Evening journal., 1896-08-20
ATTORNEYS IN SESSION
The American Bar Association
Meets In Saratoga.
SIR CHARLES RUSSELL PRESENT.

SIX UHARLES RUSSELL PRESENT.. /
The English Chief Justice Keeniy Enjoys |
the Humor of Mr.. storey's Address-A
Facetious Review of Recent Legislation.
Judge Batcheiier's Reception.
SARATOGA, Aug. 2O-Desplte the gener-
al interest felt here in Sir Charles Russell
Of Kinowen, Convention hall looked emp
ty when the first session Of the American
Bar association assembled. The 200 or 800
persons who had gathered seemed almost
lost in the vast auditorium.
The lord chief justice of England and
his distinguished companions. Sir Francis
Lockwood and Montague Crackanthorp
sat on the platform and seemed TO keonly
relish the humor OF President Moorefeld
Storey. 1t is the duty of the president OF
the Bar association to explain to the mem
rers at their yearly meeting the principal
changes made in the laws during the last
/ le months.
The variety and brilliancy of bills pass.
| ed by congress AID the state legislatures
offer wide field for comment and Mr.
l Storey's review was most interesting He
/ spoke In an easy, conversational tone and
reviewed the legislation on each subject
under separate heads
Lord Russell was intensely amused
| when he heard the intellectual test of
voters in South Carolina was not only to
i be able TO read the constitution but also
TO explain it, that in Louisiana survivors
Of the Cherokee Creek Seminole and
Mexican wars are permitted to peddle
without a license, and that In Virginia "A
bicyclist must dismount If horse he Is
passing seems frightened
The English visitors seemed to enjoy
Mr.. Storey's comments on the govern
ment Of cities
The speaker said many Americans SEEM
cd to believe it would be wise to postpone
attempts to govern Hawaii and Cuba un-
til we are sure we can govern New York
Chicago and New Orleans
Lord Russell laughed quietly when Mr..
Storey said several legislatures had virtu
ally confessed that woman Is beyond the
law in dealing with the question of wear
ing hats in theaters. Cowardly legislatures
have imposed penalties on proprietors Of
theaters who permit the big hat nuisance,
though the poor men have no legal power
to enforce their orders.
Railways and the Courts.
The most important part of Mr. Storey's
addEess was devoted to railway reorgani-
zation 1t pointed out that the great rail
| way systems of this country had been built
up and equipped with borrowed capital
Many Of the securities represented invest
ments Of more than their face value Cap
ital stock had been frequently issued with.
out payment, often as a honus TO 60 with
the bonds. In this way the money Of cred
itors had been invested and the control Of
the property retained by the dehtor-the
railway company.
The failure Of railway company found
the managers united and fully prepared
for the emergency which they inevitably
had foreseon. while IL found the creditors
scattered, ignorant, frightened and entire
| ~ unready TO act
What has happened IN practiceY" ask
ed Mr.. Storey. We have seen the man.
ayers, while stoutly denying up to the last
moment that any such step was contem
plated or that the property was In an,
way embarrassed, secretly prepare bill
! in equity and without notice TO any on
interested file IL In a court Of the Unite,
states. asking for the appointment OF re
ceivers
"A gain, the selection Of receivers is
matter Of the deepest concern 20 o groal
many persons They are 10 be the trus
tees, for the time being, Of many different
and conflicting interests and are bound "a
|
, tween them. There should be no undue
haste in the choice Of such officers. A re-
! straining order will hold everything until
after notice and hearing leaving the prop
erty meanwhile TO be managed by its Off
GERS as before Every bankrupt or insolv
ent law that we have known has left the
choice of assignees 20 the creditors, and nc
reason exists for not applying this rule tC
railway roceiverships.
1T is TO the courts that we must look foi
B protection. Their authority rests peculiar
ly on the respect of the people for their ab
solute impartiality and In the long ruI
they cannot preserve that respect un
less they observe the we'll settled rule,
Of judicial procedure and unless they TO
( spect and enforce every legal claim Par
) ties must be left TO determine for them
, selves whether their interests will or will
I pot be served by the assertion of thei
! rights,
, The most brilliant social function of th,
, season was the reception given Sir Charlie
! Russell at the residence of Judge Georg
} 5 Batcheller, late of the internationa
E court of Egypt and more recently ministe
, TO Portugal
The grounds Of Judge Batcheller spa
cous villa overlooking the beautiful Con
) eress Spring park, were Illuminated ant
Saratoga has seldom seen such distin
guished assemblage Lord Russell and hi
companions were cordially greeted by lead
= ing jurists and members of the bar iron
T. all parts Of the United States
Live Stock Firms In Trouble.
d PrErArO Aug % -Ffvo of the Iargac