New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
TO RAISE LAWYERS DUES.
BAR ASSOCIATION WILL VOTE On 4
PROPOSITION TO INCREASE
ITS INCOME.

Formal complaints against members OF the
bar in this city have been growing so steadily
In number to have warranted somewhat ex-
pensive proceedings against the offenders by the
Bar Association Of this city. Five thousand
dollars of the associations funds was spent
for sitting these charges in 1899, and the drain
on the finances has been serious enough to
warrant proposed Increase in the annual dues
In order to increase the annual income Of the
association to the extent Of about S120OO a
year. a proposition will be voted on on Tues
day night to increase the annual dues of MEM
bers in the old city Of New-York from $40 to
$50. and of members living outside OF these
limits, as well as Junior members, from $50
to $25.
The expenditures OF the association have been
increasing year by year, until now the gross re-
ceipts barely meet the disbursements. This
leaves the association without means with
which TO buy books for the library, in which
the organization has always taken a special
pride.
There is more or less nervousness on the part
of those who favor the increase in the annual
dues, and 1t is expected that opposition to the
amendment providing for the increase will make
itself manifest Tuesday night. The Execu-
tive Committee has been working zealousy to
convince the members that the proposed in
crease in the dues is the only practicable plan
for putting the finances In better condition.
Foremost among those who have urged the
increase are Wheeler H. Peckham. Hamilton
| Odeu, ex-Judge William n Cohen, Cephas
Brainerd Franklin B. Lord, Joseph Larocque.
Francis Lynde Stetson, Austen G. Fox Myer
S. Isaacs, and Edward w. Sheldon. These mem
bers gave notice at the January meeting that
they would move for an increase at the meeting
on Tuesday night, and they propose to substi-
tute the following amendment for the article
which has been in force up TO the present time:
ARTICLE X-ADMIssION FEE AND ANNUAL
DUES
The admission fee shall in all cases be sl0o to be
paid. except hereinafter set forth, signing the
The annual dues of members of more than six
years standing at the bar and residing in the city
of NewYork, as 1t existed December 81. 1897. shall
Ing at the bar, as well as Of ali members having
offices in such city and residing elsewhere, s25
Such dues shall be payable half yearly, the first
day OF May and November in each year. In the
at the bar, payment of one-haf of his initiation fee
shall be due until he has attained that standing.
such city of New-York shall be exempt from the
payment of annual dues.
The association went into its present house in
1896, and the receipts and disbursements since
that time have been follows:
In 1Ss6-Dues $780, initiation fees. $685. current
In ISs71Dues sl6 2eo; initiation fees $1,000 current
In 1SsS-Dues $40 s2O; initiation fees, s74OO current
expenses, S5S, ,S6S %.
In ls99Dues s5216O; initiation fees, $685. current
expenses, $5S 225 "a
This means that the current expenses have
exceeded the annual dues for four years by
500 800 so. In order 20 have surplus of only
S414 10 it has been necessary to treat the inita-
tion fees income.
Two sources of expense not foreSeen nave
been the investigating work of the Committee
on Grievances and the increase in the taxes on
the associations property.
In order to maintain strict professional stand
ards, the complaints against members of the
bar in this city lodged with the Committee on
Grievances have been examined with more dill
gence than ever. Some of these are likely
to result in disbarment proceedings in the APP
pellate Division. The taxes for 1899 were S2,5OO
greater than for 1888.
The Library Committee asks for $4,000 for
the purchase of new books for the current year,
but unless the revenues of the association are
at once increased there is little prospect of the
committee getting it. A floating debt of S10,Joo
falls due in November and December next and
the mortgage on the building natures in May,
1901. The initiation fees wanted for sink
ing fund by the Executive Committee 1t Is
estimated that when the dues are increased as
proposed, they will amount to about S66,50O;
the expenses. including $4,000 for the library
and $1,000 for suppers, will be about S63, 800.
This will leave about 5000 to be added to the
$4,000 of initiation fees and enable the asso-
citation to pay off its floating debt and under
take the decoration of the house, the latter item
being estimated at $4,000.