Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-11-11
Louis D. Brandeis Breaks Silence
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rom page u
relishf Money is not one OF the things
which fascinntcs me. reserve 10 my
self the right to he free"
MARRIED ALICE GOLDMARK
Brandeis lived mcaeerly aud unos
tentatlunsly. disregarllog his grcnt in
come. In isDi, when he married Alice
Gol'lmark. or nm nristocraiIc New York
ramiiy. who had devoted most II hci
time to communal work, they decided
that they would not have paintinl
home. with Its innnmcrnblc parties md
fertsinmenfs. but would live quietly
n decision which has been adhered tt
In 'hc BraM,eis family to this day.
The year 1900 marks the bcginnins
Of n new eIoch In Brnndeis' career. Al
that time group Of New York bankers
secured 00-year concession, which
virtually gave them control OF Boston's
transportation system. A committee OF
progressive Boston citizens decided ia
fight the concession. which they de
clared would hamper the progress of
Boston. and make improvements in the
transportation system impossible. The
Municipal Council was forced to give
hearing 10 the case, at which
Brandeis was chosen to present the
opinions OF the anti-concession group
As n result. the concession was granted
fer only twenty years, instead OF
ninety-nine and the bankers had to pay
Boston five per cent Of the total amount
involved in the building and maintpn-
ance of the system. The leaders whe
had opposed the concession asked
I'randeis the amount of his fec, being
prepared 20 pay 5000. But Louis D.
Brandeis refused to accept any money
for his services.
TO AID or BOSTON
Brandels again came to the aid OF
panies. who sought to become mono
poly under n state charter. Boston's
gas supply was hgh-priced and badly
distributed. The citizens feared that Il
monopoly would make conditions worse
They came to Brandeis, who prepared
the case. But he broached an utterly
:.usual and originate splan. He de-
clared that he would not oppose Tho
merging Of the gas companies. III they
would Immediately reduce the rates OF
gas ten per cent. They could, further
more. increase their profits every time
they reduced the gas rates by a nickel
Many of Brandeis' friends openl,
opposed him. Many accused him OF
selling himself to the gas-trust. Bui
Brandeis did i,ot change his views. He
explained that he was a practical mnr
and not a tieorist. Gas Is busines.
proposition. The companies sell it fol
proAt, and since they will not be able
to make greater profits unless they sci
cheaper rates on gas. they will intro
duce economic methods that would en-
able them TO raise dividends-whicl
would automatically make gas cheaper
for the public That Brandeis' reason
ing was justified is proved in the sta
tistics which show that during 1905
1913 the citizens of Boston saved So,
247 ,a23.35 on"their gas bills.
NEW HAVEN CASE
The famous case which Brandeii
conducted against the New York. New
Haven and Hartford railroad is to,
technical for description in detail
Brandcis' analytical powers, his fore
sight We're particularly evident durin;
! trust had gathered an imposing ARA,
of LAWYERS who were entrusted witt
4 consummating the merger with tn,
Boston and Maine lines. Brandei
proved that this would he a violation
of public interest. The railroad trus
would need additional capital which i
would have 10 secure at high rate o
! interest. Freight and passenger rate
would have to be raised accordingly
| In the revelations that followed, il
which Brandes made skillful use o
| the statistics of the railroads, the in
\ surancc companies md banks. he eN
posed the fact that j. L. Morgan ha'
J --.,,,.... az ego
/ taken >nurr> 10 Inc iHiV''H' a' So
| 800 900 in the United States Steel cor
| poration without paying a cent fo
them. He exposed the business method
of the insurance companies, and hi
recommendations were embodied il
Charles L. Hughes report in the now
famous expose OF the insurance scanda
in 1910.
RIG(;EST BATTLE