Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-12

Continuing his series Of articles on
Transition Periods" Volcano Mar
shall writes as follows in the Manila
American of February I'd:
Do you know-which OF course you
do not-that the more | famnlarize and
fraternalize with the procedures adopt
ed by the Civil Commission the great
err becomes my admiration Of the
work performed by It?
| know that the captious assert in
the market place that the Commission
has EMBODIED itself in the Spanish flag
and that its members are rapidly for.
getting the parts of English speech in
the requirement of a knowledge of the
jargon so universally prevalent in this
land. In my judgment such cavil Is
to be deprecated. It is pernicious; II
is harmful. retarding, as 1t does, pacih'
cation and Cancellation.
In speaking as have am actuated
by the sternest justice. The proceed.
ures substantiate and corroborate what
| acclaim. One incident serves Us an
illustration. Tuesday received let.
ter from one of the most eminent law.
yers in the United States; a gentleman
OF international reputation; an ex.
member OF Congress: an advocate who
has frequently expounded law before
the United States Supreme Court In
cases where vast monetary interests
and intricate legal questions were in
volved; a gentleman of independent
fortune. In the letter he requested
that I write him all the truth that !
could ascertain about lawyers and law
business in Manila.
In quest Of the truth. called on the
Solicitor General at the Palace. which
of course is in juxtaposition to cathe.
dral and a monument. | asked the of.
| fiicial what qualifications we're neces.
sary for an American lawyer, one pos.
sessing a thorough knowledge of con.
stitutional governments. to practice
before that august body the Supreme
Court OF the Philippines. He called
my attention to chapter 2, section 10.
of the regulations adopted by the Com.
mission. which, suppose, are dignifled
by some by the name of laws These
regulations delegate to the Supreme
Court power to examine and pass upon
the qualifications of all American law
yers, but explicitly provide that law
other Spanish.speaking countries shall
not be subjected to an examination
But wait a moment. The Supreme
Court, so I am informed. Is composed
of four Americans and three Filipinos
These iustices-for | suppose they
may be termed such without commit
ting an infraction of the law of libel
have what is called an Examining
Board. II is trying-out board. It Il
composed. mark you, of two Filipinos
and one American.
Now. then. before an American law
yer. no matter how great his attain
ments and learning In the law gay be
can practice before that august tribu
nal--the Supreme Court of the Philip
pines, which includes in membership
three aborlgines-he must be tried gu
by this board, which includes a ma
jority membership of aborigines. An,
what is the purport of this trying-ou
process? Ostensibly II is to ascertain
II the candidate be familiar with so
called Spanish law. There are man!
who are so wicked that they emphatl
cally declare II Is solely for the pur
pose of debarring American attorneys
from practicing In the courts OF thu
archipelago. am not one Of these
and II am I'm soused cat in man
go forest when the bells of the Walled
City are proclaiming the midnigh
hour.