Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-09-24
CONTINGENT FEES.

The contingent fee. As understood
among lawyers. is an agreement 10 pay
a stipulated amount cr per cent con-
tingent upon the successful carrying
out by the lawyer OF business, legal
legislative or otherwise, entrusted to
him by his client.
There Is nothing questionable in ae-
cepting q case under a contingent
fee. il is often done. The lawyer
merely backs his ability 20 carry the
ease, or enterprise through success
fully. against his clients money. For
instance. 1t Is asserted and not denied,
that Mr.. Charles a. Spiess, Of Las
Negas. who seeks TO become president
OF the New Mexico constitutional con-
vcntlon. has been ana Is now the act
i've representative of the holders OF
the Santa Fe county bonds, upon a
fee, the payment OF which is contin-
gent upon his ability TO bring the set
Element of that long standing bond is
sue 10 a conclusion satisfactory to
the bond holders. Mr.. Spiess. him-
self, IN his statement TO the senate
committee on territories, made his
position plain. He ala not hesitate to
place the interests Of the bond hold
ors above those Of the people OF New
Mexico. The record has been repro
duced hy The Morning Journal. II
stands for itself.
- 49,. III 4I.rm L. F.fh-
ing questionable IN this position, or
this service. as accepted by Charles a.
Spices. corporation attorney He has
a right TO accept legal employment Of
the kind at his viii and may not be
criticised for IL. even II he chooses
to place the interests OF his clients, the
holders Of these bonds, over those of
"a third Of a million people whose fel-
low citizen he r. and whose suffrage
and support ne has enjoyed. That Is
Mr. Spices privilege as a lawyer-and
private citizen. when Mr.. Spices,
however. stil the acknowledged rep
rcscntative OF the Interests Of these
bond holders. who geek special protec-
lion under our new state government
seeks TO become the president of and
the dominant figure in the conven-
ton which viii frame the fundamen-
tai law for the new state, he exhibits
a daring which distances even his rec
ord In looking out for corporate in
tcrests la the Ncw Mexico legislature.
IL Mr. Spicss cared for the good
win Of tho people Of New Mexico it
he desired their confidence. If he
sought their favor ne would not place
himself in the position he now occu-
pies. Apparently he does not care
Even It hc has no desire and no plan
or any kind 10 MD the special interests
ho represents. Mr. Spioss should know
tina the people viii attribute unwor-
thy motives Co him boz his public pu-
sition that his every act viii he qlcs-
toned tina ass president of the com
stitutional convention ne viii do more
than any other Influence 20 defeat the
adoption OF any constitution over The
framing of which he may preside Mr..
Spices. apparently. does not care.
The matter is now up TO the repub-
llcan party OF Now Mexico The rec
publican party is responsible for the
constitution. both Co the people OF
New Mexico and the nation 10 VIII
have 10 bear that responsibility and
10 Il should place Mr. spless Ia a poo
sition IT, dominate the framing %
that constitution. e. will have 20 bear.
also. the responsibility for Mr Spices
n Is safe 20 nssumc that lhe republic
can party viii not care 90 undertake
the latter burden