The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-03
OF
BAR DINED
AT ELO|SE.
Officers Chosen, Functions Of
Supreme Court and m,nd-
naniS Discussed.

The fourth annual meeting OF the
Rhode Island Bar association was held
az the Eloise, last evening and was one
Of the most successful held i'm many re-
spects by that body of learned men.
The business meeting of the association
was held about o'clock, President Fran
els Colwell In the chair. The principal
business wss the reading of the tressur-
er's report, which showed the organiza-
tion 10 be on a sound financial basis, and
The election or ufrtrers. as follows
President. Francis Colwell: nrst, vice
president Stephen A. Cooke. second vice
president Augustus s. Miller: secretary.
William A. Morgan; treasurer, William
II. sweetland; executive committee Rob
ert W. Burbank. Nathan r. Lewis. Her
bert A. Rice, John Dorsn, Lefferts :.
Hoffman.
During the excellent course dinner that
followed music was furnished by the
Glenham orchestra and about l2s mem
bers aud guests sat down TO the feast.
AT the head Of the table sat President
colwell. on his right Judge Simeon Il.
Baldwin, Of Connecticut. and on his left
Robert NJ Morse of Boston, a leading
member of the Massachusetts bar ana
guest Of the associa tion Others at the
table were Chief Justice Stiness. Judges
fillinghsst. Rogers. Douglas and Dubois
OF the Rhode Island Supreme court bench,
Judges lie Baron B Colt and Arthur l..
Brown Of the United States court and
Secretary w A. Morgan. OF the Bar as
sociatiou.
In calling the association to order after
the coffee President Colwell said that II
seemed to be very pleasant social oc-
casion 10 all. but the meeting OF the as
spciation are for the purpose not only Of
promoting social intercourse but for con-
siderng one Of the most vital questions
which could Ice placed before them, the
amendment of the constitution Of our
state
lie then introduced Judge Baldwin. who
spoke ON the functions OF the Supreme
court. who declared there are three things
that are characteristic of American pro-
cedure, our jury trial. our rules OF evil
dence and our courts power OF disregard
ing judicial legislation. out OF these three
have grown our supreme courts The
court must itself be one. There cannot
be two Supreme courts That tribunal
must be- exclusive. Its great office is TO
put su end to human controversies.
II believe. other things being equal the
court Is best which is furthest removed
from the possibility OF political change.
A long term is a safeguard TO justice. be-
cause that Judge who owes nO man his
place IL most apt to let Justice and JUS
tice alone guide all his decisions.
I'VE snail continue To watch your iu-
dicisl experiment of 1899 with interest.
Whether good thing or not. such q state
as Rhode Island is strong enough To stand
the experiment without any fear of disas-
ter"
President Colwell called on Mr. Morse,
who spoke briefly Following his re-
marks the presiding officer introduced
the discussion on the proposed amend
ment TO the constitution. lie intimated
thatit was not desired 10 do anything fur
Their than To have fair consideration of
the question OF whether the act OF 1898
was the most desirable system OF judic-
iary.
Attorney James Tillinghast said he pre-
sumed the discussion was merely on the
question of removing from the constitu-
tion the two Unprecedented clauses
known as the 'chancery clause and the
charging the jury clause He called
the attention of the association To the
proposed resolution.
Attorney Stephen O. Edwards moved
that further consideration be postponed
to special meeting Of the association, 10
be called by the president for some time
during the present month. The motion
was amended 10 the effect that the meet
ing be held the second Saturday n De-
Cember az o'clock I'm the afternoon at
the Court House. and as thus amended
was unanimously carried.
on motion OF Walter H. Barney reso-
luton was passed that the president ask
the members OF the bench and bar to
Join I'm taking suitable action on the re-
cent death OF eX-Chief Justice Durfec.
The meeting then adjourned