New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-21
LAWYERS IN CONVENTION.
MEETING OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIA-
TON
THE ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT HENRY HITCH
CoCK-DwIGHT II. OLMSTEAD ON
LAND TRANSFER REFORM.

crcss already passed this year. referring length TO
the acts in connection with contagious diseases. 10
prevent desertions from the Army. the Administrative
Customs bill, the Dependent Pension act, the anti
Trust laws the Worlds Fair acts, the acts passed In
relation 10 Dakota, Idaho and Wyoming, and tho
Silver bill AID legislation subsequent to the "Ongnal
Package decision. Continuing he said:
1t is a matter of great regret that up to this time
neither OF the bills introduced in the House and
senate both for the Recf OF supreme and other courts
Of the United states, or RAJ hcr' inc renei Oh ,iT
providing for an intermediate appellate court upon the
general nos repeatedly approved by this association
House and passed that body in April last but Is st
under consideration il the senate where other bills on
committee appointed last year TO urge this legislation
upon Congress viii io y HTssa no% ' Sa G Sas
ttce In November last TO tho President Of the tinted
can ,s st.mon Of Gonee tbs IN
his annual message REQUEST wmch was cor Nt,
DS That at tbs melting the association take
further action on this important subject.
! speaking of the acts Of the Legislatures Of the
states Mr.. Hitchcock proceeded to review them by
the subjects OF the laws passed. under the heads Of
| D." Edncstion and other Public Charities" The Pro
lection and Training of Youth 1.-THE Employment Of
Womeu and Children" Marriage and the Domestic
Relations Public Safety, Health and Morals Mr.
Hitchcock had carefully collected all the laws passed
BY the different States affecting all Of these matters,
and his address notwithstanding and was listened
]
closing. he said
May be permitted ip closing to say that in conclu
sons sometimes drawn from some apparent tendencies
in American legislation including constitutional pro
visions am unable 10 concur. II has been suggested
for example and by very high arth9ry thaa ns
upon the legislative power notably In reference 70
private, special and local legislation, unwise
Preference given biennial annual sessions in
thirtynine ont Of the forty four States and there Is
limitation in some cases TO slxy-days' session in
the words Of the eminent iurist who addressed yon
year ago. The biennial session is movement back
ward in the march Of free government And in the
stuctive address TO which you listened In seG from
This method Of restraining legislative opportunities
for doing mischief though consistent application 0i
result for self governing democracy TO have arrived at
shall certainly not attempt 10 discuss 50 large
question now but one may suggest, IN "a "2g'', ,o
moro encouraging view OF such provisions. IL me
requirement that general laws shall be enacted where
check securing equal opportunities TO every citizen
II the prohibition OF special and local legislation j.
and money: which wise general laws render needles
If final action upon questions OF purely local concern
Is committed 10 tho leople OF the iocaie drec'N
leaving them standins temptation to log rolling;
The requirement for biennial sessions simply eNpIcS,cs
the popular conviction that too much legislation hurts
ncope then Is seems 10 me- That such "cfmpoecd
restrictions are symptoms, not OF the decay. but Of
institutiOns They are part OF the called system
Of checks aud balances" characteristic Of American
An human institutions must deal with human nature
are those NV Wien G that end Is best secured wsm
Cromwell dissolved the ramp Parliament; when ~,
poeon. on the 18th BrImaire: broke up the Council
hand of dictator seized the Government. When the
people Of an American state deliberately impose re
stricons upon the exercise Of their own power and
that of their representative It IS ne stronger hand
Lowell has felIctonsiy said @but obstacles in the
! ~ M
these laws and constitutions the source OF their power
% S1% ba wn and nncasomnT is the secret Of
their often crTidc and tentative character while u Is
The necessary condition Of solving the problems which
from generation 70 generation must arise. lies public
opinion. elusive and subtle. all rcryadlng. Ike The
mysterious forces Of nature and IKE them tremendous
for good or for eyN That IT. shall be not ONLY nm
! The voice Of one iyran or Of many IS the condition
upon which perhaps more than upon any o,her me
Your privilege to contribute fulfilling the purpose of
| your association.
Secretary f. o. ITlnkley. Of Boston presented Lis
report showing that the membership was over
+ thJusand. Treasurer Francis Banks al-O reported
showing his receipts at $G133 81. and disbursements
al S3.33l 81 Members Of the General Conference
were then named for the ensuing year and approved
on behalf Of the commission "a promote uniformity
Of legislation. william L. Snyder. Of New YORK. pre-,
sented Of resolutions urging upon tie as.octa-
ton the advsabilty o. securing commissions similar
10 that appointed In this state 10 secure uniformity
| Of laws throughout the several States
/ In the evening. Henry {. Tompins. OF Alabama
read a paper on The Necessity for Uniformity the
Law Governing Commercial Paper Dwight H. DIN
stead read a paper Oh Lana Transfer Reform" SIR
OIms,cad spoke in part as follows:
Immediately upon the defeat OF the Lot Indcying
bin ia the Legislature Ia tile session Of 1857, b!ock
BIZ iS or e HEX Sy s Of Te~ ao n T@ os M
ont serious opposition and became Ia" by le approval
p the large number Of bank record books for which the
act OF 1851 provided, in the following year the writer
were favorable 10 the block system, prepared new
bill upon the lnes Of The bin annexed u NE report 70
particulars, goes into operation on January /, 1881
1T is founded on the principle Of small statutory ucae
been made at once from the entire county to the
lesser of city blocks bounded BY streets ana
The new act, besides reducing the legal areas OF
search 10 blocks, provides for two principal mechanical
one OF which is the making Of a complete map Of The
city, which are to be laid doHa al nc ciiy block
nu6oE and t rp win g hrees seetons Tor lie
present cts. All the books relating 20 land IN any
| section viii be Endorsed with their section rnmber.
and should be kept tqs s s sTPsG " e civ
! the separate sections VIII constitute independent
res, ., S' S, aa The p necnnlcal pieces
directed by the act Is the preparation Of tho INDEX
ana i, novel In order % avoid mistakes OF ndc4ing
1t Is directed that at the bead OF each index OF boch
! shall DC placed diagram OF the block showing lt2
section lumber It's block number, and the names Of
the bounding streets. Under the block diagram VIII be
entered 10 the nbcr and page OF Tie recorded
ana nortesges The index book, will b. madc up
vanmc Of hc indexes should contain about go pages
/ or Indexes for about twenty five blocks.
After these indexes arc put IN use neAt Jahuaiy a
nor.on wishing 10 learn what decds or mortgage nave
hcen recorded Affecting any particular 10, III biOch
c"e,Ti Of the block IN which tn property l. situated
where o VIII find at glance ree.' nee, to al pp
70 ali Instruments recorded in thc Ne" York Register