New-York tribune., 1874-10-21
TIE BAR ASSOCIATION.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMHNDMENTs-THE AssOC1A-
TIoN DECLINE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS
A fairly-attended meeting of the Bar Asso-
citation was held last evening at No 20 West twenty
sevents consider the subject of the proposed Con-
situtoDa amendments. Gen. Sanford Vce-Pfesiueh'
OF the Association, called to the chair AFTER wnlch
Mr. Hico Chairman of the committee appointed W
to consider the subject. made the following report
Your Committee TO whom was referred o proposed
resolution for the appointment OF ~ ~ % 80
the adoption of the Constitutional Amendments 10 De
voted on the State election have considered te
ments question relate to, first, the exercise OF the
electoral franchises second the organization and
members third, the term Of office. powers. and COM
pensaton of the Governor and Lieutenant -GoVernSr
fourth canals public contracts and sinking tunds
fifth, savings institutions aud the loan or gll OF pnoe
SSsnSe ,o of "ca salaries durng term Of Office
seventh, bribery Of aud IN public oiicers Whatever
difference OF opinion there may Dc upon aetas % ot M
their various provisions they are entitled 10 he
b arc OF pes every to the people
measures upon which existing political parties are
era political economy Of the State they do not differ in
character legislation the general welfare, ex
law The members Of tins Society are IN duty bound
citizens to examine the amendments ana 10 act upon
Society as an organization does not absorb
to reach all the duties OF ozenship or It's members.
honor and dignity the profession Of the law to cut
social intercourse among Its members, ana 10 IN
crease ITS influence in promoting the due admnistra
tion of Justice" And this definition appears TO limit
the organization TO strictly professional boundaries
There evident objections to the use OF the organZa-
ton for purpuses outside its field of action, among
which may be suggested that each member mas the
right to regard the organization as confined TO that ned
leaving individual action correspondence free,
and all the energies Of the Society are and will be
needed for fuFtherance Of its special and that
any diversion Of them for good purpose would be
for other calls upon the Society for other pu
poses to the prejudice OF It's encenc III It's own spec@
province. ,,
specfuy report, that however desirable many Of the
amendments the State Constitution may be, Official
action by this Association relative TO them NOS within
the design Of Its incorporation, and Is not adVsaDie
The report was accepted and then made the subject
OF and general debate Speeches were made by
| Mr. Da Costa Mr.. Yeamans, Mr. Eicol, Dorman b.
Eaton and others Mr.. Eaton. representing those in
favor of having Association commend the proposed
amendments, made a long and earnest speech advo-
eating the proprety Of the Associations taking such ac-
ton and denying that 1t Oversteppins Its legitimate
sphere OF duty in doing He contended that the
principles Of proposed Constitutional Amendments
were inherent In the objects for which the Bar Assoca
ton was formed. He concluded bv Offering resolution
the matter be referred to the Committee on Law
their consideration.
Mr. Nico said that il the proposed by Mr. Eaton
were pursued il would be "a dangerous precedent TO
establish and would ultimately impair the usefulness OF
Association There several features in the pro-
posed amendments which he could recommend tne AS
sOciaton to concur, inasmuch as they were removed
from the legitimate field Of the law and Dordered on
political economy and expediency. Among them was
the clause relating TO the canals.
Several other speeches made, the general senti
men being that while the bulk OF the proposed amend
ments were desirable reforms and such would
md the aud influence OF the speakers
Objectionable features which they would
reject, and. the whole they deemed IT nexpedent TO
commit the Association TO any official action. Mr.
EatOns resolution was voted down ana the report
originally presented was adopted.