The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-28
AMERICAN LAWYERS.
Intelligent Jurfsts in Session at De-
trOit.

DETROIT, Aug. Gan intellectual
looking assembly OF 300 leading jurists
and members of the bar was present to-
day when President James c. Carter, of
New York, called 10 order the eighteenth
annual convention of the American Bar
association. In his annual address, Carter
SAID the association. IN promoting unitor-
nifty Of legislation, wished that object ef-
fected by the general acceptance of the
best form of legislation, not by bringing
about merely a general conformity. lie
said it was amazing that enlightened
states, Astounding IN productive wealth
which would easily afford ample revenue,
If properly taxed, should insist on retain
ing an intricate system of taxation even
after it had proved 10 DC abortive Tor the
avowed objects.
Mr.. James C. Carter, president of the
association, in his annual address,
said. after stating the object of the
association, that in pursuance of the
especial duty laid upon the president
of the association to communicate the
most noteworthy changes in the state
and congressional statutes during the
wear. he had made a general survey
of the work of nearly forty legisla-
1usfes. Mr.. Carter proceeded TO review
me work in the several state legisla-
ks,lres at length, stating the most sa-
~ ant features of the new enactments.
I'm commenting upon the legislation
thus summarized, Mr.. Carter said that
the association in promoting uniform
ity of legislation, wishes that object
effected by a general acceptance of the
best forms OF legislation and not by
bringing about merely a general con-
formity'.
Take the great question Of taxa
sion,s ne said. 1t is amazing to think
that the enlightened states, abound
ing in productive wealth which could
easily afford an ample revenue if prop
erly tapped. should insist on retain
ing an Intricate system of taxation.
even after it has proved to be abor-
tive for its avowed objects. And yet
this is what is everywhere exhibited.
In some communities, notably in
the city of New York, the impossible
5ty Of a general and equal enforcement
of the laws and the revolving injustice
OF a <artial effort, have had the effect
OF leading the executive officers to
wholly abandon any serious attempt
at rigid enforcement
'sThe condition of what are called
sumptuary laws is equally discredit-
able to our knowledge, both of the
science OF legislation and the teach
1ngs of experience. The task of en-
forcing them against the passions, the
beliefs and the interests of multitudes
can be accomplished only by a despot
armed, with unlimited power.
-Irknow Of nothing more needed
amSng us that a deepened conviction
that the sphere of legislation, like that
of other forms of human activity, has
its proper limits. which can never be
exceeded without mischief and suf-
ficient knowledge of what these limits
are.
The science of legislation should
embrace, as j conceive, two principal
branches. First. the just limits Of the
province of gislation-that is TO say,
what subjects are really fit for legisla-
tive action as distinguished from those
that should be left to the disposition
of the cour ss--or TO the discipline that
proceeds from the moral agencies of
society
The other important branch is the
SDlE of the proper manner in which
sects oft for legislative action should