New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-04

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hole rec-oativc exercise
Having earned a surplus Of this
worlds goods for q decade. he has been
-ngaEed without fee in conducting cases
in which he took particular interest
because OF the principle involved. he
has been STYLED. volunteer Attorney
General for the Pubic Interest" II IS
said that the first time he went to Wash
ington on a public mission it was to ap-
pear as a witness before a committee
which vas investigating the tariff in
support Of certain reductions which he
believed should be made for the public
benefit. As each witness was sworn he
WAS asked by the committee what in
terest he represented When the turn
o. Mr. Brandeis came he was asked the
some question.
Il am speaking only for the people CO
the United States said he
Nj B-acdeis believes the proper meth
Cd Of helping the people IS 70 stimulate
them into doing things for themselves.
His frst great night is said to have been
that for cheaper and better gas in Bos-
ton He saw d chance To better condi-
items and took I'D the cause He real
ized that he must have the people with
him if he was 10 obtain the legislation
required for the regulation OF the CAPT
ta!ization and product OF the gas com
Danies. He hired a hall and announced
that he would talk on the subject The
people We're Interested He hired an
other hall in another part Of the city and
talked On the subject To another audi
eEce. This he continued until the issue
OF gas had been raised He obtained
the legislation he desired and cheaper
and better gas followed
He took an interest IN savings bank
insurance and devoted a fund of $4,000
a year to educational propaganda on
the subject Massachusetts,. despite the
opposition of the Industrial insurance in
terests. nov. has that form of insura nee
Tor wage carriers. Mr.. Brandeis. him
self. prepared the intricate technical
forms by which the measure was TO be-
carried out The result of this IegisIa-
tIon was that at the end OF the first year
Of its operation the companies cut their
Premiums on industrial insurance IN
Massa chuSetts- 1t has been estimated
that T this plan Were put in operation
throughout the United States 1t would
save the people >~'teI.Ggn
Brundefs learned of the proposed aaer-
ger OF the New York. New Haven s,
Hartford with the Boston & Maine r;a..-
road h thought there ought ~ Inc no
/ railroad monopoly in New England and
4
. people. He obtained legislation which
prevented a merging IF the two prop
critics. and requiring that the two svs-
/ TENS be operated independently Fc-
this fight MANY persons thought Mr.
Eraudeis was receiving a fat fee from
some source. They We're surprised to
learn that he was doing his work for
nothing
He became interested in the working
hours of women. and offered u serve
permanently without Zee a. the general
counsel of the National Consumers
League In this cause he Won lis case
for the esta bIishment Of q ten hour dag
for women in oregon and in Illinois
For these cases a new form Of brief was
prepared under his direction that Tor
the Oregon test covering 100 pages. and
that for the Illinois case go pages In
Oregon the decision of the court quoted
largely from his brief. He interrupted
the PinchOt- BaIIinger hearing for four
DAYS in order TO go to Springfield, III.
To argue without charge. the case in
that state In this instance his task
was that of inducing the Supreme Court
of Illinois TO reverse itself He sue
ceeded
The thorOughness with which he does
things IS notable He goes 10 the bottom
of things before he begins and then. be-
ing satisfied that the case is worth while,
Will calmly accept rebuff after rebuff.
confident that in the end his cause viii
win.
\ New York man who was threatened
with the loss of an investment through
the craftiness of opposing financial in
terests was advised 10 present his case
10 Mr. Brandeis- He went 10 Boston 70
see him. He was advised there that I'M
less ne was willing 10 have his case
fought through % the end he would bet
ter not see the lawyer If he goes into
it" this adviser said. he Will fight 10 q
finish You can't stop him"
Mr.. Brandeis has never held public
office. and Is said never To have desired
it. Ii * also said that he would not take
it if offered preferrins 70 work where he
can have no personal interests at stake
For this reason. it Is declared he chooses
To accept in his regular practice only
such cases as Will leave him Gnfettered
in his movements.
The Tribune is indebted for its pict-
ures showing the effect eft the eff
cheney. system ON the Santa Fe Rail-
road and for considerable data % The
F,rr;rcerire Naeazine" II r :.