The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-09-19
BAR ASSOCIATIONS
ANNUAL IS
ENDED
Addresses at Opera House Well
Received - Resolutions
and New Officers.

The closing hours of yesterdays
session of the State Bar association
were quite spirited. The election of
officers was a sort of distribution of
hOnOrs in which the best of feeling
predominated. The following were
elected:
President-John Carmody, HILLSIDE
70.
Vice Presidents. E. Ellsworth,
Jamestown.
Secretary-W. H. Thomas, Leeds.
The reelection of Secretary Thomas
was we'll merited token of confidence
and appreciation for the splendid work
he has done in making the association
largely what it is today.
A Spirited Debate.
The non-partisan judiciary resolu-
ton introduced by Judge Corliss of
this city developed a warm discussion
but was finally adopted. The resolu-
ton as passed, follows:
Resolved, That it is the sense of
the Bar association of the state OF
North Dakota that this association
owes to the public the duty of using
all its power and influence to place
and keep upon the supreme bench of
this state capable, experienced and up
right lawyers, without regard to party
affiliations, and to this end,
1T is Further Resolved, That when
ever the exigency presents itself, the
president of this association may, and
on the request of any three members
in writing shall call special meeting
of the association, at time and place
to be designated by him, to the end
that the association at such meeting
may take such aston as the public
interests demand with respect to the
selection of Judge for such bench.
This resolution is not to be regard
the present candidacy of Judge Knauf
and Judge Fisk for the supreme bench,
and that no act by this association is
or shall be taken in that behalf"
Evening Session.
The evening session was held at the
Metropolitan opera house and the time
was well occupied in addresses, by
Judge Amidon of the United States
district court. His subject was "The
Lawyers Duty to the General Public"
and under this topic he advocated
a non-partisan judiciary. A number
of instances were cited to show that
such bench had proven of great
value to the bar.
The principal address of the evening
was made by F. B. Kellogg of st. Paul
His address was devoted to the best
methods of curtailing the trusts by
the operation of law through the
courts. As he had been successful in
dissolving the paper trust, he spoke
with considerable authority. His re-
marks on the railroad rate phase of
the question follow:
kelloeE's Address.
1--WE recognize that large aggrega-
lions of capital are necessary to GER
tain industries, especially that of
transportation. No individual has, or
should have, wealth sufficient to build
and operate the great railways which
have become necessity in our COM
pick. modern civilization; and it is
with no hostility to such legitimate
enterprise that we have passed laws,
and are enforcing them, regulating
corporations. This Is one of the
great achievements of the day. The
time was when transportation was
largely matter of convenience for
the people in travelling from place to
place. Much Of the products of the
country was exchanged in village mar
kets, was used in the immediate vi
cinity Of production and transporta-
ton was not such vital factor as it
Is today. But the time has come
when everything which the farmer
raises, the merchant sells, the manu.
facturer makes, and substantially
every article we use, bears a tax of
charge for transportation. The vii
lage artisan has disappeared, and all
that we buy or sell is transported on
the railway. The construction of
great lines of railway is beyond the
power of the few, but is carried out
through corporations, which can be
managed by few but owned by many.
1t therefore becomes necessary and
vital to the life and prosperity Of the
people that this public tax for trans
portation should be regulated by law.
Il believe that the enactments of
congress, regulating the rates for
transportation, are grounded on con-
stitutional principles thoroughly es-
tablished by the decisions of the fed
eral courts; that they are also in har-
mOny with the progressive policy of
the times. 1t is not for the best in
terests of the country to injure the
railways. The millions upon millions
of money invested in them are the
savings of the people. The railroads
are not owned by few nillionaires,
but they are owned by vast number
of people scattered throughout the
breadth of the land, in every state.
The earnings of the railroads paying
dividends upon their securities are the
basis of income of large percentage
of the people, and form the basis of
large amount Of our national wealth.
But, on the other hand, the charges
for transportation attach to every
business. every enterprise, and every
industry, and are the very life blood
of our commercial prosperity. Dis
ordinations tend to build up monop-
olies. and deny to individuals the equal
right of competition. The business of
today is done upon such a narrow
margin of profit that an advantage in
freight rates may wipe out business,
destroy a community. build monop-
oily, or a city. 1t is, therefore. I'M
reasonable that the regulation of that
which has become public charge
should be in the hands Of the law?
Administered WiSply and Safopuardod