New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-20
THE TRIUMPHS OF PEACE.
STATE LAWYERS MEET.
Er-Secretary Foster Speaks on
international arbitration.

| meeting OF the State Bar Association convened
this morning in the Common Council Chamber of
the City Hall. with President John G. Milburn, Of
Buffalo, in the chair. A large number OF lawyers,
members of the association from all parts of the
State, were present The subject of statutory re-
vision Is Of the most important to be consid-
cred by the association at this meeting, and 1t Is
understood that the entire association represent
ed at this meeting, will call upon Governor Odeil
tomorrow afternoon to urge on him the Importance
| of the subject OF his cooperation in the matter
The committee nominations reported the fol-
lowing nominations of officers FOR the ensuing year.
the report later accepted: President. Richard
l. Hand. Elzabethtown vtce-presidents First Dis
trlct, Cephas Brainerd. NewYork; Second Dlstrict
James McKeen. Brooklyn; Third District, William
p. Rudd. Albany Fourth District, Edward l.
Bracket Saratoga: Fifth District Edwin Noting
ham. Syracuse; Sixth District, Frederick Collin Ell
mira Seventh District, John Van Voorhis, Roches-
ter; Eighth District, John Cunneen. Buffalo; secre-
tarv Frederick z. Wadhams, Albany; treasurer,
Albert Hessberg, Albany. Executive committee
First District Lewis L. Delafeld. Adrian H. Joline
and Henry Galbraith Ward; Second District Mar
tin w. Lttleton. Isaac N. Mills and Walter H
Jaycox
PRESIDENT AfILBURNS ADDRESS
After the receipt Of the reports of officers, Of the
delegates the American Bar Association and sun
dry committees President John G.. Mburn deliv-
cred his annual address. the subject Of which was
statutory Revision and Law Reform" He said In
part:
The most important work which this association
has hand at the present time is TO get the
statute law Of the State compiled and published in
accessible and at the same time authoritative. II
IS now In state OF chaos. involving vast amount
great deal of uncertainty as to whether has aotu-
e been Sso6 Ta T hee nd 81 bo at u the pro-
fes5ion in seeking out what the statute law is gov
Of judges in the same ques! inpars their power Of
@ a lo t 20 @ 81 y in the law due to
the un9rranged and tangled mass OF statutory y
transactions It governs II the people for
moment realized how deeply their interests were
fused and unsystematic body OF statutory law is,
eomee SH aco& We do realize int and to
refrain from doing everything in our power to
bring about that reform is 10 be faithless to
pubc trust all the more s imperative because ba Is
C. matter Of express delegation.
Mr. Mflburn then declared the need Of q consolid-
alton OF all the statutory law concerning the same
general topic subject down to the present ume'
an act expressly repeating all the statutes which
have been consolidated. or which, because obsolete.
have not been carried into the body OF statute law
produced by the consolidating process; an adequate
index the statutes In force. (which It would be
well to accompany with chronological table OF
every statute enacted by the State. setting
forth In one column the year and chapter OF the
act IN another q reference to its subject matter.
and in another reference to the later acts repeal
ing or otherwise affecting IT." He said in closing;
Materially to improve the form OF any consider
a supreme degree. I commend to the association
a vigorous efort to secure the passage Of the 6iil
prevail OF It and an effective representation before
the legislature
In the afternoon addresses by A. Caperton Brar-
ton. OF staunton. Va: Edward P White. Of Am
sterdam, ~ " and Robert C. Scherer. OF Albany.
were given
This evening there largo attendance OF
members and their guests in the Assembly cham
Der where John W. Foster. OF Washington. for
rner Secretary OF State, spoke the subject.
what the United States Has Done for Interna-
tonal Arbitration" He said among other things:
Ry It's steady championship Of freer commerce
and OF most elevated principles Of conduct In war.
the United States has brought about almost
complete change IN the practice OF nations. There
law one OF the principles announced by the found
up 10 this day-the exemption from seizure OF
private property the sea in time OF war. Presi
trious predecessor in his last annual Message has
the day Is think not distant when It will be
AS our country has from its earliest history LED
waited and perfect system Of international law,
national controversies and preserving peace BY
means OF treaties OF arbitration.
Mr.. Foster then. at great length. reviewed the
history of this country IN regard to its treaties
with foreign nations and countries
GREAT EVENT OF ALI. TIME
The great event Of all time in respect to inter
national arbitration was the Hague Peace Con-
aiSes 9 Of ali the powers Of the earth
was ostensbly for other purposes, but arbitration
II is especially gratifying to US as Americans TO
know that our government was the first to show
court by re9oFtng 10 II. with our neiShbortng
public, Mexico for the settlement OF question OF
long standing diplomatic controversy. We were
Inent when President Roosevelt was asked by the
three powers-Germany, Great Britain and Italy
to arbltrate their dineTences with Venezuela. In
Of b h R s 50 dotted
Hague,
which had by them and US been created for Just
such cases.
II was a memorable event. which testfes to tho
progress OF the world in the appreciation reason
as against force when those powerful nations
stopped their warlike operations against a weak
foe and agreed to submit their claims to arbitra-
ton commissions and to refer to the Hague Tri-
bunaI the essential questions involved In the con-
Met The peace loving world will await with keenest
interest the decision OF the question TO be decided
It is a matter OF Just pride TO this result
was brought about by the action Of the President
of the United States. My review Of the part taken
unless I refer 20 the recent adjustment IN
International controyerses-the Alaskan Boundary
Tribunal.
After discussing this. the speaker said IN olos-
ing:
The most important acts OF the United States in
respect the peaceful solution OF International
can may be justly proud. The era OF warfare has
for which our country has commended from its
earliest history should universally prevail among
men the future of nations will be quite different
from the past
A reception for Mr.. Foster followed at the Fort
Orange Club.
Tomorrow evening the annual dinner OF tho as
ISOLATION VIII be held at the Ten Eyck Hotel Tho
list of toasts includes the following: Governor
Odell. 1.-THE State of New-York": Judge Denis
O'Brien. THE Court OF Appeals: Donald Nc
L not1