The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-09

that will accrue from the system which
| recommend.
1t is also clear that by an organization
which brings this Association nearer
home to the members of the Bar Il bet
ter supervision of its work can be had,
and greater and more reliable informal
ton upon subjects and matters which
come within its province can be secured.
As much as the State at large is inter
ested in maintaing the highest standard
of honor and integrity in the practice
of the profession, the locality or com
nun ty, where the lawyer lives and
where he daily comes in contact with
the citizen in the prosecution of his pro-
fessonal work, is more Immediately in
terested, and the Bar of Il particular
community is more apt to look carefully
after the interests of the Association,
and to protect it against unworthy men,
bers and unprofessonal practices. and
to exact Il strict scrutiny of its affairs.
than the State Association can do.
Another advantage to be gained by Il
system of local or subsidiary organization
is fuller and more uniform representa-
ton of the Bar of the different parts of
the State in this body at it's annual
meetings. We must remember that the
whole domain of the State is the chosen
field of our labors, and each and every
section must be brought under our care
and oversight. If any part is neglected
or overlooked, it can but result in injury
to the whole. We cannot well take care
of the entire interests we have assumed
to guard and promote, unless we have IA
representative from each section within
our jurisdiction who is authorized and
qualified to act for it i'll the general con-
vention OF its members. no more than the
State can properly legislate for all of the
interests under its protection and control
without an adequate scheme for general
and uniform representation. The local
body could he represented by delegates.
and these delegates would feel under
some sort of obligation to attend the an
nnal meetings of the Association. where
as, if the matter is to be left to the
individual will and caprice of the mem
bers with the place of meeting far dis
tant from their homes. and with no spe-
cial duty, as they may think, resting
unpoll them to come to the annual meet.
erings will be sparsely attended, and we
will lose the advantage of personal pres
ence and participation in our meetings
which is so essential to the complete sur
cess of this movement.
There are many other reasons of more
on less weight which might be considered
in this connection, and which would
strengthen amy argument in favor of
auxiliary association in the counties ~
the State. but am not addressing YOU
as an advocate of this or any other meas,
ure as the one best calculated to promote
the objects for which we have organized.
What l have said is intended to be
merely a suggestion of this plan as o.ie
worthy of consideration by you and t,
he adopted or not as your wisdom may
dictate.
1t seems to me that matter which
should claim our first consideration is the
congested condition of the dockets in
the various courts of the State, and we
should try to devise some means of re-
lief. That the trial of civil and criminal
cases should. at least in many of the
countless be entrusted to different courts.
so that tho two dockets can be com
pletely separated. is a plan that has met
with the approval of large majority Of
the members of the Bar. if not of the
people | Doubt, though, if criminal
Courts can be made thoroughly efficient.
unless some method is adopted by which
appeals will lie directly from them to the
court of last resort. There is no very
good or sufficient reason. as a matter of
public policy. why court of nisi prius
jurisdiction having coordinate powers
with the criminal courts in certain cases
and not having the ordinary character
istics and functions of Court of Errors
should be constituted an intermediate
court of appeals to revise the rulings
and decisions of the courts of criminal
jurisdiction. even upon waters or qnes-
tions of law. This defect can not be
rcnedied. perhaps, except by a change IN
the organic law. but if we pronose 10
help in the enactment of the best laws.
and in the establishment of the best sys
tenn of procedure and of courts to apply
and enforce the law. and we find that a
separation of the civil and criminal bust
ness is a wise provision to this end. we
should not hesitate to aid in securing
such constitutional amendment as will
remove the defects in the present system
and enable the Legislature to establish
such courts as will expedite the trial of
eases of all kinds. The Constitution pro-
vides that the people may alter its pro-
visions whenever necessary for the pro-
motion Of their safety. welfare and hap
piness. and it is the imperative law OF
nn0fn~c T0rSf