The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-25

The American Bar Associations.
The National Bar Association has grown to be
an institution of much public Importance.
Though organized only little moro than seven
years ago. it is exerting strong, silent influence
over the legislation and jurisprudence of the
country. There is every reason to believe that
this influence has been and will continue to be
good and useful The leading objects of the as
ISOLATION, as expressed in the call that preceded
its organization, to be of service 'in helping
to assimilate the laws of the different States, in
extending the benefits of true reforms, and in
publishing the failure of unsuccessful expert
ments in legislation" or, as expressed in lis
constitution, ito advance the science of iuris
prudence, promote the administration of justice
and uniformity of legislation throughout the
Union, uphold the honor of the profession of the
law, and encourage cordial intercourse among
the members of the American bar"
The association meets annually, in August, at
Saratoga. It's membership, representing thirty
six States of tho Union and several Territories.
numbers about seven hundred. among whose
names found those Of nearly all the great
leaders of the American bar. The Indiana bar
but not as largely as it should be-
The annual reports of the transactions of this
body are interesting and instructive. This is
especially so of the report of the proceedings
had at the meeting of last August, recently pub
lshed 1t forms a neat volume of Ala pages.
In addition to the record of routine business, and
of many sharp and brilliant extempore debates
upon sundry questions, of them of high
Importance, it contains a number Of addresses
and papers carefully and learnedly prepared
upon subjects of much importance in jurispru-
dence and Of much interest on general scholar
ship-addresses and papers that should be stud
led and preserved.
Among these is an address by the president,
John W. Stevenson, of Kentucky, communicat-
lug, as required by the constitution, the most
noteworthy changes in statute law points of
general interest made in the several States and
by Congress during the preceding year. Also.
an address by George W. Biide. of Pennsylva-
MIA, being "Ar Inquiry into the Proper Mode of
Trial. paper by Richard NJ. Venable, OF Mary
land, on the partition of Powers Between the
Federal and State Governments" a paper
by Reuben c. Benton. of Minnesota,
Judicial Functions paper by Francis Rawle,
of Pennsylvania on "Car-trust Securities
Also report by David Dudley Field and John
+. Dillon, committee appointed at the last pre-
vious annual meeting to consider and report
whether the present delay and uncertainty in
judicial administration can be lessened and if
So by what means2'
All of these subjects are important-some of
them of peculiar importance at the present
time Each production gives evidence upon its
face of elaborate investigation and of deep and
honest thought Such discussions of such sub
jects By such men cannot but be productive of
good and only good results. At time when
public opinion IS in a somewhat disturbed condi-
ton. and many wild ideas are abroad, it is graf
flying to contemplate strong conservative organ
izaton, such as the American Bar Association
an organization comprising large proportion of
the abest of the land and those most con-
versant with the particular department. of social
science to which their efforts are devoted-men
VINO have no interests to subserve by means of
the organization other or different from those
affecting the entire public