New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-18
THE STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
rs ANNUAL SESSION AT ALDANl.
ADDRESSES BY JUSTICE BREWER AND JUDGE
PAEKER-DANGEES THAT THREAT
TN SOCIETY.

Albany. Jan. LITTLE largest annual meeting ever
hold bv the Ncw-Ydrh !al Association was called 10
o.drr in the Assembly Chamber tonight by D. Ne"'oh
Fcru, tho president oi the association one OIL '"'
most distinguished auti"ncss that ever giaced 'h'
Chamber was p,r-"H' among them being "oVerho'
Flower. Tho lrd."- o' the Court Of Appeals. members
% the Lrc 'a'afc. and large number OF the pro"i
uont member, 80 state Ear. Judge Flero miro
d'cod Alton l.. Parker Justice of the New orh STATE
~hpcHe Court. who delivered address, his subject
bon. 4 Pla-c Of the Law Reform"
Judge Parker. I'm opening referred TO the
evil effects OF amending by legislative ncton the
law, o. the state rs 10 cma>cuaic or nuih'y the'r
intended action. The need OF a more thorough scr"-
nv of such legislation apparent. especially after
the recent careful revision OF the code. and in view
Of the fact HAT ,nco 1s:; tho amendments TO 1t num-
bor 2iO. This ever recurring tide 0! amendments. ne
said WI, because there arge Interests lndividual
and corporate which have their shrevd and capable
counsel vigant in watching legislation, alert to de-
feat any which may he adverse 20 the interests they
represent and adrot In framing and In procuring me
passage Of provisions which have seeming public
purpose but which in fact have an nten ed appll-
cation known only TO hemsclyc, and those Interested
with them. The speaker then gave few ilisri'v'
Instances Of the Kind OF legislation under diScussioh
and confined:
what are you going to do about 1T Combined
l. needed and this association has the requisite
organizatlon You have yor secretary residing in the
Capital who procure copies OF all bills affecting the
law its practice. You have your Committee Oh Law
Reform three OF whose members reside in each judicial
district Twenyfour able and veilant men at so many
different points throughout the stat. by their own
KNOWLEDGE or they might learn by inquiry, would
be competent judge u the need or propr ETY. Of any
proposed change. and th" legitimacy the reverse OK
motive and origin. Thu, your association II any bill
found be bad without merit, would be arr
with reasons and facts to oppose it. and by It's ac'
credited representatives could ntepoe before the judiciary
Committee or in there. before the Cover
nor. and thus. not 'ccpac, prevent any enemy from
sowing the wheat Of legislation.
Tho address was closely listened to- After a few
musical selections. Justice David j. Brewer. OF the
Initod States supreme Court, introduced. lie
delivered mastery address, taking for his subject
Perman"nce Of Tenure OF Judicial Office aud It's Re-
larions 10 the Peril, Of Popular Government lie
said In part:
Three things direrentate the civilized man from the
s,v,ge-that which he knows. that which he s and that
VII ch hc has that which has lies within the
i>ar of others Given power and Willingness on the part
Of those about him and may be stripped OF all his
material po,sc-sions. The danger which mensces these
po,sesslons expresses itself IN two wavs First, In the
mpror use Of labor organizations 10 detroy the freedom
control the OF capital Tn" other form
u the cuise of regulation OF tho
rharr. for tho Of property subjected or supposed 10
he t public use. Now conceding that there Il In each
basi, u wisdom and justice. ami that within limits the
movement both directions viii work good I" 'o'cty
, o.st on it, How IT. those exce'se when
moan porll the Nation be stayfdl
The triple subdivision Of governmental powers INTO leg
I,ye executive and judicial rcco9nfe> he tnth ana mas
pro,lded In last coordinate department of govern
M n, the restraining And tn question whieh now
a-,sc. f. whether Wow o. th eN r"ncy, the tnn''oS
4 Jud., AIRY shout De strengthened ana 'h'r-'"' VI
weakened and restricted The great body OF Jui2e' arc
A. vol veied 10 Affairs Of lfe az any booy oil me"
and th.r VINO unri,e all the mysteries Of accounting
between partners settle the business OF the i"re. cp
rofio,. and eNtric: all the truth from ule haN' VI
la.,c ,,rblaqe that falls from the lips OF expert WI"
pe.se, in patent cases. VIII nave no difficulty In oe'e
u.nt,, what f. right and wrong le;we'n employer au
employees and other questions Of public r's"' -
what thea ought be donel My reply - so'e"s"'e"
,h, judiciary Uowr Permanent tenure Il ohce accom-
p he, thI> And surely II the judges h'l o',"e ~
i,,e tenure nnd with salary which calnot oe
would seem as though wc had rlDuna a. u" ''"o
fran di,tu blng influences a. possible. lhoush '
% uc,fa., tse judiciary system would adi fr"'','
hat they should also BE- ineligible 10 po'uV"' o
that eN tent free from political ambition ,. oy
II may be said that this Is lia"t'iV Suo'',' 80
ernmcnc By the judges for government Nv . ~,
But this involves total NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ,i In ,h,s
tlon. OF Judges Ia government There Is ho'"'s " .n
I've ~ tn. judiciary detractDg in The least iro" ''r
Idc, Of government OF and by the people. ~. -
,, ,a,,hs- nurse nor sword they cannot corrupt nor
,rbi,roiily control They make no Jaws U''' ~
,, ,her pcver enter into the domain OF popular sc'
% rhov do no, govern Their functions In relation 70 ''
state are limited seeing that ppul'r s'uo, Wv"
tr.slass upon light and lu'r'e' ~ ~ "
constitutions and natural law ~ -, ,,
W. d,cs not soc the wide unrest that mis- th' a"u
, des NOT feel that social changes are ihpenu7'
and all1c that those changes must DC g"'asu "
o,,v and pcace they will culminate IN re>ou''o"
r,o L,ck flag Of anarchism. the red nag of -ocn''' "
,,o, colorless piece Of cloth which suggests VIA. Wv.
sat-, take ali propcrty and direct all the work ana i"e
- individuals, nav to nll the air with the'r ""''
nm, "a r,an,t the-e schcme., or any oheI pC Vi N"s"'
~ ncud fool or fanatic. the eager and earnest poVos' anu
~ n tho AncoSlxon l. for individual freedom ana aoso
,u,o r,otectn q oil rights OF person ana propeF'
and II +. the cry which rcyehcrating over hls country
from oc,on 10 ocean, God Will not 20 uhne'"e'
And In help and strengthen that good uhie' W. s"''
Va, ., I'm every State independent judiciary h'ue u"
detudnt q all outsid. influences a. possible ana 10 a'
end given permanent rnure ot once anu Vi"
ch,ncsabc salary and above them that court orco ~
,ho fathers supreme In fact well as IN hae "o'''6
oil individual, and masses. corporations anu "'A''
,, ,i,a Nation te"lf-unswerinGly true I" tle mauaIe'
, i.co that Justice With l. the silver sheen ana the
,ol-.n hand in the jewell'd dnGem Of HIN U "hom '
nation. bow. and all worlds o"c allegiance
Roth speaker, were thanked by the aNNociatioh'
a, ,, coso nf thc meeting IA social gathering OF IN"
,cuhrr. was held in the Assembly Wrlor: Inc uuol-
. meeting OF the association will be- held to-Ihorro".
III