New-York tribune., 1891-08-29
A QUESTION OF MEDALS.
THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION HAS A
LIVELY DISCUSSION.
DAVID DUDLEY FIELD AND LORD sELBonNE
uoNoRED - ELECTION OF OFFICERS, ADJ
JoURNMENT AND THE ANNUAL DINNER
IRY TELLGRAPm 10 the TRIDuNEl


BOSTON, Aug. as.-The meeting of the American
Bar Association ended peacefully to-day although the
members became somewhat excited at the closing
ossIon and several close votes showed that the
sociaton was almost evenly divided at least one
ouesiion The members this evening enjoying
rest from their labors at the Algonquin Club, on Com
monwealthave, where the annual dinner is provided.
The meeting has been largely attended and was thor
Oughly successful In aiding In some valuable law re-
FORMS
The question over which the members disputed this
afternoon was rs TO the wisdom of awarding medals
TO distinguished juriss. The constitution provided for
such action, but award has previously been made
This year the committee, largely influenced, IL was
supposed, by ex-Mnlster f. j. Phelps. who was Il
member, prepared report awarding the medal for
distinguished services Of permanent value In ad-
vanclng both the science Of jurisprudence and the ad-
minlstraton Of Justice 10 tho Earl of Sebone, for
merly Sir Ramsdell Palmer. The Earl Of selborne
has been Lord High Chancellor OF England. and was
instrumental in carrying through the Judicature Act
Of 1873. which reformed the English system OF plead
Ing lie is not well known In this country as
sir James Ftziames stephen and perhaps other law
refOrmers Many members of the association doubted
the propriety Of giving the first medal to the English
man, while David Dudley Field the greatest OF Amer
lean law reformers who has been president Of tho
association, remained unhonored The feeling OF the
members became so well known to the committee OF
award that the report at the last moment changed
so that two medals were to be awarded to David
Dudley Field and the other TO the Earl OF Selborne.
The friends OF Mr.. Field, who were apparently In
large majority among the members, then withdrew
any organized opposition TO the report.
II Nh Fields name had not been included, there
would have been still lveer discussion The Judcar
ture Act, with which the Earl Of seborne's name IS
connected, is largely an ougrowth of Mr.. Fields sys
TEN of codes and member said that the teacher as
we'll the pupil must be honorcd before the report
could be accepted. When the committee had agreed
difficulty because the report had not been printed
required by tho by laws motion TO amend the
bylaws made substitutes and amendments fol-
lowed quickly until presiding officer not so clear
heated Professor Baldwin would have been con
fused EX-Judgc Dillon, OF NewYOrb; Cortlandt
Parker, Of New-Jersey, and Charles c. Lancaster of
Washington, among the earnest supporters Of the
report Judge Cross, of NewIIampshirc, opposed the
report saying that the medals were but baubles and
that 1t was unbecomng in an American association to
give such decorations. Henry Wise Garnett, of Wash
ngton, thought that the association had heard enough
Of the "schOObOy prize The advocates Of the 70
port said that medals more lasting than rcsolu-
tons, and appropriate form to convey the
honor.
Those in favor of the awarding of the medals were
defeated on vote. Another tie, but their
efforts were finally successful. The report offered by
Cortlandt Parker for the committee was accepted.
President Baldwin ruled that IL out Of ORDER be-
it had not been printed; but his decision was
oyerruled by a vote Of 45 TO 40. The award was
finally made by unanimous vote. David Dudley
Field, to whom of the medals was awarded, Is the
author Of several codncatons which have been adopt
ed wholly or partially in nearly hall Of the United
States and in several English colonies. His public
career is well known In Ncwfork.
Important reports presented al the session to-day
were those the uniformity Of laws and on legal edl-
cation. Recommendations were made that at least
two years study be required in every state prepara-
tory to admission to the bar, and that The limit be
three years in the older States Tc Committee on the
Salaries Of Federal Judges was Instructed continue
its labors and endeavor 70 obtain further legislation
increasing the compensation Of the sup;cne and Circuit
Court judges.
The election Of officers for the next year Of
the last acts OF tho assembled lawyers. John +.
Dillon, Of New-Yorf member OF the firm OF Dillon &
swayne, was elected president without . dissenting
vote lie was formerly judge in the United states
Courts in Ohio the author Of the standard work
on municipal corporations. is practice is principally
In corporation law aud he counsel for OF the
Western railways. Edward Otis Hinkley, OF Baltimore.
and Francis Rawc, OF Philadelphia, who have served
for many years as secretary and treasurer elected,
and Judge A. Mercer, Alfred Hcmcnway and Bradley
G.. schey were chosen as members OF the executive
committee.
The President of the United states was one of the
vice presidents chosen, also the following: Alabama,
Henry c. Tomphlns; California, ". H. L. iBarncs
Colorado, George j. Bool; ConnecdcgS Lyman d.
brewster; DeaWare George Cray; District OF Co
lumbia Reginald fendci; Florida, Il. VI. Randall;
Georgia, n. J. Hammond; lDlnos, Thomas Dent;
Indiana, benjamin la:I,on Iowa, En!ln MCCAIN; Kan
saS }; H. GlpattcE; KENTUCKY Acniamil j. bEckncr;
Louisiana Jhomas J. semmes; Malne, T. ~ wilson;
Maryland, ,shpwith Wncr MASSACHUSETTS, r. Emory
Adrich; Michigan, Thomas J. O'Brsn; Minnesota,
Hiram T. ste'ens; Mississippi Charles p HOwry
Missouri. James NJ. Lewis Montana, Wiber +. Sanders
Nebraska, James M. WoOlwOTth NeW-lIamp pshre,
Charles ii. Burns New-Jersey. Charles Borch"iburS;
New-Mexico, W. {. Hazledinc; New-Y York, Robert b.
Benedict; North CarohEa, John L. bridges ohio, Joel
W. Tyler; Oregon. NJ p. Deadly Pcnnsy vanla. George
b. Kup; RhOdo Island, james Tillinghast South
Carolina, George Lamb Bulst; South Dakota J. ".
Wright; Tennessee, Malachi r. Bylan; Texas, +. n.
Wane Vermont, Ellhu n. TAFT; Virginia. Leigh Il.
Page Washington, Charl.S r 5heparl: West
Virginia. " W. Van WInklc:. Wisconsin, Alfred L.
Cary; Wyoming, Frederick $ Hcbard.
The meeting adjourned after thanking the members
Of the Boston bar fot thir hospitality Professor
James b. Thayer Of Harvard Law school. presided at
the annual dinner this evening. Among the speakers
John F. Dillon. Sim F.. baldwin, William
Everett and George o.. shattoch Of Boston; Henry
Wis1 GarICtt OF Washington: Hampton L. Carson
Of PHILADELPHIA Walter b. Hill, Of Macon, and John
S. Wisc, Of New. York.