The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-01
PATERNALISN IN GEORGIA.
Eleventh Annual Convention Of the
State Bar Association.

ouuEesL Lawyer IN the W Orlus anu
His Imposing Introduction to the
Bar of Georgia-The Gentlemen Pres.
emit During the Festivities.
Atlanta, Ga, July 31.-The eleventh
annual convention Of the Georgia Bar
Association at its opening session to-day
listened to a most unique address from
Chief Justice Logan E. Bleckley, presi-
dent of the association, elected the new
boy baby of the distinguished chief
justice an honorary member, requesting
his acceptance in writing and then trans
acted a lot Of business of Importance both
to the profession and to the people Of the
state
When Judge Bleckley c. led the meet
ing to order he had before him many Of
the leading lawyers of the state
among those from outside of Atlanta
were: John W. Akin, Gainesville; S.
r. Atkinson, Brunswick; T. A. Atkinson,
Greenville; NJ. G. Bayne, Macon; f. w.
Beck, Griffin; NJ. w. Beck, jackson; r. L.
Burner, Forsyth; James Bishop, Jr.,
Eastman w. @. Brantley, Blackshear ;
E. H. Galway. Waynesboro; A. A. Car
son, Columbus; T. J. Chappell, Columbus
William Clifton, Savannah; A. j.
Cobb, Athens; J. R. Cooper, Macon
A. J. Crovatt, Brur swick; Bryan
Cummings, Augusta; Washington
Dessau, Macon A. S. Erwin, Athens A.
w. Fite, Gainesville; w. H. Fleming,
Augusta; Allen Fort, Americas; H. r.
Goetchins, Columbus; j. A. Harley,
Sparta W. B. Hill, Macon; S. w. Hitch,
Blackshear; G. J. Holton, Baxley; S. T.
Kingsbury, Valdosta; II. A. Mathews,
Fort Valley; J. c. Mcdonald, Waycross ;
F. D. Peabody, Columbus; w. NJ. Reese
Washington; John j. Strickland, Athens
a. G. Wright, Savannah.
THE CHIEF JUSTICES SPEECH.
After the preliminaries attending the
opening of the meeting Judge Bleckley
delivered his annual address, concluding
as follows:
Gentlemen of the Association-The
year of my presidency has been dis
Gnguished and rendered memorable by
Ahe birth Of a son, whom ! have already
dedicated TO the law. Thus, mindful of the
advice of Lord Bacon, l have done some
thing for the profession. may
be pardoned for contrasting my better
fortune with that of my lllustrious rival,
President Cleveland, whose official Off
spring is not of his own professional gem
der. Considering our relative ages, it
seems noteworthy that the president of
the Georgia Bar Association mas accom-
plished more in one term than the Presi-
dent of the United States has
accomplished in two. Desiring, how
ever, not to be ungenerous in my
triumph, l frankly say that my
paternal administration has not been ag-
itated nor disturbed by the tariff, or sill
yer, or the Senate, or Dole, or any uufor-
tunate queen, or by my unsteady footing
on the platform, or the unsteady footing
thereon of other people, or by any strenu-
Gus effort TO lead or guide the democracy,
content the people, protect the mails,
keep interstate commerce In motion and
govern the country. That cares and vex-
ations like these might lead TO feminine
consequences in the presidential man
sion, whether at Washington or in
Atlanta, | am free to admit. And,
add with full sincerity, that under
all the circumstances Mr.. Cleveland has
done remarkably well. Besides, for my
own part, am quite willing TO wait on
him and see what he will do hereafter
An executive magistrate of his magnitude
ought to have new trial"
After this it was nothing but natural
that the youthful Bleckley should be made
an honorary member of the Georgia Bar
Association by rising vote \ number of
interesting papers were read and dis
cussed, but the important feature of the
day was the report of the committee on
Jurisprudence and law reform, which
was received and accepted. The report
calls attention to the pending amendment
to increase the number of supreme court
judges, and recommends that the conven-
ton, which was unanimously for it, give
1t the benefit of an Endorsement. The re-
port also recommended that the salary of
the chief justice be raised to g., 900, and
the associate justices to $780, The
cutting up of the state into
such a large number of circuits was
viewed by the committee with disfavor.
as it was doubted whether the efficiency
of the judicial administration has been
promoted by it, The numb of Judges
being thereby increased, was influential
in fixing small salaries, and in the opin-
ion of the committee, a reduction from
creasing of salaries of judges from
$1,000 to $1,000, would be a wise
reform, twenty-three judges at 81. 900 sal
aries, amounting to 5000, and fifteen at
$1,000, amounting to S45, 900, thereby saw
ing 81 900 TO the state and securing. by
the increased salary, the best legal talent
in the state. A suggestion was offered
that the judges be removed as far as
possible from local influences, the. sys-
tenn in North Carolina and other states
not assigning judges to particular
circuits, but requiring them to rotate on
the annual roster fixed by the governor,
having been found TO work most satisfac-
torily. This would inaugurate reform
in the matter of electing Judges. mas
much as If it were known that the Judge
was To be Judge of the whole state and
assigned TO single circuit only for con-
venience in motions and chamber
matters, the appointing powers
would use more discrimination.
bringing to the front the best
class of men and increased dignity and
authority would be added to the Office.
The committee thought that of all the
methods the election of judges by the leg
islature the most Objectionable, the ap-
pointment by the governor, in.
dorsed by the senate, being the best
and the election by the people the
next best method. A number of
important changes in the laws and in the
mode OF practice are urged The report
recommends the amendment of the law
in regard TO the statement of the prisoner
in criminal trials; in case the prisoner
elect to become witness in his own
favor, he should be subject to cross ex.
animation the same as any other witness.
The report, in strong language, criti-
cises the tendency TO throw every protec.
ton around the criminal or prisoner
while his victim is forgotten. and con.
cludes by section on the subject OF
lynching. Lynching, it says. will stor
only when the people are given TO under
stand that the courts have power to mete
out prompt and certain justice.