The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
MEMBER
David H. Rudd 101 Wagstaff Building
Abilene, Texas
April 5, 1961
A. G. HILL.
PHONE OR 2.3281 OIL PRODUCER
RES. OR 2.8187 ABILENE, TEXAS
State Capitol Building
Austin, Texas
Dear Mr. Latimer:
I am writing in regard to HB 118, which was favorably reported out of
Committee and has been placed on the calendar for House consideration.
Legislation of this nature would inure solely to the benefit of a select
faction or, rather, profession: Licensed Attorneys of the State of Texas --
Period! No one else could possibly profit or be assisted by this bill. To
most other individuals, organizations, businesses, etc. , would fall the burden
of completely un-necessary legal fees and inumerable additional problems would
be created in the pursuit of their respective lines of business endeavor.
For example, I am a salaried, experienced Petroleum Landman. My
employer, an independent oil producer, operates with limited personnel, which
is customary and necessary for all independent oil operators of the State.
Consequently, on numerous occasions it is my responsibility to prepare legal
instruments. Along with other Petroleum Landmen, both independents and
salaried individuals, I am qualified both from the formal education and practical
experience standpoints to perform this duty or service, as the case may be.
Possibly you are quite familiar with the function of the Petroleum Landmans'
roll in the oil industry, and know that his many duties include lease acquisition,
title curative, processing new lease files, maintaining established lease files,
farmouts, drilling operations -- to cite but a few.
You can readily see what this bill would mean to the members of my pro-
fession, not to mention the realtors, contractors and nearly all other groups;
the problems thereby created would be voluminous. But, and this is most im-
portant, we would be deprived of our constitutional rights in pursuit of our pro-
fessional duties, for which we are fully qualified to perform without legal assist-
ance. The attorney's services are most assuredly indispensible on certain oc-
casions and the Petroleum Landman is fully cognizant and they would be one of
the first to acknowledge this fact. HOWEVER, we cannot deem constitutional any
law which will deprive us of the right - THE INALIENABLE RIGHT - to exercise
our own discretion in deciding when and when not an attorneys services are deemed
necessary for our endeavorments.
Very truly yours,
David H. Rudd