Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-02-25
A LAW COLLEGE.
Shall One BE opened I'm the City of
Les Angeles.

Les Angeles.
For weeks past Colonel George ID.
Smith has been delivering an elaborate,
interesting and instructive course of lee
lures to the law students of the city.
Many of them in skeleton have been re-
ported in the HERALD, in order to give
the bar as we'll as the students of law in
the city some idea of their scope. If any
one were to visit the lecturs-room and
see the large class that gathers there on
Tuesday and Friday evenings, he would
be impressed with the fact that a law
school is needed in this city.
The bar association seems to be i'm
pressed with the desirability of having
such school, for at a recent meeting a
committee composed of Honorable s. NJ
White, j. r. Scott, Esq, Honorable
Lucien Shaw, 8. M. Minor, Esq, and F.
II. Howard, Esq., was appointed to re-
port on this matter. TIE following is the
report of this committee to the bar asso-
ciation:
GENTLEMEN The undersigned COM
mittee on legal education represent that
| in their opinion and that of very many
members of this association with whom
they have consulted, the time has come
| to take measures for the organic alton of
law college at this place. ao
Many reasons have led us to this con-
clusion, to some of which we will briefly
| advert:
First. There are large number of
young men in the city who are studying
law. These young men, for the purpose
OF facilitating their studies, have formed
themselves into a Law Students Associa-
ton, which has for considerable time
been in successful operation. This asso
citation has doubtless been of consider
able utility to the students, but is, of
course, Inadequate for the purposes in
tended; and we refer to it simply to
show the demand for some adequate
means OF instruction by the large num-
Der nf young men now engaged in the
study of law in this city.
Second. The population and wealth
of Southern California would seem i'm
peratively to demand the establishment
of such college; and the superiority OF
our climate would doubtless attract
many students from outside of our Sec
ton.
Third. To young men preparing for
the bar in our city, the school would
offer an opportunity for that liberal and
thorough education in the law that is
essential not only to commercial success,
but to the interest of the public; and
even young men coming from other
parts of our section would find the ex-
penses much less than if they were to 60
to San Francisco.
Fourth. With regard to the means of
maintaining such o college there ought
to be no difficulty. 1t is true that it
would lack an endowment, and would
have to be supported by tuition fees; but
this, in some respects, would have its
advantages. The Hastings Law College
has an endowment sufficient to pay for
one professor and an assistant, and we
believe no tuition fees are paid. An
amount equal to the income of that col
lege could be easily raised by moderate
tuition fees not exceeding the cost of rail-
road transportation to San Fran
cisco-allowing two trips to each
student a year. Besides, there can be
but little doubt but that some of our
wealthy and public.spirited citizens
would be disposed to render their as
sistance by way Of moderate endowment,
Especially if, By proper explanation of the
matter In the press, they could be led to
understand the Importance to the inter-
ests of private individuals of the thorough
education of lawyers.
Fifth. The college should commence
Operations at once under provisional or
ganization of the faculty, in order to rem.
der it's use available to the young gentle.
men now engaged in their law studies
A sufficient arrangement for this purpose
would be single professor of elemen
) tary law and lectures upon given subjects
from members of the bar. The services
OF competent gentleman for this posi-
ton can be obtained during the balancs
OF this scholastic year upon very moder-
ate terms, and the means of raising the
; money necessary for his compensation
; and other expenses could be easily ar
ranged, partly by small tuition fee from
= students and partly by a small subscrip
ton from the members of the corporation
With regard to the latter the corporation
could doubtless obtain in this city, and il
other cities of Southern California, no
: less than hundred members who woult
be willing to contribute dollar month
] for five months; and this, with the amour
9 raised from the students, would be ampl,
sufficient.
Sixth. Ii this arrangement is made
, the college could grant degrees at the ent
of this scholastic year to young men pre-
? pared for graduation.
Seventh. Matters could be arranged
so as to impose no pecuniary obligation
upon the bar association or upon tn
. members of the corporation, except t
) the extent of their actual subscription.
| Eighth. A permanent organization O
the college could be made and the insti
tuition started upon a new basis at tn
, commencement of the next scholastic
year.
From the above considerations, VI
r recommend that you appoints committe
to take the necessary steps for the imme