The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-06


st the Eloise last evening. In a brief
business session officers were elected as
follows; President. Francis Colwell; first
vice president. Stephen A. Cooke! second
vice president. Augustus g. Miller: sec
retary. william A. Morgan; treasurer.
william II. sweetland; executive commit
tee. Charlie. c. Mumford. william r. Til
linghast. George T. Brown, Albert A.
Baker, Chester W. Barrows.
The treasurer's report disclosed a bal
.nc. TO the new account OF sills1i
On motion OF John w. Hogan II was
voted that President Colwell appoint a
committee 10 confer with the state com
mission for the revision OF the judiciary.
The appointments win be announced In
a few days.
An excellent dinner was served by
vogei Of the Hope club and after cigars
had been lighted President Colwer said:
THE OBJECT SOUGHT FOR.
This n the seventh annual meeting.
II Is customary In many associations OF
this character for the president 10 make
quite a lengthy address upon some sub
feet at the annual meeting and | notice
that such address Is called for by the
bylaws Of the association: but this asso-
citation has never expressed its willingg
ness to endure sueh address.
''I may be permitted. however. 10 say
a word or two Of congratulation upon
the success OF our association In accom-
plishing It's purposes in various directions
n Is familiar to YOU all that this asso-
ciation. at the suggestion or one or more
members initiated the amendment TO our
constitution which we all anticipated VIII
result in most desirable judicial system
for our state.
'J am advised that the commission.
headed by our eminent ex-chief Justice.
appointed by the legislature 20 report
new judicial system. has about brought
10 close its most arduous and respon-
sfbie duties and will report To- our general
assembly at the coming January session.
and I am here reminded TO acknowledge
To that commission the sincere thanks
Of this association for the courteous at
tention and Difference shown 10 the COM
mittee appointed by this association to
confer with IT upon the subject OF the new
judicial system In charge OF that COM
mission.
EVE OF IMPORTANT CRISIS.
"If. as anticipated. the report Of said
commission is adopted by the general as
sembiy. in view OF the designations from
the bench and Of the call for additional
Judges, some six or seven new judges
must Of necessity he appointed. III is
very evident. therefore. that we are upon
the eve In this little state ~ a most i'm
portant crisis. both as 10 the adoption OF
a new judicial system and following that
adoption in the election OF an unusual
number of judges at one time 10 serve
under such system. In order to relieve
any apprehension as TO failure 10 secure
,t.xt ~ tnh hpea I m
I am credibly informed that there is no
Uearth OF material.
"It goes without saying that such
changes In the most important branch
of state government are OF vital In
tereet 10 all our people and should be
thoroughly considered.
.'r have the highest faith that the new
judicial system proposed by the able
commission will receive, at the hands
Of our legislature. deserving consider
alton.
DUTY OF LEGISLATURE.
Under our constitution the legislature,
upon the Adoption Of the new system.
will be sailed upon TO elect the addition
al Judges required under such a system,
and here again We may well anticipate
that so important a duty will be care
fully discharged with the same beneficial
results In the past. 1f there Is any
class of people more nearly Interested
than another in the selection of our
Judges. II is the lawyers. who constitute
IN one sense a part OF the court as it's
officers In the administration OF the bust
ness OF the court. Who should be more
ffted TO say. who shall be the Judges than
US? We are officers Of the court and arc
most important 20 the court.
with a view ~ expressing the interest
81 this association, comprising large
body ~ the lawyers of the state. Il was
deemed appropriate at this annual msst-
Ing 10 take notice Of so important mat
ter "a
LOOKING FOR MATERIAL.
'Tnasmuch as there In some proba bilitv
that some members OF this association
might be pressed into tho service OF Inc
state a. Judges. and n would ~ embar-
RAISING for them 20 discuss the quail
hcstions for Judge Your committee de-
rlded 10 call upon such foreign guests as
II might have nt this meeting. % give
as their views upon The subject for the
beneftsof all
1T r. rot an easy matter a. this busy
season 10 get Judges and lawyers out ~
the state 10 accept Invitations IN be our
guests. subject 20 be called upon 10 saw
anything on a particular subject and 7
feel that we ere very fortunate upon so
short notice ss we could give them to
have Judge and a lawyer. We have been
able 10 get acceptances from two eminent
men of our neighbcring states withou.
hop~. or fesr. or favor. or ~ reward
Both sides will be presented 10 Us"
col. BENToN's ADDRESS
The topic under consideration was The
Election end Essential Qualifications of
. Judge" and the FIRST speaker called
upon 10 discuss this very important sub
feet was Col. Josiah Y. Benton. Ir.. ~
Boston. who said that ne came here he
cause barry" Colt had asked him 10
cprne. Judge Colt. he said was az much
loved IN Massachusetts as he H. here
Rhode Island had exemplihed In her own