The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-27
Annual Convention of kmerI-
can Bar Association.
Leading Attorneys Of the United
States in Session at Detroit.
Annual Address OF Their President
James G. Carter of New York.

DETROIT. Mich, Aug. 27. Ihree
hundred leading jurists and members "a
the bar were present in the Y. M =; ~.
hall at 1890 this morning, wheh aaIIad
dent James c. Carter OF New York called
TO order the 18th annual convention Oh
the American Bar Association.
After thanking Detroit, President Gar
Ear read a short list OF the most noted
iurists present, who were invited 20 eeats
on the platform. President carter then
proceeded w ith the reading OF his ao-
dress He said, in substance, aiter statins
the object of the association, that In pur-
susncc of the especial duty laid upon the
nresident OF the association 70 communl-
cate the most noteworthy changes III ihe
State and Congressional statutes during
the year, he has made a genera SURVEY
OF the work OF nearly 40 Legislatures IN
commenting upon the legislation thus
reviewed. Mr.. Carter said that the asso-
citation. In promoting uniformity OF legls-
Iation. wishes that object enecteo Dy
general acceptance of the best forms OF
legislation, and not by bringing ABOUT
merely n general conformity.
ar IL not likely that the selection OF
legislators can ever be made with uniform
wisdom. but a great advance VIII De
made when those that aspire TO be legls
lators begin TO seek the consideration OF
the Office required.
ssIt seems incomprehensible that peo-
that fosters the increase OF crime, con.
tempt for the laws and the debasement OF
character. In some communities, nota-
blv in the city OF New York. the impossi-
billty Of q general and equal enforcement
of the laws and the revolving injustice OF
Q partial enforcement, have had tne enect
of leaving the executive officers TO wholly
abandon any attempt at rigid enforce
"The condition of what are called
sumptuary laws is equally discreditaole
to our knowledge.
al know OF nothing more needed
among us than q deepened conviction
that the sphere of legislation, like that OF
other forms Of human activity. has III
uroper limits which can never be exceed
"A without mischief, and a sufficient
knowledge Of what these limits are.
UIn urging the increased study by oul
professlon of the science OF legislation 4
should embrace, as conceive, TWO primer
"First-- The Just limits OF the province
"This includes the fundamental elements
Of ECONOMY, science and the principles
upon which social inquiries are generally
agreed. ,.ono. g 81,
studv of the proper manner in which
subiects of the legislative action shoulc
be treated, that 10, to say, the art o
framing eeffctive laws.
"The resemblance In character and ira
ditions between the people OF states o
the Union are greater than tne alher =.
encea. and this renders uniformity II
many particulars practical.
SOUR unwritten law is already substan
TALLY the same, and that i have alway
reagrded as an impressive reason Tor ab
staining from any attempt to reduce ]
into written forms, which would at ono
tend to plunge 1t into diversity. What
ever can be done TO secure this desire
uniformity must be done by voluntar
concerted action.
$50 far as the unwritten law is COZ
cerned, this uniformity will be az
preached as rapidly as should be desire
by the operation OF the forces OF huma
society.
"But the positive legislative determine
tions OF nations can be assimilated an
reconciled only by conscious and concerto
aciton.n