The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-07
Lyon as "a Lawyer.

| was appointed on the committee
which in 1905 began the investigation
of the State Dispensary, and was
| elected Attorney General in 1906,
largely because Of his record as
member of that committee. Fraser
| Lyons first and best known work as
Attorney General was done in con-
nection with the commission appoint
| ed by Governor Ansel to wind UP the
| affairs of the state Dispensary. This
work Of itself has been a tremendous
task, sufficient to keep one man busy
for many years. but during the six
years he has been In Office Attorney
| General Lyon has. without outside as
sistance. conducted through his Of
flee many important cases for the
State. in no way connected with the
| Dispensary litigation. In addition the
Attorney General is regularly called
upon to give the other state officials
both verbal and written opinions on
| questions that arise in connection with
their duties. and the routine work of
the office is complicated and heavy.
Yet during the administration of Mr..
Lyon the office has been conducted at
less expense than any other State Of
fee, and has returned to the State
! Treasury a considerable portion of
certain funds appropriated fer the
use of his office. Moreover. the sums
of money which he has won for the
State by the verdicts in these cases
cover the costs Of his office more than
| ten times over.
| Mr.. Lyon is at this time Chairman of
the Sinking Fund Commission, hav-
ing been elected Chairman by the
Commission. which is composed Of the
Attorney General, the State Treasurer
the Comptroller General, the Cover
nor, and one member each Of the
House and Senate. This Commission
has important duties, and Is now
charged with the refunding Of the
State debt-an undertaking that will
require experience, sound judgment
and the most scrupulous care for the
interests of the State. 1t Is evidence
OF the confidence In him on the part
of his fellow-officials that the young
est member Of the Commission should
be made Chairman at this time.
I In the famous suit to set aside the
Southern Railway merger which took
more than month to try. he was op-
posed by more than eight OF the most
astute attorneys in the South. and In
this case ne had assistance from two
South Carolina attorneys, by express
| direction OF III" Legislature.
| There re number II most .mport-
ant cas-, that may be cited which ne
hes cor acted alone. and conducted
with suc ess.
Lyon has employed lawyers In but
two cases of any consequence, and In
both cases he got South Carolina
lawyers to help him. In these Cases
he was directed by the Legislature to
get legal help. He has never employ
ed a lawyer from another State.
Lyons Record in Notable Cases.
In the case Of the British -Ameri-
can Mortgage Company. and the
Ware Shoals Manufacturing Com
pany, brought to test the constitution
aiity of the Corporation Tax Act, Mr..
| Lyon secured a rehearing of the case.
which had been decided against the
State before he became Attorney Cen
eral. and upon that rehearing he won
the case before the Supreme Court.
and saved this tax to the State. 1t
has already amounted to $711,S6O.Ss,
and last year reached the unprec-
| edented figure OF $4,000.
In the case of the New York Life
Insurance Company against County
Treasurer Bradley, OF Abbeville.
| brought to test the Act levying a tax
upon foreign insurance companies. the
| Court decided In favor of the insur-
ance companies, but Mr.. Lyon drew
Dill which the Legislature enacted
into law, remedying the defect in the
law and although this Act was also
Fought IN, the Courts by the insurance
companies. 1t was successfully defend
ed by Mr.. Lyon and the tax was saved
10 the State.
When tho Seaboard Air Line com
menced an action to prevent the Rail.
road Commission from putting into
| enect reduced rates on commercial
iertiiizers. Mr. Lyon represented the
COMMISSION In the Courts and secured
an order sustaining the reduction. saw