New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-07
TO REFORM THE BAR.

To REFORM THE BAR.
| Not least among the reforms which have been
made possible by the fine work Of the states
men WHO planned and executed last years coup
ddat by which the Democratic party was put
| i'm possession of the state. is the one initiated
at Albany the other dav by Senator Plunkitt
| in the form OF a bill providing that any one
| who has served seven terms i'll the Legislature
| shall be admitted tO the Bar without an ex-
animation. That il. seven years service as
| lawmakcr shall be taken n prima facie cvi-
dence, Ir.of conclusive of fitness and cal ,ity
| for the practice Of law II takes the place OF
| tho compulsory tenn Of study and the usual
examination by which a cIndidltA for admission
| 10 the Bar is tested rs ~ his knowledge Of the
rules and principles of law and its qualliica
tons for it, practice. Well why not? There
| is. no doubt. a prevalent feeling among Senator
Plunkitts constituents, and indeed among the
ruling classes generally that the Bar OF This
STATE is q close corpoi alton. monopoly. Under
the odions restrictions which now govern adj
mission to the profession applicants are required
to Withdraw themselves from the useful
cupations-chieiiy barkeeping-in which they fi'
themselves for the career Of statesmen and
waste two or three years i'll unremuneratlve
study and an apprenticeship in the routine and
forms Of practice IL Is an irkSome noyitia'e
Moreover. the statesmen OF our time have an
aversion for study and ~ liking for books.
Another thing the members Of the Bar as at
Present. constituted have organized Bar Asso-
citation and at times assumed 10 criticse states
men and lawmakers. From the point Of view
of Senator Plunkitts constituents this is all
wong and should be reformed.
II is a shame, in their judgment, that with
such perfect governing machine as Tammany
Hall, in undisputed control Of pretty much
everything els? having the selection Of tho
men who make the laws and the absolute power
10 say what laws shall be made or unmade-it
is shame that after Tammany Hall has shown
its confidence in statesman by sending him to
the Legislature seven times it should not have
the power t, give him license - practise law
Or, for that matter. 10 practise medicine or
preach or sell rum. OF what use is this noble
organization if after a statesman has served il
faithfully for seven years in the Legislature
it cannot give him a certificate that will per-
nit him t. do anything he pleases from prac-
Using law t. riding free on railroads? a moro
sweeping reform. of course. would be t. pass a
law requiring recognition OF Tammany badge
as a universal passport, sort of signct-ring
affair TO which all doors should open and all
heads should bow. But it is probably too early
for that. We must be patient and take these
reforms one ut n time. For instance, next wear
it will be in order To pass a law providing that
any man who h1s sold rum under Tammany
license for medicinal purposes for seven years
shall receive a medical diploma and be licensed
TO practise medicine Then there would re-
main only one learned profession-thc clerical
CLOSED to Tammany. And the demand to
have that thrown open is not likely to he
vOciferOus or tumultuOus for some time to come.
II is said we know that the Plunlitt bill is
int nded for the sole benefit Of that eminent
statesman the Hon. Timothy "Dry Dollar
sullivan. who sold a AOurishng rum business
somo time ago and nnOunccd-pr0bably in
anticipate on of the proposed enactment-hs in
tentiOn TO open law office. This may be 50.
1t is not unusual for Tammany to enact gen
eral laws to fit individual cases. Esnecially
when it has particularly useful servant to
reward. Last ye3r it passed general law to
permit that distinguished ornament of the
bench, Police Justice Grady, to practise law.
he having plenty of leisure for IT, as the duties
Of Police Justice for which he receives 81. 900
a year take very little of his time. Too much
could hardly be done for Grady. He has a
large and rapid firing mouth that has been in
the constant service of Tammany for many
years. IL has gone of to Hot Springs Just now
for vacation Grady went with it, The
"Diy-Dollar' is Just such another very useful
and active statesman. Few st1tcsmen in the
organization can take given number of vot RS
and make them 60 further in the count than
he. And Of course, il he wants to practise
law after seven years service in the Legis-
ature Tammany ought to fix il for him. Be-
sides he has already had considerable expe,i
ence at the ba'. lie kept one for several
years.
And that reminds us-why NJ; make a shcrt
cut and provide for the whole batch of Tam.
many statesmen in bunch by a law providing
that when man has practised behind any