The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-30
BAR ASSOCIATION.
The New President Warm Debate on the Sub.
ject of Federal Jurisdiction.

CHICAGO, Aug. 29.-The American Bar
Association reconvened in the Methodist
church Block at 10 o'clock this morning
Prof. Simeon E. Baldwin, of The law school
of Yale College, read an address on THE
Centenary of Modern Government" This
was followed by reports Of committees and
miscellaneous business. Charles III. Butler,
of New York, presented resolution pledg-
ing the cooperation of the Bar Association
in the celebration of the one hundredth an
niversary of the organization of the Su-
preme Court of the United States in 1890,
and asking that committee be appointed
to make proper arrangements for that
event The resolution was passed unani
mouSly.
Treasurer Rowle, from tho committee on
special legislation, reported that, under in
structiOns from the convention of last year,
the committee had proceeded to Washing,
ton to urge upon Congress the necessity of
the passage of laws relieving the Supreme
Court of the vast amount of business before
it and to lessen the work of that body, but
that, owing to the change Of administra-
tion. 1T had been determined to postpone
urging the consideration of such laws upon
Congress until this year. The committee
was continued for another year Mr.. Smith.
of Pennsylvania, introduced a resolution to
the effect that the association favor the es-
tablishment of an intermediate appellate
court to relieve the glut in the Supreme
Court. The resolution was warmly
discussed, Mr.. Wilson, of Mime
SO sofa, attacking the ...r?. resolution. saying
termediate court and that the evil, as it at
present existed, lay In the too great power
possessed by sou!less corporations In ap-
pealing cases to the federal court, the OBJ
out litigants. Our State courts should have
more power. and the federal courts be re-
strlcted in their jurisdiction. The power of
corporations, the speaker said, was so great
that the advice generally given to client
in suit was to settle with that corpora
ton at the best terms possible, because the
corporation could secure delay by appeal
ing to the federal courts, and poor man
mercy of the corporation. Mr.. Lyman
Trumbull, of Illinois, supported tho re-
marks of Mr.. Wilson. and urged that re-
turn to the good old law of 1889. under
which the country. got along very we'll for
fifty years, be made. The law mentioned
by the venerable speaker restricted the
jurisdiction of federal courts to single
states. The matter was finally disposed of
by continuing the COMMITTEES and allowing
it to take unto itself four additional men,
bers. including the incoming president of
the association.
Tonight Senator Trumbull declined to
allow his name to be considered by the
Grand Council The council. at caucus,
Hitchcock, of ST. Louis, as their choice for
the presidency of the association. To-mor-
row the matter will be passed upon by the
members Usually q nomination by the
council is equivalent to an election.
At a meeting tonight of the grand coun-
Gil OF the association, composed of one dele
gate from each State. William p. Wells. of
Michigan, was elected president for the
ensuing year. Mr.. Wells is Judge Cooley's
successor as lecturer on constitutional law
at Ann ArbOr University.