Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-05-13

onA yutu>s>;a~s

n NE OF THE letters which came to me while
| was recently absent from the city is pro-
test from reader in a nearby town against
my reference to the late T. J. Mahoney as having
broken the ice" for large fees for lawyers prac-
tcing at the bar here. "Are we to understand that
you upheld him in it. Do you think it is fair
for lawyer to rake in as much for few hours, or
at least few weeks work, as another equally i'll
telligelt and able man can by industry and econ
omy accumulate in long lifetime OF strenuous
EFFORT" he asks. Well, did not approve nor
disapprove, but merely noted fact which think
will not be controverted. ! have always conceded
that the lawyer is worthy OF his hire the same as
the doctor or the engineer or men in other pro-
fessions and occupations. Opinions differ widely
as to the money value of professional services.
Big lawyers everywhere command big fees for
big work. The abuses connected with the con-
tingent fee evil, which The Bee has constantly
fought, are frequently as fragrant in controversies
over small sums as over large ones. So it is not
so much question whether the fee is large or
small as whether it is fairly and honestly earned.
really think the big fees for settling huge estates
are more easily upheld than the hfty-hfty on ques
tionable damage suits.
A few words about Ed Moreartys book Of
personal recollectons which he has entitled
Omaha Memories" covering his observation OF
events, and affairs for the span of years from
1880 to 1916 Of which he has presented me with
one OF the first copies. The author has compiled
terspersed with his own interpretations and
opinions and exuding his personal likes, and dis
likes Mr.. Morearty was in the thick OF the many
political fights through all this period and The
Bee and its founder, Edward Rosewater, figure
prominently and constantly through the chapters
While Mr.. Morearty came to appreciate the work
and purposes of Mr.. Rosewater in the later years.
he seems not to have shaken off the antagonism
created by the fight The Bee made on the city
council Of which Morearty was one OF the bell
wethers and whose members were seriously dis
turbed in their program by the constant search
light Of pitless publicity. These political battles
however, did not interrupt personal relations or
prevent cooperation in different public move
ments either before or after.
As an example, the account of the annexation
with my father and myself is in point
at was in 1890 that the agitation for the
annexation of South Omaha got its initiative,
which project originated with Edward Rose
water, editor of The Omaha Bee. Mr.. Rose
water came to my Office in the early part of
listed in this fight, which promised to do and
did so. Shortly thereafter, at his request, in
troduced resolution in the city council which
provided for an election to be held for that pur-
pose which resolution was adopted. At the
next meeting of the council OF South Omaha
Mr.. Rosewater and I attended and had~a like
resolution adopted. A day was set and an cleo
ton was held, Omaha supporting it by big
majority 1t was defeated by few votes in
South Omaha by the efforts of Tom Hector,
John Ryan and John O'Rourkc. am pleased
to know that in June, just twenty-five years
thereafter Mr.. Rosewater's and my efforts be-
came living realization and the two cities are
now one; having the good fortune to see it,
Mr.. Rosewater did not; yet to his efforts and
to the continuous agitation by his paper through
his son, Victor, is due, more than to any other
agency, the credit for bringing about final an
nexation."
Another OF the few remaining residential land |
marks in the downtown section OF Omaha has just
disappeared board by board, by the hand OF the
wrecker. The old Maui house, originally two
story frame on the southwest corner of Nine
teenth and Douglas, is no more 1t was once
lowered from high embankment when the street
was cut and at the time enlarged by building
brick addition and now is to make way for the
erection Of modern structure before long When
built, some forty years ago, the house ranked
among Omahas mansions, its owner being one
of the pioneer wholesale dry goods firm, Tootle
& Maui, which had its parent establishment in St.
Joseph. When this establishment changed owner
ship Mr.. Maui went into the old Commercial Ma
tiona bank, of which the United States National
bank is now the successor, and lived in business
retirement from the time OF the merger to his
death few years ago.