Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-10-09


Mass Meeting Of the New York Bar.
Yesterday the members of the Bar held meeting
in the Circuit Court Room, for the purpose Of consi
derng the grievances which the public and the pro-
fession laboring under from the Chamber prac-
tce, the fee system and the double calenders Of the
Superior Court All the leading members OF the pro-
fession were present. and very large amount OF the
legal talent of the city. Mr. John Anthem was nomi-
mated as president, Theodore Sedgewick for Secre-
tary. The Chairman having explained the object Of
the meeting, Mr.. Daniel Lord, Jr., rose, and said,
that must be obvious to every gentleman present,
that the system Of remuneraing the Judges by fees
of one dollar and less could add to either the
spect ability Integrity of the bench. Ii
tal to Courts of Justice in this country, that the
Judges should be Of high character, and that they
should be above all sordd influence and
above that degree Of familiarity which seemed to be
inseparable from most Of the institutions of the coun
try. The bar could not fail to lose their respect
for the Court when they had continually to run after
the Judges with their hands in hei,dsoc handing
them small to aid the admnss.ai of Justice
The system Of remuneratng The incumbents ,of the
bench, by fees for orders of Court, inc consistent
with that respect ought to have for the judicial
character, and it tended to lessen them not only in
the eyes Of the practitioners in the Court but also in
the estimation of the public. 1t often happened that
Judge would be listening to argument, when
clerk would in, without regard to the dignity Of
the bench, place order before his Honor which he
would sign take his fee, and then nod to the Council
to proceed. One interruption lead to another, until
it was quite common for Judge to take newspa-
per out of his pocket to read upon the bench, while
some important motion pending. This, howev-
er, mere matter Of taste but the fee system,
he Mr.. Lord had no hesitation in characte rzing az
a sort Of public psrquisite which might become a
degraded and shameful source Of corruption. "Leav-
ing this evil, said the learned gentleman " let US
look at the double calenders, and by this system
have to offer premiums to the Judges for putting their
causes in the proper place the calendar
After a few other observ a:ons, Mr.. Lord moved
the following resolutions, which were seconded by
MIR. Western
Mr. Hiram Ketchum said he entirely accorded with
the resolutions, and he could not let them pass with
out saying that the treame Of and the adj
ministers of justice By the Supreme Court quite
a contrast, and refreshing one, too, to that which
was now exhibited by the Superior Court. He for
one was anxious 10 secure ample compensation to u-
dicil officers, and to do it by such salary should
induce the Judges to devote their whole time to their
several duties
Mr.. Joseph Blunt said he was anxious to see the
double calendar system tried. The meeting must
recoect that the bar had asked for this regulation
and he thought it would be acting without due deli
beration to denouuce the system before they knew
how it worked He moved to strike ont the first re-
solution.
Mr.. Sanford asked il the resolutions applied to
the Court Of Common Pleas.
Mr.. Lord said-No, only to the Superior Court.
Some discussion then to the words of the
resolution, and to the rejection of the first, bat
eventually these difficulties all smoothed over,
and the resolutions passed serstum by an overwhe-
ming majority. On the president putting the ques-
tion for the final passageof the resolutions there were
only three dssentient voiees. The follow ing gentle
men appointed as committees:
| RESOLUTIONS OFFERED MrSTISc Bar, CALLED
FOR THE srH or OCTOBER, =. D. 1910.
l. Resored-That, in the judgment OF this meeting the
proceeding with two separate calendars OF causes in the
at the time now creates confusion in
the arrangements for trial and in the attendance Of
nesses renders mpractoablc for and coun
sci to attend to the preparation OF trial of the causes in
their charge subjects the frequent postpone
ment and the parties to the necessity OF constant appca
tions for chamber orders
= Resoed-That, in the judgment OF this meeting ths
putting upon the day calendars OF number OF Causes
evidently greater than be tried tends TO DO all
certain expectation of trials at the appointed time lessen
punctuaty in the attendance of Witnesses throws the bu
Of the courts into hurry and disorder embarrasses
the conduct of and s"hances tho expense VI i
CATION.
system chamber fees by the Judges Of the Superior
Court especially the taking Of fees by those Judges
for the ordering OF the calendars tends to the drepute Of
|
| with a elevated administration ofjustice.
l. Resored-As the opinion Of this meeting, that while
the policy and honor ofhe State eydently require liberal
compensatons to high judicial officers the impocy is
less evident of ALLOW ing them to take fees upon the ad
nnistraon OF rules OF practice made By themselves
subject to their discretion.
s. Reoires-Thai committee of eleven be appointed to
prepare and forward memorial TO the Legislature the
subject of preceding resolutions and apply q
peal Of much of the fee bill allows TO the Judges of
the Superior Cont, chamber fees for business in that
court and for enlargement OF the salaries OF the Judges
TO be made up, need be- by fee TO the public treasury
| upon every judgment renderod)
s. Resolrsa-That the committee apply the Lee
gislature for modification alteration Of the law
double calendars and that the
Judges be respectfully requested to abandon the practice
Resolrcd-Thaa copy Of these resolutions, and Of the
call for this meeting be presented each the Judges OF
the Superior Court, and TO the Common Council of this
| city, for their cooperation
to- collect such facts may be needul TO enlighon the
public on the subject Of these resou,ons and to call u
| iure meetings Of the Bar upon the same.
! NAMES sreeEs1rD TO roaN 4 COMMITTEE TO pagr.Rr A
MEMORIAL 70 rHE LEcf5L,ruHr
| George r. Talnan. David Graham. jun.
| william Kent, Henry p Davies,
| Ambrose L. Jordan, Elisha r. Hurlbut
| Francis b. Cutting, James J. Roosevelt,
william : Johnson Daniel Lord'jas
| Edgcomb II. Blatchlord
| COMMITTEES TO CoLLrcr FAcrs.
| Rober. Bogar,ius David d. Ficli.
| Jonathan ?. Hail. Abraham Crist.
| Elias IL Ely. John Cleveland
| Theodore sedgwick, Benjamin w. Bonney.
| On motion the me citing adjourned sine die.
| Religious Intelligence.
The late camp meetings and revivals in this city,
MARYLAND, Connecticut, Vermont, Virginia, Penn
sylvania, Missouri, and Illinois, have brought into
the Methodist Church, about twelve hundred souls.
Kshkewagsomaby (alias Thomas Jones,) writes,
that great attends the Indian mission in Ca
NADIA.
The Editor Of the Presbyterian decides -" sx Of
6eio ~ that neither the new school party nor the