Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-26
EMINENT ATTORNEYS
Meeting Of the American
Bar Association.
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
WORK OF THE BODY DURING
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.
He Declares Some States Have Enacted
Legislation Designed to Delay
and Discredit Justice.

twenty-fifth annual meeting of the Amer
lean Bar Association began here this after
noon.
There is a large attendance of prominent
jurists and lawyers from ell parts Of the
United States.
President Rawles in his opening address,
said:
This meeting marks the twenty-hfth
year of the life of the American Bar Assoc
cia tion. 1t was organized on August u.
1878, in small court room In Saratoga
Springs. The attendance was not large;
only seventy-seven members OF the bar
were present; but many of them were
men OF power and were recognized leaders
Of the profession. The call for the meeting
was tentative. 1t was merely to consider
the feasibility and expedience of establish
ing American Bar Association. 1t
was suggested that a body of delegates,
representing the profession in all parts of
the country, which should meet annually
for a comparison Of views and friendly IN
tercourse might be not only pleasant
thing for those taking part in it, but OF
great service in helping to assimilate the
laws of the different states, in extending
the benefit of true reforms and in publish
ing the failure of unsuccessful experiments
in legislation
Valuable Work.
1.-THE association mainly brought about
the changes in the federal judiciary, by
which that important branch of public
service was fully equipped to meet the pub
lie needs of the time, and those greater
needs which a certain tendency to centrali-
zation developed by the events Of the last
ten years.
1.-The work of the section of patent law
has placed on the statute books important
and needed reforms in the patent law,
and it is laboring on other reforms OF equal
or greater Importance.
Growth of State Associations.
1.-THE objects of this association. to adj
vance the science of Jurisprudence, promote
the administration of justice and uniform
ity of legislation throughout the Union. up
hold the honor of the profession of the
law and encourage cordial intercourse
among the members of the American Bar,
we have accomplished in full measure.
To-day there are forty-two state and ter
ritorial bar associations many OF them.
probably most of them, full Of activities for
the public good, and powerful to secure the
objects at which they aim. The members
meet annually, not merely to hear legal
papers read and then return to their pro-
fessional labors, but to discuss the things
which may benefit the public; and when
they separate they see to 1t that that which
they have resolved shall forthwith be car
ried into effect
"Our past is secure The work which has
been done stands and will stand The fu-
ture is equally secure II we keep up the
high ideals of professional honor and duty
and of public service in which this associa-
ton was founded and in which 1t has been
maintained for the twenty-five years Of its
life.
1.-The constitution imposes upon me the
duty of communicating to you the most
noteworthy changes in statute law on
points of general interest in the several
states and by Congress during the past
year.
Federal Legislation.
AN act Of Congress has created new
department Of the government. the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor, to foster.
promote and develop the foreign and do
nestle commerce, the mining. manufactur-
ing, shipping and fishery industries, the
labor interests and the transportation IA
cilities of the United States The depart
ment is vested with Jurisdiction and control
of the various branches of public service
appropriate to these departments of gov
ernmental activity.
by an amendment of the interstate COM
merce act 1t Is provided that any act or
omission which, If done by an officer or
agent Of a corporation would constitute a
misdemeanor under that act, shall be held
ton itself. and the latter is made
subject to like penalties as are
prescribed with reference to such persons,
except as otherwise provided. 1t is de-
clared to be unlawful for any person or
corporation to offer. grant or to give or
solicit any rebate, concession or discrimi-
nation in respect to the transportation of
property in interstate or foreign commerce
by any common carrier subject to these
acts. whereby any such property shall
by any device whatever be transported at
any less rate than the tariff published by
the said carrier
provision is from $1,000 to 1900. In flu
ture no penalty but fine shall be imposed
upon the convicted party for offenSes under
the interstate commerce acts.
IAN act was passed to expedite the hear
ing and determination of suits in equity
and in what may be called antitrust cases
1t directs that such cases shall be assigned
for hearing al the earliest practicable day
before not less than three of the circuit
judges of the circuit, If there be three or
more. and II there be not more than two
circuit judges, then before those two and
such district judge as they may select
An appeal lies to the Supreme Court only.
immigration Laws.
AN act has at last been passed to restrict
immigration. 1t excludes from admission a
large number of classes of persons not
suitable as immigrants, but not persons
convicted Of an offense purely political, not
involving moral turpitude
Skliieu TABOR may De imported II labor
of like kind unemployed cannot be found
in this country. 1t is provided that the
contract labor law shall not exclude pro-
fessional actors, artists, lecturers singers
ministers, professors for colleges or semi
naries, persons belonging to any recog-
nized learned profession. and personal or
domestic servants
The act makes 1t unlawful to encourage
alien labor immigration by advertising, and
persons coming into the country in conse-
duence of such advertisement come under
the excluded class, except that states and
territories may advertise inducements
which they offer to immigration Vessel
owners are forbidden to solicit immigration.
The entry of anarchists and similar en-
emies of society is forbidden, and the act
forbids naturalizing such persons.
The Laws Delays.
IAN act has been passed in New Jersev
which apparently tends to increase the
laws delays and which, as far as 1 know.
is novel in practice. 1t provides that the
supreme court or any justice thereof NAV.
at the instance of any person indicted. be-
fore trial, remove into that court any in
dictment.
49,