Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-10
Meeting Of the Lawyers.

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
There is 20 be q convention OF lawyers ut the
capital on the nd instant an event not likely TO
attract the attention due 10 its Importance Self
elective, IL Will undoubtedly fairly represent the
progressive and organizing elements OF a body OF
men by training and habit OF thought essentially
conservative. IL Is high time the bar awoke and
nestlrred ITSELF The third OF the great coordinate
Departments Of the state and National Govern
ments Is almost exclusively and necessarily com
United 10 It's hands. and while the other two may
De said 10 have fairly realized the purposes OF their
creators IN the production OF fairly good govern
ineht TINS cannot De claimed for the judiciary and
the administration OF Justice This a shown nv
the everywhere laggardness-the almost utter in
ability OF the courts 10 Keep up with the current
needs; the pressing demands everywhere claInor-
Ing and nowhere met for greater expedition in
judicial labOrs; the growing frequency OF mis-
trials; the consequent absence OF certainty IN re-
results that has nnally shaken confidence In the
fOundatiOns OF our Jurisprudence. The remedies
proposed for this share the general innrmity
ing power TO whose hands It is Committed
for the Formation OF codes the multiplication OF
Judges, the creation Of intermediate courts, the
Increase OF difnculty In the way OF suitors 10 the
highest hnal tribunals, and the clogs In the way
OF speedy hearings when they are reached. The
whole 81 stem as worked Is peryaded with infrmity
and fatal delay, which amounts 10 a denial OF ius-
tice. and the creation OF intermediate courts but
aggraVates the difricuity, adds 20 the length OF
the weaTisOine legal way. more striking ara
seemingly unappreciated evidence OF the lack,
the failure, OF our working judicial system 10
meet the requirements VI the time Is the growing
frequency with which men everywhere rush In, as
Individuals, and with their own hands ayenge the
Injuries OF others SO common and pervasive has
tails become that II has ceased 20 incur ceusure
Nor has any man yet anywhere been punished for
any act or this brutal outrage upon law and per-
sonal security In the presence OF law. IL Is 10
% hoped that the general scheme Of Jurisprudence
a1V, IA a special way, that It's present working
processes viii be thoroughly and practically dis
cussed and reported upon by able Committees
Two striking things will doubtless receive some
aeesheon oy fe hnpe ending convention: the
kOIs - 70 call IT, IN the business OF the supreme
court Oi the nlted States and the defects almost
failure, or thai by jury The FIRST Is in no way due
70 the lnemclency Of the court as a court or the
lLSohpetchcy OF The individual Justices as Judges
and would seem 10 he within the reach on ferlsia
tive invention \ discussion however. OF meas
ures ior The relief OF the sutOrs In that court
Would involve quite the whole held OF iudtcial re-
form To amend the law and prucetnr, ar rial nv
jury presents some more radical dlfricuties hav
ing 10 do with the nature OF men as member, az
the laws under which the intellect OF The ayera1e
man works That IL, like the general scha,ns =,
the Administrative OF justice had its origin no the
rudeSt aye OF the most barbarouS times h no rea
son why II should be hastily set aside now
When n IS remembered that trial by Jury Il the
only purely democratic feature OF our entire com
pick system OF political government state ana
national, Ii which man takes an iInportanG ma ,,
because he l. citizen, there Will be wise hes,ra
lion before lawyers VIII recommend It's abolition
IL viii doubtless always remain but needs !
thorough revision do the rules OF evidence them
selves, and much OF the purely iltellecfna
mechanics for the laws administration This nots
Is not for the bar, but word TO the great outside
take heed In the May Forum Is q thoughtfu
paper by Judge Barrett Of New York, GOVERNS
some features Of this grayest or present subject:
which should be pondered by all thoughtful men
X.
THE CoLoRxp KNIGHTS TExpLAR.-The Grane
Commandery OF Knights Tempar OF the Distric
M C0lurl bia will Of-.srye Senson Day nv attand