VE never charged them more than they
were willing to pay"
Senator Knox had the reputation of
making $25O,OO0 year out of his practice
when he came to Washington to be At
torney General in Mckinley's cabinet
Secretary Root made similar sacrifice
and neither OF them has accepted a fee
for any service while he has been in Off
cial position. 1t takes a good deal of pa
triotism, as well as moral courage, for a
man to deliberately drop an income like
that to serve his country, and few men
have ever been willing to do 1t. but 1 do
not think that either Knox or Root eX-
pected any sympathy.
Some years ago, when the street rail-
ways of Indianapolis became involved in
litigation, the late President Harrison,
who was the legal adviser Of the COM
pany. suggested that Philander c. Knox
of PlttSburg be retained to assist him.
The president of the company went to
Pittsburg and found Mr.. Knox very re-
luctant to take the case. but finally per-
suaded him to do so by Offering a retainer
of $4,000 and contingent fee of SOC, ,OOC
If he won the case.
The case was won Several months
later. and shortly after Knox became At
torney General. he met the ex-President
at Atlantic City. While they were
promenading the Boardwalk one day
Gen. Harrison began to apologize for not
having looked after the fee of his col
league in the street railway case, and
expressed the hope that there had been
no difficulty in collecting it.
THE company is fair and just" he said
land paid me literally. / received So, ,0OC
for my services
Il received 100000" replied Senator
Knox.
Gen Harrison looked at his colleague in
verSatiOn.
Khox's Remarkable Memory.
Knox has remarkable memory He
never forgets anything. One of the assist
ants in the Attorney Generals office re-
members an illustration of this faculty
that occurred in his presence A gentle
man who had some business continuing
for several years in the Department of
Justice quoted what he said Senator Knox
had written to him in a letter long time
before.
Il meyer wrote such a thing!' exclaim-
ed Mr.. Knox.
But you certainly did, insisted the
visitor. 1T was so important that 1 re-
| member it distinctly
If l wrote the words you quote, I am
losing my mind and my memory he de-
clared. What l did say was this" and
he explained briefly his recollection of
the text of the letter Then calling his
secretary, he sent for the press copybook
of that date. The letter was found and
the visitor was compelled to acknowl-
edge that Knox was right and that he
was wrong I'm the recollection.
This is hint to people who have busi-
ness at the State Department during the
next administration.
Another popularity of the next Secre-
tary of State is his ability to go to sleep
at any time he pleaseS and to wake at