The Washington times., 1905-05-07
The Duty Of the Bench.

| he Duty or the Bench.
The Times has taken an active In
terest in the bar of the District of
Columbia, for two reasons first,
the public has a right to the services
OF learned and high-principled bar
and TO presume that all attorneys
duly admitted to practice before the
courts are not only learned in the
law, but of good moral character; and,
second, this paper has a profound and
abiding respect anu admiration for
the honor, dignity, and value OF the
legal profession.
The decay of honor among adyo-
Gates and solicitors cannot be OF slight
concern to any commercial commun-
ity. for such degeneracy is the sign of
The general decadence of personal lib
erty and the venality of sordid NAM
mon worship. Commercialfsm has its
weaknesses. its dangers, and its per-
lis: il il tends toward peace, IL also
leads TO unworthy compromise; If it
fosters the expansion of resources, it
nevertheless encourages the aggres-
siveness OF wealth; If it nourishes
learning, 1t inevitably lends its aid to
sophistry. ehicanery. and fraud The
only salvation for commercial peo-
pie is general moral instruction and
the continued insistence upon the very
highest code Of ethics in its public and
quasi-public servants. Today and in
this country the duty lies with the.
people themselves. speaking through
the daily press, to demand purity and
honor in the forum and honesty and
open dealing in the market
The visible blots upon the bar Of
the District of Columbia have already
been pointed out with sufficient par
ticularity- There is not a Judge upon
our local bench who does not, or who
cannot for the asking, know what
they are: there is not a practicing at
torney Of ten years standing who
could not, if he would, put his hand
about these matters, and. knowing,
ought to prefer charges against our
criminais-at-law. How, then, may the
supine indulgence of professional dis
honesty and moral inadequacy be ex-
plained? Mainly by Ioosening of
public morality, Immediately by per-
sonal moral cowardice, and ultimately
by the sioth of individual indifference
and lack Of public interest.
But il anything is to be done it
must be done according to the forms,
the rules. and the spirit of the law.
The code of the District of Columbia
says:
Sec. 21s. Attorneys.-That said SUI
preme court shall have full power and
authority, from time to time 10 make
such rules as il may deem proper re-
specting the qualifications. examination.
and admission Of attorneys to practice
in said court; and every person so ad-
mitted. before he shall be at liberty 10
practice therein. shall take the follow
Ing oath: I. 4 B, do solennly swear that
! VIII honestly demean rnyself in the
practice Of an attorney uprightly and
according 10 law. and that / will sup
port the Constitution of the United
States So help me God
Sec, 2l9 Any attorney receiving or
collecting the money of his cIienf
and refusing unlawfully to pay the same
when demanded may be proceeded
against in summary way on notice
BY said court. which may suspend him
from practice or dismiss him from its
bar.
Sec 30 Each of the courts In said
District may suspend or dismiss from,
us par any attorney who shall be con
Ficted of any offense involving moral
turpitude.
Now, note in these sections that
before admission TO the bar attorneys
have TO swear to demean themselves
honestly "uprightly," ''and accord
ing to law" that breaches of trust
may subject them 10 summary pro
ceedings, on notice from the court.
the result Of which may be suspension
or disbarment; that all the courts of
this District are empowered TO sus-
pend or disbar any attorney who
shall be convicted of any offense in
yolving moral turpitude."
The present rule of the Supreme
Court Of the District. made pursuant
TO tile above authority, requires:
complaint in writing charging pro-
fessional misconduct; a reference Of