The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-30
THE BAR ASSOCIATION MEETS.
ADDRESS SHOWED
CHANGES IN STATUTE LAW.

the DEAN OF prominent hem bel
of the Association-A Great In
crease in the Number of State Bar
Associations Reported Figures
Given by the Treasurer.
Saratoga. N. Y, Aug. 29.-The opening
session of the twenty-third annual meet
ing of the American Bar Association was
held here to-day. The presidents address
was delivered by ex-senator Charles F.
Henderson of Omaha, Neb communicat-
ing the most noteworthy changes in stat
ute law on points of general interest made
in several states and by Congress during
the preceding year. Mr.. Mandersons ad-
dress was, in part, follows:
The high purpose and lofty aim of the
founders is well-expressed in its consti-
tuition. It declared the object to be to ad-
vance the science of Jurisprudence, pro-
mote the administration of Justice and
uniformity of legislation throughout the
Union, uphold the honor of the profession
of law, and encourage social intercourse
among the members of the American
bar
1t has justified its existence by its ac-
complishments. The persistent industry
and acknowledged ability of its members.
whether eXerted in private capacity. on
its committees, or at its annual meetings.
has accomplished many of the ends in
view and been productive of good TO the
general public.
The Association has not rested content
with mere theorizing. 1t has profited bv
the teachings of the leaders of thought
and brought about many of the reforms
so ably advoca ted.
The section of legal education has dis
played an activity and persistence that
has brought about a more thorough sys-
tenn Of instruction, a higher standard in
our law schools, a more careful scrutiny
of the capacity of applicants for admis-
sion, the creation Of s.ate boards of ex-
am ners and a near approach to uniform
ity of the statutes governing those who
would enroll themselves as lawyers Mr.
Cnoate says that the result has chal-
lenged the admiration of iurists everv-
where and declares that this develop
ment of professional education and train
ing Is the best fruit yet borne from the
careful studies and labcrs of the asso-
citation
Much has been said of the advisable
ity and the many benefits dervable from
uniformity of statutes among the states
We cannot overestimate the importance
Of uniform laws upon matters incident
10 commercial law, such as acts relat-
ing to negotiable instruments and bills
OF exchange, concerning days of grace
and the collection of d b. If the laws
relating to deeds, wills and descent, were
alike the country over, the best legis-
lation surviving, how much of needless
expensive and troub,esome litigation
would be saved"
After referring to the death of promi-
nent members-Edwa1d John Phelps, Will
liam Crowninshield Endicott Sherman
Skinner Rogers and also Lord Russell,
he noted a cons ant increase in the num-
Der of state bar associations nearly three
hundred having reported to the secretary.
He expressed the hope that every men,
her of the association would actively aid
IN a fitting celeb, alton of John Marshall
Day, Feb A. 1901.
The evil of over-legislation, of the pas
sion for law making, he said, continues
with unabated force in the states, bring
ing in its train the ills of paternalism
dead-letter ste tutes with disregard and
even contempt for law Luckily there
are some constitutional limitations upon
legislative power. and those who have
degree to check the avaricious appetite of
the annual and biennial legislators That
in the minds of the people there is
growing distrust of legislative bodies, and
fear of the course of their leaders, is
shown by the actions of the later con-
stitutonal conventions in curtailing the
length OF sessions the subsututions of
biennial MEETINGS the prohibition of spe-
cial laws, the forbidding of the grant of
exclusive privileges to any corporation or
association, the requirement that the sub
ject OF every act shall be clearly ex-
pressed in It's title, that there shall be a
separate act for each subject and that
the several readings of bills shall be upon
different days Few realize that there
were enacted in 1899 4,S34 general and 1925
local, special or private laws. making
total (hardly entitled to be called a grand
totaD of Il 159 avs in the states alone. The
proportion is as large in 1900 the only re-
lief being that fewer states held legisla-
tive sessions. Gentlemen of the American
Bar Association, you can do much 20 bring
about a better condition by vigorous eff
forts intoxicating in the public mind the
well-recognized doctrine that that gov
eminent is best which governs the least
In commencing upon the trouble in Ken
lucky the president said. quiet reigns
in Warsaw" Kentucky apparently is OUT
escent but the seeds of trouble remain
in her legislation, ready to sprout ana
bring as the harvest, more trouble and
81 eater tragedies. unless the corrective
is applied.
a striking instance that the power to
tax is the power to destroy, is shown by
the action of the Governor of New Jersey
by virtue of statutes of the state passed
in 1896, providing that when corporations
neglected to pay state taxes for two years
their charters should be declared void
and all powers hereunder imperative
The Governor took such action by procl1-
nation dated. May ?. 1899 to 656 corpo-
rations, and on the second day OF May
1900, TO 657 more. thus al two fell
swoops" wiping out the life of over 1900
corporate combinations covering every
conceivable branch of manufacture and
commercial industry.
The report of the treasurer, Francis
Rawle of Philadelphia, gave the receipts
as $l1691, and the disbursements al S.
234, leaving a balance of 1886.
Meldrim In the Council
A general council was elected of one
members from each state Among those
chosen are: Alamaba Joseph j. Willett,
Admission; Florida r. w. Williams, Tai
iahassee; George, y. w. Meldrim, Savan-
nah; Louisiana, William Writ Howe, New
Orleans; North Carolina. j. c. Biggs, Dur
ham; South Carolina, Charles A. Woods,
Marion: Tennessee. II. H. Ingersoll Knox