The age-herald., 1900-06-16
LAWYERS MEET
 IN MONTGOMERY Annual Gathering of State Bar
 Association. PROMINENT MEN PRESENT Feature of Yesterdays Session an Ora tion by Wm. J. Curtis of New York President Willett's Address
 Jackson Lake Today
PROMINENT MEN PRESENT

Age-Herald Bureau, Hotel Mabson, Mont gomery June 15.-(Special) 1.-The annual session of the Alabama State Bar Associa- tion convened in this city this morning with large attendance of prominent law yers from all sections of the State. The meetings of this association have steadily grown in interest, and the session now being held is proving one of the best in the history of the organization. The fea- ture of todays session was the oration by Hon. William J. Curtis of New York. The address was an appropriate one for the oc- casion, and each member of the associa- tion present has had words of high praise for the effort.
 President J. .Wilett called the session to order in the Senate chamber at noon. There were many of the States abest at- torneys present, among whom were Hon. J. J. Willett George P. Harrison, w. J. Sanford, nominee for Governor; J. w. A. Sanford A. H. Aston, John W. Tomlin- son, R. B. Lowe, S. J. Weakley, A. D. Sayre, A. A. Wiley, Charles G. Brown, Chief Justice Mcclellan. R. F. Ligon, w. l.. Martin, John V. Smith, Virgil Bouldin, D. P Hestor. E. M. Dohinson, S. L. Brew er D. E. Hefin, Mac. A. Smith, J. L. Dow
 
 President wilIett's Address
 President Willett's annual address was able and learned. and of much practical benefit to the members. It was plainly visible that he had been a close student of not only the decisions of the United States Supreme Court and the Alabama Supreme Court, but of all general laws passed by the Legislatures of the different states as well as all other questions that affected the members of the association.
 The address was enivened by delicate and irresistible touches of humor A hearty burst of laughter followed his allusion ito the fugitive Legislature of Kentucky from the de facto Governor, and the same Gov ernor now a fugitive from Kentucky justice, whatever that may mean"
 In the beginning he said that the con- stitutonal convention would be held, and he said that there would not be wanting reformers to change the present system of procedure in the courts. He warned the members against this plan, and pointed to the dissatisfaction of certain states who had tried the plan of changing the present system in Alabama, and which now want to go back to 1t. In one particular he thought that it might be changed with benefit. When plaintiff has just cause and files his suit in the wrong court the statute of limitation should not operate against him.
 To Relieve Congested Dockets
 He also proposed way to relieve the congested docket of our supreme court, which condition was sure to increase with our increase in wealth and population the establishment of intermediate court which should have charge of cases involv- ing S, 1000 or less. This court might be comprised of circuit judges and chancellors who could sit in the large towns of the state where good libraries were conven- tent.
 He called attention to the important de- cisions of the Alabama supreme court The first of these was the one which declared the new revenue law of the state null and void. He pronounced it the most impor- tant bill passed by the last legislature, and said that the decision was a statutory les son on the method of hurrying through grave and important legislation on the last days of the session It emphasized the necessity of setting aside certain time by the General Assembly for the consider ation of general laws. He commented, too, upon the decision declaring the Birming- ham amendment constitutional Incident ally he declared that the advantage over a