The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-28
OFFICERS ELECTED.
William Writ Howe Chosen President
of the Association.


CLEVELAND, Aug. 27-The opening ses-
sion of the National Bar Association was
devoted to suggestions from members of
the committee on commercial law. and I'M
der this head Mr.. Walter S. Logan, of New
York, offered comprehensive report urg-
ing the enactment of legislation to enable a
creditor of a debtor who is squanderng his
property to secure the interposition of the
courts to protect his rights, although the
debt may not yet be due. The convention
instructed the committee to consider the
suggestion and report at the next annual
meeting.
The special committee of three, to which
had been referred a resolution introduced
by the committee on judicial administration
and remedial REFORM reported that it
thought that amendments to the law should
be asked of Congress to provide an appeal
from the United States Circuit Court of
Appeals from introductory orders or APP
pointment of receivers and introductory
orders granting temporary restraining Or
ders. The convention approved the report
and instructed the committee appointed to
present the matter to Congress and urge
amendments to provide for appeal in the
two classes of cases named.
An important paper on bribery was read
by Adoph Moses, of Illinois. He called at
tention to the decision of the Supreme
Court in the Counselman case, Volume 142,
United States Reports. which caused Con-
gress to amend the interstate-commerce
act in 1898 to effectaully grant immunity
against the standardization of a witness
in testifying before a court. MIR Moses ar
gued that an examination be made of the
various statutes, national and state to de-
termine whether they offer sufficient pro-
lection to the witness and to prepare uni
form statute for the various States. THE
public mind" said Mr.. Moses, mas become
Irmly impressed with the belief that pow
erful aggregations of capital have made
considerable success in corrupting legisla-
tive and municipal assemblies and public
officials. 1t behooVeS the American Bar As
ISOLATION as leaders of public opinion and
trainers of proper legislation to suggest
such amendatory legislation as may be eff
fective in compelling bride givers and bribe
takers to testify against each other under
promise OF constitutional immunity" A
resolution to that effect was adopted and
will be reported upon at the next annual
meeting.
Nominations for officers for the ensuing
year were reported by the general council
as follows: President, William Writ Howe,
of New Orleans; secretary, John Hinlkley,
of Baltimore; treasurer, Francis Rawle of
Philadelphia; executive committee, Alfred
Hemenway of Boston, Charles Clafin AL
len of St. Louis, Charles Mobile Gregory of
Wisconsin. The nominees We're elected
without discussion. Among the vice presi-
dents is Robert S. Taylor, or Indiana.
Judge r. S. Taylor of Indiana, offered a
resolution on the subject of trusts W hich
aroused considerable interest, but was
adopted without discussion. as follows:
Resolved, That the committee on juris-
prudence and law reform be requested to
submit to the association at its next annual
meeting a report upon the subject of exist
ing laws in relation 10 trusts and combi-
nations in business with reference espe-
cially to the question whether or not it is
practicable to provide by law for such dis
elimination among organizations of the
character by reference to the reasonable
ness of the contracts on which they rest,
their effect upon the public interest or the
interest of those engaged in them, as shall
place ii within the power of the law and
the courts to deal more effectively with
those which are mischievous in their nature
and tendency than has been found possible
hitherto"
The committee to which was referred a
resolution inviting the international Law
Association to meet at the same time and
place with the American Bar Association
in 1898 made a favorable report and the
resolution was adopted. An effort will be
made to make the 9S meeting of these two
great bodies of learned men an event in the
history Of the country. President McKin-
ley will be urged 10 speak before a joint
assemblage of the two associations. The
meeting will probably be held at Saratoga
the usual place of meeting. This is a mat
ter which the executive committee will de-
eide upon. Adjournment sine die was then