The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-05
DUTIES OF LAWYERS.

cusion.
DUTIES OF LAWYERS.
Judge Francis p. Lowell Of the First
District u. 8. circuit court Of Boston
spoke OF the duties common TO the mem
bers OF the legal profession. 1T is pro-
fession with history as long and as
honorable as any other. Think Of the
share II had in founding this country
and think what respect the people In gen.
eral have for the courts. They criticise US,
but see how well We come of in spite
OF Il.
THE great power the legal profession
has is that Il determines who shall prac-
tice I'm II. The duty which We owe TO
the community. which intrusts the powers
to us, is a great one.
1T Is the duty of the lawyer to do the
best he can for his client, within the rules
OF the game. But there is nothing what
ever to prevent us improving the rules
OF the game.
1--WE must set our eyes on an Ideal sit
uation II we wish 10 improve Now are
we seeking TO the utmost OF our ability
to bring the legal profession up 20 the
demands OF the day2 Are We doing all
that Is possible 70 bring II UP TO the lights
J available? Are we doing as much In pro-
/ portion to the doctors. for instance. TO
/ improve the standards OF our profession?
IF man unused to legal proceedings
should see the proceedings would he say
we were doing the best We could TO Sc
cure justice. for that Is what the whole
profession stands for?
The delay OF Justice often leads TO its
defeat but I understand you have not
that trouble now. Uaughter)
! but you can help out the courts else
where.
Take any ordinary case. Would an
| impartial observer think the case was
FASTENED through as fast as possible, would
no think that appeals could be hastened'
even If they were a little more speedy
than usualY'
'Do not Judges sometimes write opin-
ions for publication because they like to
see their names in print, when an oral de-
| cision would Just as well fulfil the ends or
| Justice?
"Onicial court reporters sometimes fat
| tened their volumes OF court reports and
swelled their revenue with little regard TO
! the Importance Of the legal value OF the
| decision reported
Some OF the legal verbiage OF indict-
| ments had been eliminated. and why
| should not the accused man be required
| TO go on the witness stand and testify?
| Haven't We as lawyers, an opportunity
| TO improve enormously the methods OF
practice I'm the courts to attain the ends
| OF Justice? Might not oil do something
| he said. ito frame the system OF trials 50
ar TO meet the needs Of modern civiliza-
| tion?"
The last speaker was the Hon. William
| A. Morgan, senator-elect TO the legisla-
| ture from Providence, who spoke on THE
| Objects and Results Accomplished by the
| Bar Association"
OFFICERS ELECTED.
The election OF officers. preceded the
| dinner and resulted as follows: President
! Francis Colwell; first vice president Ste
| phen A. Cooke; second vice president
! william A. Morgan; secretary Howard r.
| Gorham: treasurer. James A. Pirce; exec.
utive committee, William r. Tillinghast
| Chester w Barows. Frank w. Tillng-
hast p Henry Quinn, Royal II. Gladding.
The following committees were appoint
| ed by the president: Committee on
| amendment OF the laws. Clarence A. AL
| drich, Thomas A. Jencks. Patrick J. Nc
| Carthy, George A. Littleneld. ]. Jerome
Hahn: committee on judiciary. William
| B. GreenouEh, Arthur NJ. Allen, oliver II.
Williams, James 7. ESan. Robert 8.
| Emerson; committee on grievances. Iiv-
| ingstone Ham, Charles T.. Salisbury
Frederick A. Jones. John T. Canning and
Archibald c. Matteson.
| The association passed two resolutions
OF Importance. The first presented was by
| Assistant City Solicitor Albert a. Baker
who moved that the association. in recog-
milton OF the long. arduous and honora-
| BILE public services OF the late Chief JUS
| tice Pardon ". Tilinghast and OF ex-Chief
| Justice John H. Stiness" that a commit
| tee, consisting OF the president and three
| members, be appointed 10 have the por-
\ traits OF the two chief justices painted
| and presented 10 the state, In order to be
hung in the Providence county court
| house.
The other was a resolution OF sympathy
| on the death OF the late Hon. Augustus s
! Miller, mayor OF Providence which was
presented by Harry G. Curtis.
II was after IL o'clock when the ad-
! iournment was taken