The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-22
Hasty Laws of the Land and Slip
shod Legislation Vigorously
Denounced.
LORD RUSSELL SPEAKS AGAIN.
Tells of the High Esteem Held for H S
Professional Brothers in
America


American Bar Association convened al
1920 o'clock this morning on their con-
Guiding days session, the first business
taken up was the election of officers for the
ensuing year. The officers elected were as
follows: President, James NJ. Woolworth
of Omaha, Nebr. secretary, John Hinkley
of Baltimore; treasurer, Francis Rawle oil
Philadelphia; executive committee-AI-
fred Hemenway, Boston; Charles Claim
Allen, St. Louis; William w. Howe, New
Orleans.
A ce-president for every State in the
Union, and members composing the local
council in each State, were also elected.
The report of the executive committee
relative to the establishment of a section
on insurance, as proposed by Judge Howe
of New Orleans, which was passed over
yesterday, was taken up, 1t was lost by a
vote OF So to %.
General E. T. Bullard of New York
moved the following:
Resolued, That 1t be referred to the commit
tee on Jurisprudence and law reform the ques-
ton whether the law in regard to fellow
servants should not be SO amended as to
further protect laboring men from the result
them and over whom they have no control.
Carried by vote of 81 to q.
A resolution was adopted providing that
the committee on jurisprudence and law
reform be requested to report to the as
sembly the best method of preventing the
enactment of hasty ard slipshod legisla-
ton in general and has laws.
Emil McClain of Iowa City moved ''that
the American Bar Association approve
the frightening of course OF instruction
in law schools to a period of three years,
and that it express the hope that as soon
as practicable rule be adopted in each
State which will require candidates for
admission 10 the bar to study law for three
years before applying for examination. -
This as ado pied without debate.
Invitations were received from Saratoga,
Indianapolis and Denver for the associa-
ton to meet in 1897. Referred to the
executive conf ittee.
The association finished its labors at
IL AS o'clock and adjourned sine die.
Al $3.50 o'clock this afternoon the clos
ing session on the section of legal educa-
ton was held, Emil McClain of Iowa pre-
siding. Austin G. Fox of New York read
paper on 1.-TWO Years Experience of
the New York State Board of Law Ex-
aminers."
]. w. Powell of Washington presented
a paper on STUDY of Primitive Instiru-
tons"
At the conclusion of the papers and
during the discussion which followed Lord
Russell, who occupied seat on the plat
form, arose, and after referring to the
paper of Major Powell, said with reference
TO the paper of Mr.. Fox of New York:
81, perhaps, am better able to offer some
observations upon the paper of my friend,
Mr.. Fox. l think it cannot be doubted
that as justice and its administration are
among the prime needs and business of
life So is it important that those charged
with the administration of the law, which
is devoted to doing justice, should come
to the important duties that they have to
discharge adequately equipped for the
purpose. As you are aware there exists in
Great Britain a distinction which does not
exist here. Each member of the bar is, 1
think, properly described in this country
as counselor and attorney. In Great Brit
ain there is the most marked line of dis
tinction drawn. The attorney is not men,
Der OF the bar; a member of the bar is not
an attorney, and the great feature of dis
tlnctlon is this, that the attorney Is
the person who sees the client,
who in the first instance advises the client.
who prepares the statements of facts and
arranges for the evidence necessary to
support the facts which are to establish a
particular right, or which affords an an
swer to the adverse assertion OF some
righ:.
Il would like, before | sit down, to be
allowed to express the admiration | feel,
not for the constitution of this congress of
United States lawyers. but for the scheme
of its operation and the wise purpose to
which It devotes its efforts. Its work Is
not new to me. / have had the pleasure
OF seeing now for some years the record of
its proceedings, and it is to me as it was
on hearing the admirable presidential ad-
dress which was delivered on Wednesday
in the highest degree refreshing
to find that the profession of the law in
this country is so earnestly alive to the re-
sponsibilities of its position, is so keen to
observe, TO weigh, TO Judge, discriminate,
to test the current of judgment and of
legislation, and above all it keeps before
itself steadfastly and INCREASINGLY high
ideal, not merely of what ought to be the
mental equipments and the requirement
in learning, but the high moral character
OF the profession to which they belong"
Lord Russell and party sat for their
photographs at the United States Hotel
to-day. Afterward they were photo
graphed at the studio of prominent
firm.