The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-10-26

In an arbitration men whom did not then
know, but who afterward l found to be
Robert 9. Grier, afterward a justice of the
Supreme Court Of the United States, Lc
Grand Bancroft and others. reached the
borough Of York on Monday morning the
fourth day after started and reached the
court house Just in time TO hear the crier
announce that the sheriff OF Tiogs county
was about to acknowledge a deed. The
proceedings were stopped and the sale was
subsequently set aside. Now instead Of q
long, hurried and tedious journey the law
yer of to-day would first by telegram and
then by mail transact the business that
was sent to accomplish without leaving his
office.
and in the practice Of the law ht kept
pace with improvements In the material
world. Chancery jurisdiction has been
conferred upon the courts OF the common
wealth. The common law in many mat
ters has been changed by statute. Techni.
calitics in respect to form Of action and
pleading are almost entirely abrogated by
the Wolverton bill. The rights, powers,
| and liabilities of married persons are now
| defined by statute instead of by common
law. Lord Coke said Of himself that If
asked a question in regard to the common
| law he would be ashamed not to be able TO
| answer 1t at once, but II asked question
in regard to matter regulated by statute,
he would be ashamed to give an answer
without the statute before him. To this
would add that in these days of much legis-
lation it would be prudent when consider
ing questions dependent of the common
law to consult the statute book also In or.
der to ascertain whether there had not been
change.
In the practice in courts great changes
have been made to facilitate the despatch
OF business Formerly il was the practice
in the Supreme court to take books cited
into the court and in oral arguments read
them remember one occasion when a
lawyer was reading a lengthy report con-
tanning only some place principle,
when he was interrupted by Chief Justice
Gibson saying "You need not read that to
us, you ought to take it tor granted that
this court knows something" 1t was after
that when the present rule was adopted
which IN effect forbids the former practice.
II any honor is due for the administra-
| tion of the law in this district the Bar is en-
titled to share it with the Court 1t IS a
trte saying that good bar makes good
| bench. While the Judge has great respon-
sibilitics, his labors may be greatly tighten
ed by able lawyers who lndustriously per.
form their duty in the light of their pro-
fessional obligations.
The profession is at this time burdened
| by the multiplication of books. The key
note on that subject was struck by Justice
Miller of the Supreme Court of the United
States few days since. l commend his
remarks to the profession. Every many
of.thc text books are mere digests got up
| by the job, by book publishers. OF course
there must OF necessity be many books,
but less number more thoroughly perused
would be quite as well as great number
little read.
| There is one subject desire to mention
subject in which have now no personal
interest, refer to the compensations TO
the Judiciary. The State Of Pennsylvania
does not pay her judges as they ought to be
paid They spend the best part of their
lives in her service, They are untitled for
other business if they are obliged to retire
from the bench, and while they are engaged
in that service they can lay up but little for
the future.
| Gentlemen of the Bar for this cour.
tesy and those which you haye at all times
shown me am most profoundly grateful.
During our association as Judge and men,
bers of the bar our relation has been of the
most cordial character. 1t Is not iprobable
that opportunity will ever again occur
when l shall meet you all, and these re.
spected friends. l shall always cherish in
my memory the regard anu respect which
you have shown me. l wish you all sue
cess in your profession, may you be best
with health and all things that combine to
make life happy and enjoyable.
Col. Freeze then announced as the nexl
toast, ''The Judiciary" and called upon
Judge Pershing to respond, which he did
most appropriately. The next toast was
"The Bar" and was responded to by Mr.
Gowen in an eloquent address. "Tht
State" was responded to by Gov. Davies
who said that one OF the rules of an aftel
dinner speech was that the speaker was
permitted to talk about everything excep
the subject assigned him, and that both o.
the gentlemen who preceded him had vic
lated this rule. He then paid a beautiful
tribute to Judge Elwell, with whom ht
studied law, and whom he had known fo
many years.
This was the end Of the regular toasts
present, Messrs. Palmer, Payne, Ksercher
Munson, Overton and Mercur responded
all of whom spoke in the highest terms o
the retiring Judge. Mr.. Mercur concluded
by alluding to the early morning hour t.
which the festivities had already continued
and thought it was time to adjourn, and h
proposed that the company arise and drinl
the health of their distinguished guest
This was done as the hands of the ole
clock or the wall indicated the hour o
three O'Clock III the morning, and then tn
dining hall was deserted, and after hal
hours pleasant converse in the parlor, tn
company dispersed and retired to thei
homes and rooms, hoping to snatch fe,
moments slumber before the sun appeare
in the eastern horizon.
The committee having this matter i
charge were Messrs. Miller, Waller, Maize
Zarr, Scarlet, West and Baldy, end as til
affair was grand success in every way, i
is owing to the excellent management c
those members of the committee who wer
active in the matter and brought it to s
satisfactory conclusion.
The speeches of the evening were all az
, mirable, and we regret that we sre n,
able to report them in full.
Y N, S. Walker, the official sterographer