Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-05
VIRGINIA LAWYERS.
srcoxn nays PROCEEDINGS OF
r,Iecfion of Onicers-Tbe Ju"'c'
system-The Debate on the
y.nort--other Observation-Disclosures"
and Examinations

HOT SPRINGS. VA, August 4.-'Spo
- D,arv LAWYERS arrived to-day ana
,ho large attendance and the lh'e'eS''"s
proceedings of the State Bar Assoo'"-
IT,, added a new feature TO the many
a,,r,ct,ons Of this crowded resort. nc
committee appointed to reeomihehu o"
Co.'S for the ensuing year made the io'-
lowing report. which was und''''''''
adopted: oo,,r,v
~, w r. Petit. OF Fluvanna county
.or president; w. w. Old, OF NOT
,oI,. Alex Hamilton, Of Petersours' n"
r. ". Duke. Of CharlottesVille' poo' -
NJ Cochran. of stanton, ana Il. H.
Logan. of Salem. for Vice-pi
new members of the Executive
tee--Iohn A. Coke, of Richmohu' Jam
p eaton of Alexandria; secretary anu
Troosurcr Eugene c. Massie, OF hlch-
,nona. delegates to the American ID,
Association-H. St. George lucAer' u
o,,roton. 7. r. Watts, of portsmouth,
w p. McRae. of PetersDuIs' ,,opoo m
M noner of Hon. w. y. Mchae OF,
.r oa,siation since the Code " was OF redI
vaIne and It is likely that II WI.
'a o,.''oa Gov distribution among the mem
bers. o,,,pE-p
Mr. NcRae prefaced his paper win
tribute to the memory oil Juuse Hu"'tal,
- purls who he said, had suggesleu
IN him his theme. Inc paper ""'
resume of the more important acts pa Pc,
"a since tbesadoption Of the CODE alect-
ing private rights and remedies anu .no
criminal law In his treatment Oh tne
subject. Mr.. McRae showed what the Jaw
was before the change, ana poln1eu ou'
wherein the change consisted anu au'oi
ed TO the probable result OF 'he ne"
-, lie referred to the decided cases
which threw light upon the law ne IN
Guided bv comparing English continental
rootbods of securing accuracy in the
etatute law with the system OF lesls'd-
tion i'm force in Virginia, pointing OUT
instances wherein the Virginia methous
might be proftably altered.
,rbe most animated discussion or the
session arose upon the report oil the spe-
cial Committee on the judiciary System
NJ the State. presented by Hon. D. =,
parker. of southampton rms repoi'
advocated amendments TO the Cohsl'u-
ton by which the county judges would
he abolished. and the number OF COM
monwealth's attorneys. clerks OF courts
and county officials be reduced. IL was
printed in full in the Dispatch. Ihose
participating in the debate were Messrs.
Parker. Petit. r. r. W. Duke. X. J. W.
Duke. Jr., and Blackboard Hon. -: -
Munford offered an amendment whlch
was adopted. referring the whole matter
to the Legislature.
LEGAL EDUCATION.
Mr.. j. l.. Anderson chairman pre-
eonted the report of the Committee on
T.epaI Education and Admission 10 the
Bar. The report points out that from
July /. 1895. TO July ]. 1895 Ohe day when
the new law requiring candidates Tor al
mission to the bar TO be examined by
tbe Judges of the Supreme Court of APP
peals went into eitecp' mere were zV
lawyers licensed to practice law. Since
July ]. 1896, there nave Deeh OILY thlrIy-
four applicants.
The report closes as follows: "Nir-
einia has placed herself beside the other
advanced States of the Union on the sub
iect both in the passage and the eXecu-
lion of the law governing admission 10
the bar and i'm the improved and en-
larged courses i'm her law shcools. This
upward tendency in legal education
throughout the State Will inevitably re-
suit i'm good TO the profession and viii
be instrumental in maintaining the
purity. integrity, and ability Of its mem
bers. and in preserving for it the conf
dence and esteem which it so richly de-
serves at the hands Of the people
The report of the Committee on Legis-
| lation and Law Reform. was presented
| by it's chairman, Hon. w. W. Old. 1t
recommends that the grand jury shall
indict for misdemeanors. and also several
changes looking to the simplifcation
of the law and the ensuring of speedier
Justice. The report was well prepared
| and well received.
The report of the Committee on Ii
brary and Legal Literature was pre-
scented by its chairman, Hon. r. NJ.
Hughes. The text of the report is 1.-THE
| Appellate Lawyer" 1t contains MANY
wise suggestions, which. If followed. will
prove of great service to the bench and
| bar.
The night session was devoted 10 me-
mortal addresses on deceased members.