New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-29
AMERICAN LAWYERS MEET.
DAVID DUDLEY FIELD TALKS ABOUT THE
LAWS DELAYS.
TOPICS DISCUSSED IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO
THE AssOCIATTON-THE WORK OF THE DAY

THE ASSOCIATION-THE WORK OF THE DAY
Chicago, Aug. 2s.-The American Bar Association
began It's first annual session on this side of the AM.
ghanes at 10 o'clock this morning In this city with
large attendance The meeting was called 10 order
by the venerable iurist and legislator, the Hon
Lyman rrmbull, who introduced the president OF thu
American Bar Association. as bis youthful friend,
the Hon. David Dudley Field, OF New-YOrk Follow.
ing this formal Introduction, addresses OF weIcon.
to the American Bar Association were delivered ly
Francis Lackner, on behalf Of the Illinois State Bar
Association, and by Ethelber Callahan on behalf q,
the Chicago Bar Association. To these Mr Ileh
responded in behalf OF the American Bar Association
Tn opening his annual address, Mr. Field paid graceful
compliment 10 Chicago and then entered upon dis
cussion Of the relative merits Of the system Of
annual sessions OF Legislatures compared with III.
biennial system which has been adopted by all
bit eight States. He favored annual sessions
Annual parlIaments had been from time immemorla
the demand Of the people under rnonarchical govern,
ments, and there less for frequent
meetings OF legislative bodies under republican form
Of government. Biennial sessions would only intensity
the evil of too many special privileges granted. lie
cons dered the biennial session movement backward
In tho march of free government. Mr. Field then
gave in alphabetical order OF the States most com.
prehensive statement Of al the important acts adopted
during the past year. Continuing. Mr. Field sad that
the true place of the lawyer in American common
wealth is minister Of Justice, since the judges
advocates and attorneys constitute the machinery By
which Justice IS administered the citizens and
since Congress and the legislatures OF States are
largely recruited from the lawyers. He said that
the question sometimes arises whether lawyer Is
bound TO give HIS opinion 10 every who asks II
and offered reasonable fee. He thought be was,
in view Of the present chaotic state Of the laws, be-
cause the client has Of knowing what bis
rights are except by applying TO the lawyer. and IL
refused to give his opinion another might also
and the client thus be left in ignorance Of his rights
The lawyer he sad. Is far behind in the performance
OF his duty to the State. Behind the boasts OF great
things being accomplished there lurked a spectre OF
hating Justice. he knew of no other civilized coun-
try where it took long to punish criminal
or so many years 10 get final
decision between man and man. Ana yet there
many more lawyers, compared with the population,
I'm the United States than in Germany France. In
only few States can final decision of a lawsuit be
reached in a year and half and in some States the
time required IS six years. The amount OF talking
and writing required, he said, was wonderful Formal
documents in the older States and sometimes IN the
new were marvels of iteration and expansion. Con
corning this he said: a. know parallel TO the
cataracts OF words resounding In ears save in the
divertng play of 'Bombastes Furioso.' from which
pardon me II l take this pregnant extract: Go call
a coach and let coach be called let him that calleth
be the caller for Bombadilio has received blow and
Observation-Disclosures must die.'' He bad read legal
documents that in point OF iteration might
vie with the quotation The delays In
the administration OF justice he ascribed to
the chaotic condition OF the law process of eimina
ton condensation and classification must
time be undertaken The first duty OF the Govern
nent was to bring the laws TO the knowledge of the
people.
Of Illinois and surrounding States admitted 10
membership in the association. The annual reports
we're read and, after luncheon, papers were read by
Henry b. Brown, of Michigan, Judicial Independ-
ence5 and by Walter b. HILL OF Georgia, on The
Federal Judicial SYSTEM