St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-27
ELEVATE THE STANDARD.
The State Bar Association Asks
for a State Board of Law Ex-


for State Board of Law Ex-
aminers.
A large representation of the state
bar association met at the chamber OF
commerce yesterday afternoon at 4:3O
to discuss and further consider the pro-
posed enactment of a bill providing for.
state board of law examiners. Presi-
dent Ii. l.. Williams being absent, the
meeting was called to order by II. +.
Stevens. Gen. Sanborn was elected
chairman and III. F. Stevens secretary.
MIR. Osborn. one of the projectors OF the
bill, was called upon to report the sentI-
ment as directed to him by letter OF the
country members of the bar. Exhibit
ing package of seventy-eight letters he
stated that all but eight approved OF the
bill as printed, with liberal suggestions
of notifications in some sections. he
then lead petition which approved of
the bill in general, subject to such
amendments as would be made at this
meeting. This petition was signed by
Seyenty-three representative members
of the Ramsey county bar. He stated
that in Minneapolis petition had also
been circulated and largely signed by
members Of the profession there, and
read letters from Hon. Isaac Atwater,
Lloyd Barber, Judge Brown, and an ex-
chief justice of the supreme court ap-
proving OF some measure whereby the
standard of admission to the bar would
be elevated.
In general debate Mr.. Heath moved
that the bill be considered in sections.
Many objections and no second afforded
ID. Z. Butler the floor. who in lengthy
fnI an&,r of
bill which were Objectionable to him.
Mr. Mum to shorten debate, moved
that the bill be approved as
printed andu recommended to
the legislature for passage. Mr..
Bramhall then arose and in a fifteen
minute speech voiced the sentiments, as
he said. of those who had signed the
petition in fear that in fayoring any ar
gument in the bill they were in peril of
losing it entirely. He objected to
great deal of the bill, pointing out in
Vulnerable objections and inconsistent
cies. Many thought it should be greatly
modified and made applicable to this
part of the country. Unanimous con-
currence was manifest among the men,
bers when Thomas O'Brien gave ex-
preston to Chief Justice Gilfillan's
views upon the bill as it stood before
the meeting. He said there was en-
tirely too much detail, and would, in all
probability, if passed, exclude many
worthy young men from chOOSinga a pro-
fession in which they might become
eminent. The requirements of the bill
were such that young man with
brains, no money and little time would
meet in it great barrier to surmount
the plane occupied by his fellows in the
profession. Chief Justice Gilfillan was
reported as having said that
the examinations should be left
to the supreme court, and GER
tainly the bar association could not
doubt the ability of that body to decide
whe was and who was not fit to be adj
mitted to practice. The object of the
meeting seemed to be to pass some bill
that would establish uniform stand
ard of admission to the bar of the state,
and while many voted in favor of it,
they did so rather than accomplish
nothing at all: others did so to try it,
realizing, as they said, that many of its
essential features would have to be
changed when once law. Mr.. Munn's
original motion was then carried.
Judge Flandrau, Mr.. Osborn and Gen.
Sanborn were appointed committee to
present the bill with the recommended
ton of the state bar to the legislature,
urging its passage. The meeting then
adjourned.