New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-20
TOPICS BEFORE THE BAR ASSOCIATION.
DIVIDING on The PROPOSITION TO REDUCE THE
LAW 10 TIE FORM OF THE STATUTE.

DIVIDING on THk PROPOSITION TO REDUCE THE
LAw-To The FORM OF THE STATUTE.
SARATOGA, Aug. 19.-The convention OF the
American Bar Association bed at l0a ID to-day
introduced rhomasJ semmes, OF Louisi-
ana who delivered the annual address. which was In
the main an able review OF the various codes based on
the Roman law. notably the French and Prussian codes
He advocated general codincation of the laws In sltne
States Professor simeon +. Baldwin OF Yale College,
charm an OF the Committee Jurisprudence and Law
Reform presented the reports OF the committee Tie nrst
Was whether the rule OF Law deprivns simple con-
tract creditor OF nsolvent debtor of all equitable re-
lief against the frauds OF debtor ant his claim has nst
been reduced to Judgment ought TO be abolished Inc
report was received and adopted. The second report
referred TO the growing evil OF consdered legislation
ana detective phraseology statute laws, and wneIho
the association mend the several states to ADOPT
permanent system Tor the revision OF acts The report
was received and consideration deferred untll~the
next ann ns meeting. The other report nron inc set
tlement OF dccedents estates submitted by henry
Hitchcock and consideration was:deierred.
at the meeting OF the association held In August
1883, the Special Committee Delay and Uncertainty
In Judicial Administr atiou composed at that time OF
Sessrs. David Dudley Field Judge jour T. DilIoh.
James c. Brodhead and Edward j. Phelps. the present
Minister to England, submitted report containing
number Of recommendations, nearly all OF which were
adopted by the association that meeting. The report
contained ono recommendation In which only threo u
the committee concurred, Mr. Phelps dissenting ZINC
recon mendatiop hpt the law itself should DC TO-
duoed 90 far "a possible TO the form OF the statute Inc
association divided the recommendation by vote OF
7s to 80 and further consideration Of the matter was
:hen adjourned to TIE present session. In view OF tue
discussion to be had at the present meeting the committee
have submitted two reports. signed by Messrs
Pied, Dillon. Wright Thompson. tbs last two being
new members Of the committee and the other oy Cors-
landt Parker, OF SewJersey. The majority report taxes
the ground OF the former committee and again recon-
mends codication as the proper remedy for exstlns
evils Mr.. Parkers report rejects this theory and
presents abo arguments against codlncati0n. b'eu
reports also suggest remedies In the present adj
miDsrston OF Justice in regard trial by Jnry delays
In criminal justice legal education and the aiies OF
Judges and attorneys The principal feature Of the e-
ports is that relating codhcaon. which OF special
interest TO NewYork lawyers account OF the present
Efforts To obtain codincatou Ia tails state Ihe a9riy
report declares that the committee organ ted nave
considered this Communication OF codihcation anu
readopt H. There but two ways IN this country on
making laws namely; leg station and litigation; Inc
committee PREFER legislation. The Recommendation OF
the report would not commit the association 10 sy par
cuar scheme OF cOdinoatOn or 70 any form o statute
But the committee insist that the nncodlnei portion
the common ,T should be enacted 80 Jar a. sett ,
og judicial deeins IN as hri-f compass a. po'sIDe
and published tor the OF lawyers ana judges aud tor
OF the Government. legislative. executive aud judicial
Should be kept separate aud independent OF each Oher
Tue report concludes with az ain recommending cOdl-
hcation As the chief remedy for ex.stius evils 49,,
Mr. Parkers report presents aomng other Things tne
opposite side OF the question IL admits the propreV
OF compilation OF the laws and It's con- enience Tor re-
vision, but dount- the utility Of disturbing the eoers
ton N legs ative and Judicial acton wncn n"re ",
always been harmonious: II shows tne t et tSs
wants OF society and how impossible wii ne 70 Pre-
pare code to meet the changes IN tne datuIe, ,t
utes we shall SUI NOT be governed % leglsisOn. oe
Of learning; and OF tho legislator and therefore
better than Judge law giving such power 10 any
individual UNNECESSARY. The Judiciary with their
power To construe expound, interpe ana apply iorm
such a continuous board -, =,
OF prominent lawyers took part in the dis