The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-20
THE BAR OF AMERICA
Opening Session Of tie Convention Of the
American Bar Association al Saratoga.
CHIEF JUSTICE RUSSELL WAS PRESENT.
The Distinguished English JurIat nnd
Party Acco rded IA Hearty welcome
Tho Adaresscs OF the President
Deals Principally with tho Roor.
EanfEatfon of RnilwnyA

Saratoga, N. ", August 19-The
opening session of the 18th annual
convention of the American Bar Asso-
citation, in Convention Hall, at 1890
O'Clock this morning. brought out an au-
dience of nearly two thousand persons.
large number Of whom were ladies'.
Among the first to arrive were Lord
RUSSELL Sir Frank Lockwood. Monta-
que Crackenthorpe, and the ladies' of
The English party. Their entrance was
signal for generous ovation When
the PRESIDENT. Mr.. Moorefield Storey, of
Boston, called the meeting to order
at 1880 O'Clock there was present on the
platform Lord Russell. ]. Randolph
Tucker, Edward j. Phelps, Montague
Crackenthorpe. William Allen Butler.
Henry Hitchcock, Austen G. Fox. Chns.
Slanln Alien. Francis Rawle ames c.
carter, and Sir Francis Lockwood
The annual address OF President sto-
rey, Which required an hour and a half
IN delivering, was frequently applaud
ed. The regular business was then taxi
Ell up. Upon the report of the executive
COMMITTED eighty-e!ght new members
from various States were elected
recess of ten minutes was then tnl,an
during which time Lord Russell, Sir
FRANK Lockwood and Mr.. MONTAGUE
Erackenthorpe held an informal recep
tion on the platform, where they greeted
ulaHs iiieIIIDerS Oh the aSsOCIl finn
me convention then proceeded to tbe
election of members of the Generai
council. among whom are: Florida
H. W. Williams: Louisiana. w w
Howe; Marylan9. j. II. Mason: Missis.
sippi r. ii. Thompson; North Carolina.
j. H. Bridgers: South Carolina, s. Net
Ties: Tennessee. j. NJ. Dickinson. Texes
]: 2. II. Scott; Virginia. James Lyons
The report OF Secretary Hinkley. of
Baltimore. showed that there were .307
members at the close or the last meet
ing Thirty-five members have been
elected by the Executive COMMITTEES.
a., OIL the states. except Nevada. and
aIL or the Territcfiesssexcepi. New Mexi-
co. are represented In the mem bership.
The attentioR of the vice-presIdents
ana members OF the local councils was
again called to the resolution charging
them with the duty of endcavoring to
secure by legislation the appointment of
commissioners of uniform State law.
The address of the president was
npon The most noteworthy changes In
statute law on points of genedal in
terest made I'm the several States and by
Congress during the preceding year"
as required by the constitution.
He pointed out that the legislation
In different States, though widely scpa-
rated and presenting both the oldest
and the newest civilization, strongly
showed the essential unity of this coun-
trv in dealing with the. same problems
that confront all the States. He pointed
out that while the past year has been
marked by much discomfort among the
DeoDle that the laws show only pro-
found peace and general prosperity
Discomfort does not affect legislation
Another noticeable point is the rapid
growth of II disposition to assert the
general interests of the community at
the expense of individual freedom"
The nnIrrlyinn. DrinclpIa NJ anrfolfsrn
that everything that a man owns he
holds for the State. is asserted more
and more frequently. The statutes of
every State contain laws that would
have seemed unwarranted invas!ons
of private rights not many years ago.
Such legislation in the collateral in
chritance tax. the graduated income
tax. the graduated tax on the estates of
deceased persons when adopted. and
the character and number of uses for
which money is now raised by taxa
tion.
of the address is devoted to railway
reorganization. 1t Is based on statute
of Kentucky. which for the first time
attempts to deal with this subjec; and
which the address considers as a step
III the right direction, as 1t enables the
courts To protect the interests of in
vestOrs by making every reorganization
of n railway the subject Of judicial in
vestiga tion and securing for every in
ieIest a hearing. The address points
out that the great railway systems
have been built up and equipped with
borrowed capital. Many Of the securi
ties represent investments OF more han
their face value. Capital stock has
been frequently Issued without pay
ment. often as bonus to go with the
bonds. In this way the money Of cred-
tors has been invested and the control