New-York tribune., 1905-12-13
FOR JUDICIARY REFORM.
DISCUSS JEROME ATTACK.
Bar Association Against Candidates
Paying Campaign Assessments.

ESCoeGsf
The Bar Association had a hot discussion last
night over District Attorney Jeromes recent at
tack on the Judiciary at a dinner at the CITY
Club, and decided. by large majority, that It
would neither call Mr.. Jerome to task and re-
uuire him to prove his charges and make them
specific. would it take any action which
might be construed as supporting him.
Having done this, 1t adopted resolutions look
ing to the reform of the judiciary in this Judicial
district. The first resolution presented was one
dealing with certain reforms in the judiciary
considered essential. and IL adopted with
little opposition. This resolution y as pre-
sented by Austen G. Fox. IT was the second
one, also presented by him. and a development
of the idea contained in the first that brought
on the discussion Mr.. Jerome. The first reso-
luton. which adopted. follows:
Resolved. That in the opinion of this associa-
ton it is desirable that the payment OF assess
ments by candidates for judicial office, or con-
tributions by them. on their behalf. TO cam
paign expenses, should be prohibited by law
There was little or no opposition to this and
Mr. Fox presented his second resolution, which
said:
Resolved That it is Incompatible with that
degree of dignity and independence OF the Juolcl-
ary, which this association is STRIVING ~ p.o
mote, that judicial Office should be held CohcuS
rently with membership in and close annnatioi
with organizations devoted directly or lnolfect-
Iy to the management of political parueS'
This was no sooner put before the meeting
than half a dozen members were on their feet
and a lively discussion was precipitated II was
pointed out that the mere act of enrolment IN
the prinna ries brought about membership IN ana
close affiliation with political parties ana Ed
ward Mitchell offered as an amendment reso-
luton saying
Resolved That in the opinion of this asso-
citation it is incompatible with the dignity and
independence of the judiciary that any Judlclai
officer should be d member of any committee of
any political party
Both the motion and the amendment were
lost but in the debate 1t was made clear that
the association was Overwhelmingly against any
action that could be construed as a covert sup
port Of MI Jerome in his charges. Indeed, in
the course of the debate this direct statement
was made and was accepted by the members as
vofcing their sentiments And it insisted
that the adoption of either this resolution or
Mr.. MitchelIs amendment would be committing
the association to the support of the District
Attorney.
When this matter was out of the way, the
following resolution was offered by Henry =
Hotchkiss and was adopted
Resolved. That the committee judicial NOM
nations be and is hereby requested to INQUIRE
into and report at its earliest convenience what
in it's opinion If anything. should be done by
this association TO increase and make more ef-
fective its influence in the matter OF 9udiGlat It
nominations in this judicial district Also that
when the committee has completed It's report
the same be delivered to the president that Il
then be printed and distributed among the
members of the association, and that houce pe
given to such Members Of the time vhesi TIE
report win be pFssented to the assocIaI'9 6-.af
its consideration
Then came on the big fight of the meeting
John H Judge offered a resolution calling on
liz
Mr.. Moore offered resolution reciting various
portions of Mr. Jerome's address at the Guy
CJub as published in the newspapers. and direct
inc the president of the association TO appoint
committee to request the District Attorney for
specification of the judges whom he condemns
and of the acts which he condemns. and pledg-
ing to the District Attorney assistance IN tue
prosecution of individual judges as may be 1us~-
fable under the facts that may be produced.
Mr.. Judge consented that this resolution oil
Mr.. Moore should he added to his. and the de-
hate was on. District Attorney Jerome found
mis- ardent supporters as well as his critics, and
there was a lively time.
After the younger members had had an op-
portunity to talk David Mcclure ana "ili'dnl
D. Guthrie explained that it was the sense Oh
the Bar Association that it was better to a4lo"
MI Jerome to tal%. if he so desired ana 'ie
association would take no official cOgnzahce u
his remarks. This was acC6pIeu DC 10y ms N--
the attitude of the meeting, and the resolution
was laid on this table without division MI
Judge. however said that his resolution mad not
baen voted on and wanted it brought before the
meeting A point of order was made that as
Mr. Moore's resolution had been appended 70
his. the one vote tabled both
THE meeting was the stated meeting for De
cennber In the absence Of Secretary Root the
nresident of the association, in washington
Vice-President Julian T. Davies. presided MI.
Jerome is a member of the Bar Association pu.
he was not present. About two hundred ana
47f+x- members answered to the roll The annual
meeting will be held in January and the foio"-
irg inspectors and canvassers OF elecuoh "et9
chosen. Albert S Bard. Francis S. Huntington
a Howard Taylor. J. Archibald Murray
George l. Nichols and Herbert L. Satteree were
selected for the auditing committee IhlrE-
seven new members were elected among "hom
,os -Tudge Edward w Hatch. now partner
of ex-Judge Alton B. Parker, in the firm Oh
Parker Sheehan & Hatch; Carl L Schurz,
Frank A. Lord and William Van RENSSELAER,
ErVing