The Washington times., 1925-02-14
Mr.. Syme's Claim for a
$4,000 Attorneys Fee
By BILE PRICE.

81
CONRAD Il s116E former counsel for the Public Utilities
Commission has asked the District Supreme Court to award
him fee of $416S Of the portion Of the mpounded cleo
trio light money which the users Of electricity u TINS
city Under agreement reached between the Public ut
ties Commission and the Potomac Electric Power Company
in settlement Of the long standing
the paid public 81 $4,000 Mr. symes claim
is for ~ per cent Of that amount.
What understanding any Mr. syme may have had with
any Judge Of that court this newspaper does not know but
herewith sets forth few facts matter Of record:
Alter Mr.. syme retired counsel for the Pubic Utilities
Commission that Commission recognizing his detailed and
pert knowledge Of all phases Of pubic utilities cases pending
in hscour asked Congress to appropriate each year
for thu employment Of Mr Syme special counsel TO aid
FRANK 81 STEPHENS regular counsel
For reasons Of its Congress reached point where it
refused sanction the employment Of Mr. syme leav
ing Stephens the sole legal representative Of the Com
mission anof the public in these extremely important
one Of them Involving the 100000 pounded fund Of what
this Newspaper felt to be overcharges the public.
Contrasted with this pauciy Of counsel seeking TO protect
the interests Of HE people Of Washington great array
Of legal talent o. the other ride indirectly paid for BY the
public.
The situation wal then and IS today the possible
indictment of CONGRESS failure safeguard the people Of
Washington the fullest ii al public utility questions
Determined that the public should 1t least have fair
chance and realizing III syme peculiar fitness special
counsel this newspaper d its colleague The Herald under
took raise fund Of $1,000 to pay Mr.. Syme for his
services for the sc. year hat Congress refused to approp
trying to have Congress make deficiency appropriation
The fund to be raised tObe p lieu Of what Mr sys
would have gotten Congress bad appropriated the $1,000
The public responding 70 the efforts 81 these neWSpapet
did subscribe close to $1,000 Mr. Aearst himself giving $1,000
Some Of the subscriptions that pledged collected
but the total collection reached So 40
So far as this newspaper is concerd there any
understanding that the money raised and paid Mr. Syme
in the nature Of RETAINER. On t contrary It's under
standing that the would be IN FULL COlEPENsA
TON for Mr. symes services would have been the $4,000
which Congress should have appropriated.
1 lyme, may be stated, did urge The raising Of the
fund but did state that whether raised he
would continue IN the permitted that The public and
the should have the full benefit Of his knowledge and
legal skill he seemed TO feel did his friends that
leaving the public without full protection and be
would under any consideration what he considered
his post Of duty the face Congress attitude hostility
TO bis employment
We do not know whether anybody puporng represent
Of electricity made agreement with Mr. Syme about
any other fee than the paid him. but we DO KNOW that
this newspaper and its colleague DID NOT make any promises
attempt TO pledge the public beyond the sub
scbed and paid and understood that this would
full compensation for rendered although feeling that
the compensation small in view Of the large involved
At time did Mr. Syme indicate that he expected further
remuneration.
is for the determine this matter and the Public
Utilities Commission viii have its counsel appear represent
the public the Commission being familiar also with the facts
involved.