The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-10-26
THE LAW AND BUSINESS.
The Votaries of Both Swap Expert
ences at the Narrrgansett.
A RECEPTION TO THE BENCH.
short Speeches by the Justices OF the
Supreme Court and by Senator Al
drioh-Justice Wilbur Unable to be
Present.

Half of the great dining room of the
Narragansett Hotel was divided from the
rem ainder by row of pretty japanese
screens, and in the portion nearest the
picture gallery cleaned and glowed and
glistened the drapery and crystal and sill
yer and floral decorations of a splendid
feast. IL was the occasion of the recep-
tion of the Commercial Club to the Chief
Justice and Associate Justices of the Su-
preme court of Rhode Island and the time
Saturday evening
Previous to the reception the annual
election of the club was held, resulting in
the following list of officers for the ensu-
ing year: president, Arthur III. Watson;
vice-president, Gardiner c. Sims; Secre-
tary and treasurer, James +. Field; Treas
urer, Charles II. Sheldon, Jr.; Executive
committee, Isaac NJ Potter, George
l.. Shepley and Herbert +. Hinckley. Ex-
president Alfred Stone presided and grace
fully introduced his successor.
There were present as guests of the club
Chief Justice Charles r. Matteson, Judge
John II. Stiness, Judge Pardon +. Tilling-
hast, Judge Horatio Rogers, Judge w. w.
Douglas, of the Supreme Court Senator
Aldrich, United States Circuit Judge Colt,
United States District Judge Carpenter,
Gov. Ladd, Lieut.. Gov. Stearns, John l..
Heaton Judge Wilbur was prevented
from attending by illness.
The after dinner speeches were of high
order of merit. Chief Justice Matteson,
when introduced by President Watson,
referred TO the growing discomfort with
the jury system, due mainly 10 the preva-
lence of compromise vcrdicts and to the
frequency of disagreements The method
of permitting a ajority of a jury TO decide
.g.N
in a number of states, but nothing would
SO entrench the ancient and honorable jury
system in public favor as the conscientious
performance of jury work by such men as
he saw before him.
Justice Stiness carried the argument
farther and reminded his hearers that the
making of the law comes before its ad-
ministration, and urged them to see TO it
that proper men were sent to act as legis-
lators.
Justice Tillinghast briefly referred to
the debt which law owes TO. business mems
usages and customs, so many of which
have grown TO be part of the jurispru-
dence of the country and of the world
Judge Tillinghast spoke favorably of the
less tedious and expensive settlement of
litigation by arbitration and reference.
Justice Rogers made a strong plea for
law reform, and took q well entrenched
position in favor of more elastic jury
SYSTEM. ne uTUeu tne mtmD Defs OF tne
club not to neglect their public duties of
any sort,
Justice Douglas said: 81 believe that
needed legislation excluding men picked
up from the hangers-on of the court and
providing n larger number of drawn
jurors, has already effected n marked i'm
provement in the character of the men
who are entrusted with this important
duty, and believe that it is the duty of
every citizen to promote such further
measures as may render the duty least
irksome and onorous, and so induce men
Of intelligence and probity TO serve in this
capacity cheerfully and willingly
Justices Douglas and Tilinghast read
their addresses from manuscript, Chief
Justice Matteson told a funny story, JUS
tice Stiness cracked merry joke or two
and Justice Tillinghast feelingly regretted
his inability TO do likewise.
President Watson, who presided ad-
mirably, closed the formal exercises of the
evening by calling upon Senator Aldrich,
who was received with hearty applause
and said the presence of the Judges ex-
pressed the honor and confidence i'm which
the Supreme Court was held. The people
were proud of and confident i'm their Judi
ciary, and he was himself sure that a tri-
bunal that had in his recollection been
graced by an Ames, Durfee and Brad
ley was TO continue TO shine. Ii Mt times
almost seemed as If modern civilization
had "A tendency TO lower the character of
the judiciary, especially in the appeals to
II from the country, but fortunately this
was not the case in this state.