The record-union., 1895-08-29
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION.
Yesterdays Proceedings OF the De
trOit Convention.


trolt Convention.
DETROIT (Mich.). Aug. 2S.-Imme
diately upon the assem- bling of the Amer
lean Bar Association this morning, Judge
w. II. Taft of the United States Circuit
Court began the delivery of the annual
address to the association.
Judge Taft finished lengthy address at
1l:30. Reports of standing committees
were next i'll order. Only one had its
report ready. that on Legal Education
and Admission to the Bar, which was
read by Austin Abbott. The:ireport was
received and placed on file.
The Committee on Judicial Admins
traton and Remedial Procedure made d
short verbal report on the progress being
made, and promised written report
later.
The Committees on Jurisprudence and
Law Reform. Commercial Law. Interna-
tional Law and Grievances made no re-
ports.
Judge John J. Hall of Ohio was placed
on the General Council in place of Judge
Hunt.
The association then took recess until
tonight.
Bar Association were taken for a ride
around Belle Isle Park, and then for
boat ride down the river.
This evenings session of the associa-
ton was devoted 10 addresses and discus
sions thereon. Judge William Writ
Howe Of Louisiana read the first paper.
1t was on The Historical Relation of the
R0man Law to the Law of Eng gland"
The second paper was by Richard
Wayne Parker OF Newark, n. j., on
The Present Scope OF the Constitutional
Guarantees of Liberty and Private Prop
! erty." Mr.. Parker said that it was little
surprising how largo q part even Of the
most modern constitutions is taken up on
with guarantees OF life. In discussing the
legal scope of the constitution guarantees,
he went into the detail of the provisions
which told OF the whole constitutional
history OF England and America. The
universal repetition OF these provisions,
proves thai they are ingrained in
the life and love of American freedom,
he contended, and they bear the practical
character that belongs to our race. The
declaration of liberty and equality and
fraternity by the French republic has
never prevented tyranny by police, prose-
cution by the Judges, and all the machin-
cry which practically makes a Govern
ment arbitrary.
Mr.. Parker pointed out the difference
between the energy of the great corpora
tion, the carelessness of the municipality
that grants the franchise, and the new
and complicated demands Of the modern
city with the indisposition of courts to
invade the legislative function and as
sumo to decide on the public policy of
the new enterprise, the right of citizens
TO enjoy their own, Is strangely doubtful.
He believed that there should be severe
constitutional prohibition of municipal
debts.
a much larger question was the mod
ern practice OF calling out soldiers. not to
fight, nor merely TO disperse mobs, but 70
act as sort of special police without the
declaration of martial law. AS such,
while the civil authorities remain still in
control, they carry on war at discretion.
Public sentiment supports this way of
maintaining order. We are told, he said,
that the city and police are in sympathy
with the rioters, and that the presence of
troops is necessary. He saw grave dau-
ger to the whole fabric of this Govern
ment in that view. If populace docs
not sympathiZe with law and order, there
IS much to be said in favor of waiting till
they do. Mob law will soon teach then
When the citizens want soldiers for Il
soldiers work. tho soldier should be on
hand. But free Americans are not un-
der military police.