New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-24

I%.l>.S''
JAMES y. PLATT
Of real property the management Of litigation for
large corporations and the care OF estates have
been among their specIaltles. but the members Of
profession. Mr. Plat was Of quiet disposition. was
unmarried and lived out Of town for large part
OF the time. that. though he member OF
several city clubs. he was not prominent socially;
highly regarded for hts learning. his good iudg
mcnt his simple honesty and his unostent IA tlous
is prominent member OF the Constitutional Con-
vention. Is counsel FOR the Corn Exchange Bank
and other institutions. and has conducted litga-
lion which has settled many important questions Of
taxation and OF corporate law.
The Court Of Appeals made only few decisions
last week The most important eases recently
argued will b. reserved FOR the long vacation when
carefully prepared opinions may be- written FOR de-
livery when the Court meets IN the fan Tho pros
ent week is. in most OF the courts the end OF the
court year. Some OF the Judges have already be
gun their vacations and many lawyers have sent
their families q the mountains or seashore. and
are finishing the more important matters 90 office
business preparatory 10 their own vacations. The
business communities deprived many lawyers Of
especial pleasure the close % the busy year ~
litigation, consultation ana the study OF law re-
ports.
Judge Freedman. 81 the Superior Court IN his
argument before the judiciary Committee Of the
Constitutional Convention. has taken as strong
ground had chief Judge DAILY. Of tho Court ~
Common Pleas. against tho consolidation 81 tho
higher civil courts 81 the city. The proposal TO
give the Presiding Justice Of the supreme Court
or to the General Term Justices thc right to assign
any OF the Judges 10 work in tho supreme
Court the other courts is opposed with especial
force The arguments not foun lel on my
fear TO the fairness and imparrality of the
present Presiding Justice. Il So agreed. however
that the control q the whole judicial force is
too great a power TO be- confl-d t. amy one person
Tho present provision under which assignments are
made by the Governor u Judges OF the Superior
and Common Pleas courts O. duty In the supreme
Court IS criticised and Judge Freedman declares
oa1cor ar ,bc G,orol IT, 1s,lc ., - ~
signments would De vigorously contested. a strous
that Suggested hy Judge Freedman when be- calls
attention 10 the TACT that the clerical force IN m.
Supreme Court is subject to change hy political
for many years ana In the court Of Common
Peas for several years the clerks Offices have been
conducted in model manner. and attempts az
political Interference have met Hate favor from the
Judges
The June number Of THE Banking Law Journal
contains sketches and portraits OF James A. Blaneh-
ard. Theodore Sutro. Charles !. Buckingham and
Charles + Holm. Mr. Blanchard is at the head %
the firm Of Blanchard. Gay Phelps. and Is promi-
nent in many ways In the community. Mr.. Sutro
Is wen known for his participation In ne long MI
cation over the Sutro Tunnel. and Mr. Buckingham
and Mr. Holm have been active IN important suits.
The members Of the law schools have finished
their work for the year. and many are awaiting
the decision Of the General Term this week to
their qualifications for admission to the bar The
classes OF the New-York ana University schools
have been especially large Pamphlets have been
issued by all the schools showing their methods 81
instruction The Instructors IN the University Law
School. led by Dean Austin Abbott. have adopted
ingenious means OF attracting the attention u
No one system is exclusively adopted hut lectures
ana text books az" supplemented BY practical work
striking advance has been made over some Of
the methods aaop1ed Hy professor In law schools
exception now Jay especial stress IN hitting the
tn9 AT law Offices while taking course at a law
school is approved as a means OF gaining additional
knowledge Of practice.
"The Green Bag" for June has nm attractive list
OF articles by writer's who are well known among
lawyers Assistant District Attorney John H. Lind
say continues his series OF articles In The Court
OF Star Chamber; L. l.. Chitten1en contributes
"reminiscences Of Abraham Lincoln as a lawyer: r.
and an excellent portrait OF Sir William UarcOurt
Illustrates an article on "Gladstonc's Successor In
10 fIouee ~ Commons" The humorous coniribu
tions numerous and as entertaining as usual
The Judges Of the Court % Appeals dlffer among
themselves to the effect Of the constitutional
provision against taking away the right 70 trial by
Jury TWO long opinions written In the
cent OF Steck against the Colorado Fuel and /
Iron Company. in which the constitutional pro
vision was discussed. A compulsory reference I.
was ordered In that case when the existence OF a
long account between the parties 10 the suit was /
disclosed In answer containing counter claim. !
The complaint did no, show the necessity for any /
accounting and an objection was made 70 the APP ,
pointment OF a referee The Court OF Appeals holds
that a reference should not have been ordered The /
State constitutions since the year III have pro-
vided that trial by jury In all cases In which II I
was used in the Colony Of NewYork shall be estab- /
shel and remain invloate forever Legislation /
previous to IN had provided for referring cases in
to the sui ine.e YER oT connr claim bar he
by Judge Earl, declared that. under the laws, as
could only be Joined with an admission Of the .
plaintiffs claim counter claim can now be
Joined with a general denial OF the claim, but the
Court OF Appeals holds that In such cases the
Judge cannot compel the parties TO go bef9re
and O'Brien dissent from the opinion OF the Court.
ana crlticise the majority Of opinion as based on
only with difficulty"
The English legal journals OF recent date contain
many good anecdotes Of the humorous sayings OF
distinguished judges and lawyers. "rhc Law
Times" in a series OF articles on The Builders OF
our Law During Queen Victora's Reign" and
'"The Brief" In several OF its departments, are
es pecally fertile in these stories The sarcastic
Justice Maulo IS Of course. the author OF many
Of these bright sayings He did not spare his
judicial brethren. II do not believe" he said to
the counsel once. that any such absurd law has
ever been laid down. although II Is true that have
not yet seen the last number OF The Queens
'snch Renoris" When witness telling an