Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-11
GOOD LAWYERS
GONE CHEAP
Four Firms u. . to Prosecute
Public Service Corporation
Free OF Charge
RIVAL COMPANY TO BE FORMED
Large Meeting of Substantial Business
Men Held in Response to Mayors
Call = Decide to Tolerate Present
Street Car, Electric Light, Power and
Gas Service No Longer.

When four of the leading law firms
of the city volunteer their services
free of charge to prosecute cases for
the public against the Marshalltown
Light, Power & Railway Company, in
order that the company may be COM
PEELED to render adequate public serv-
ice, and when forty men stand up in
a public meeting at the first call for
stock subscriptions in rival public
utilities company, it may be said that
the worm has turned. The long-suf-
fering Marshalltown public is going
to have public service from the pres
ent company, or it is going to put this
company out OF the public streets.
The meeting of business men held
in Columbia hall in response to call
issued by the mayor, was not of the
usual laxative mass meeting variety,
but was business session.
The mayor stated that the purpose
iezns' movement against the public
service corporation, and he called upon
Mr.. c. H. E. Boardinan. Mr.. Board
man gave it as his opinion that people
did not have to pay first class prices
for fourth class service, and he volun-
teered the services of Boardman &
Lawrence free of charge to resist pay
ment of bills. This voluntary offering
proved to be ain epidemic among the
lawyers. Last Saturday, in discussing
the matter with the mayor and others,
Mr.. B. F. Cummings offered his serv-
ices free of charge to fight for better
street car, electric light and gas serv-
ice in Marshalltown. The mayor
promptly accepted and expressed the
opinion that both Mr.. Boardman and
City Attorney Northup would do the
same as Cummings. Boardman's Of
fer in the meeting confirmed the
guess.
He was followed by B. F. Cum
mings, who tried to express how made
quate was the public service rendered.
but found all language family ex-
pressive. He gave 1t as his opinion
that the company could be ousted from
the streets, not having rendered the
public service for which it had OBJ
tained its, franchise, and he volun-
teered the free services of Cummings
& Mote. Boardman concurred In this
opinion as to custer proceedings
Judge G. w. I3urnham then followed,
supporting the theory that the com
pany could be forced out Of its fran
chise If it continued to refuse adequate
service, and he volunteered the free
services of Burnham & Egermayer.
Frank Northup, city attorney, then
stated that the company held a fran
chise which was no1ninally exclusive,
but which, had been SO fagrantly vio-
lated that it could be revoked, and he
to act free Of charge in
any proceedings other than the injunc-
ton suit for which he expects to he
employed by the city as any other city
attorney would be employed.
The mayor then called on D. w.
Norris, Jr., to volunteer something. Mr..
Norris said that it seemed to him that
the lawyers had finally conspired TO
get into the newspapers free Of charge,
but that he was glad of it and be-
lieved that the lawyers who would
win this case for the people would