The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-15
THE BAR ASSOCIATION.
Annual Meeting and Election Of Oficers-The
Association in Highly Flourishing Condi-
tion-Personal EXP anations by Judge
Van Colt and Mr.. D. D. Field

The annual meeting Of the Bar Association was
held last evening, at the house In Twenty seventh
street, and the election Of the officers for the ensu.
ing year drew together an unusually large attend
ance OF members.
The minutes Of the last meeting having been ap-
proved. the Treasurers report was read. The total
receipts for the past year Of the general fund have
been $24,7s7 49, and the balance in hand $2,41s.
The subscription to the Judiciary Investigation
Fund amounted to $27,s7o and the excess OF ex-
penditures on this head was $l,03S SO, $3.50 OF
which had however, already been subscribed by
one gentleman.
The report of the Library Committee was next
received. The total number Of volumes now in the
library amounts to 6,026 and the total amount of
money placed ut the disposal OF the committee had
been $2o.510 II, Of which $19,254 81 had been ex-
pended. The balance, however, will be absorbed
by outstanding bills.
number Of candidates for membership were
then announced, all OF whom were unanimously
elected.
The CHAIRMAN said he had appointed Messrs.
Nichol, Troop, Anderson, Delafeld and Nelson as a
committee to press upon the Legislature the pas
sage OF the code Of amendments approved by the
Association.
The Nominating Committee reported O list OF
officers for the coming year. Mr.. William NJ. Evarts
was reelected President, and most Of the other
officers OF the preceding year were also hOnored
with similar compliment
While the tellers were counting the ballots the
report oil the Committee on neutrality-suspicious.
given fully In the newspapers-was referred to, but
the matter was referred over to the next meeting.
Judge FfTHIAN called the attention of the AssO-
citation to the fact that the profession had not had
printed calendar the Circuit Court and General
Term for several years, and were, consequently
unable to tell when their causes were up. They
paid. however, pretty good liberal fee for getting
them on the calendar, and they were unable to get
the case up, unless they took means which, however
appropriate under the circumstances he would
not then allude to- NaughterJ
Mir. SEwELL moved that this and another
matter-the lack OF prompt attendance Of the
judges in the Courts OF Record ut the hours
ments to the law There was no extortion prac-
tised upon the profession worse than this extor-
ton upon their time through the nOn-attendance
OF the judges.
The motion was carried.
A PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Judge VAN Corr then rose and referred to the
matter of the printing OF the speech which Mr.. ID.
ID. Field did his best to deliver amid the confusion
na lis Of the last He STR
Association generally reputed to have the instincts
aud character OF gentleman had done what he
thought 1t his duty to move for committee to
have the facts reported upon, and to have such
privileges We're outrssed; but he wished to say in
conclusion, that, taking the matter as 1t was, he
did not think It necessary. as far as he was person
the matter.
Mr.. FIELD then said that the only reason the
whole OF the limited speech had not been uttered
was the noise and disturbance and catcals with
which the members had interrupted him. Ii he had
been able he would have uttered every word OF it.
Mr.. Field said further that the speech had been In
type some time, and that he was justified Ia pre-.
pairing 1t, because he had been warned beforehand
Of the attack that was made upon him. He had
been thus warned by Mr.. Peckham, by Mr.. Nichol
and by Mr. Parsons and had been told further that
the Association had been carefully canvassed, that
they were i've to one against him and that the
young men had made up their minds that whoever
spoke and whatever was said they would vote
Here Mr.. PRICE rose, and IN great excitement
called Mr.. Field to order. In doing so, however,
he made some amusing verbal Mistakes which 0c-
casioned considerable laughter and raised the tenn.
degree Of geniality and good humor, and to great
extent enaced the solemn effect Of Judge Van
Colts impressive effort.
Mr. FIELD resumed by pleading that he was
quite in order, and having again recapitulated the
facts asked the Association to let him alone and he
would then let them alone. But, added he, as
surely as any man attacks me he will find, at
all events, warm work for while. That l
promise him, conscious that l have never
done anything unworthy OF me In my professional
career. l defy even my bitterest enemies and
have many OF them, to point out the contrary. 1
know the persons who are concerned In this thing
are actuated by motives such rs l described in my
speech. l do not take back one Jot or little Of
apology and no explanation 10 make except that
when the time comes l will show you what these
gentlemen who attack me are and what they have
done.
Judge FITHrAN suggested that both sides having
been heard, the matter be allowed to drop, in which
every one seemed to cheerfuy acquiesce
The Association then adjourned until Thursday,
the Goth inst.