The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-18
Tells Bar Association They
Should Not Be Com
mercial.
Justice Harlan Deplores
Proposal for Election of
Judges.
Chief Justice Clabaugh
Wants New District Court
House.

About $50 members OF the Bar AssO-
citation of the District of Columbia sat
down 10 their annual banquet last even
ing at the New Willard.
William +. Mattingly. president of the
association, was POSTMASTER. He re
viewed the history of the association
from its inception, in May, 1871, showing
how it had developed, until now there
were in the library of the association
about 1900 volumes. Mr. Mattingiy
made a strong plea 10 the members to
make the Bar Association greater
force for civic righteousness in the Dis
trict than il had been. de thought the
lawyers of the community should be It's
leaders.
Chief Justice Shepard was then called
upOn to respond 10 the toast. The Court
Of Appeals of the District OF Columbia
After paying a tribute TO the bar of
the District Justice Shepard deprecated
the tendency toward cOmmercialism on
the part of members Of the legal pro
fessiOn today, but blamed clients Tor
the condition. holding that individuals
and corporations had come 10 regard
the lawyer as an ordinary emplOye 70
whom should be paid a good stipend
for his services in shielding the lndl-
vidual or corporation, and for keeping
them outside the clutches OF the law.
This tendency he greatly deplOred, con
tending that it was the pTeTOgative of
the lawyer in a republican state TO be
its leading citizen
Wants New Court House.
Chief Justice Clabaugh. of the Dis
trict Supreme Court. responded TO the
toast for his court. He humorously de-
scribed the wide range of subjects coming
before that court for consideration. His
special plea was for better quarters Tor
the Supreme and Appellate Courts OF
ha
cation and facilities as infamous. He
hoped that a new building might be
provided. or at least the present one
renovated TO conform to the needs OF
the courts
Mr. Justice Harlan. of the Supreme
Court of the United States, was then
called upon by President Mattingly-
The Justices speeCl was largely humor-
Gus. but he made the second reference
Of the evening 10 matters Of present
public interest.
Future Of Supreme Court.
He said he had often asked himself
What is in store for the Supreme Court
for the future?" The theories advanced
that judges of the higher courts should
be elected by the people. and other
agitations for changes in the funda-
mental law. were not Teassuring. While
he would not venture to predict WhaI
the outcome of all this dlsquleJuqe
surprise him these days. still he had an
abiding faith in the sound Judgment OF
the people of this country. II was MS
opinion that the present form OF gov
eminent of the country could not be
improved upon
THE Court of Claims" was responded
to by Chief Justice Peelle. He re-
viewed the history Of the court, COINS
into detail as TO is functions Justice
Peelle also made a strong ples, Tor
world tribunal of last resort 10 come
out of the next peace conference at The
Hague. Henry Z. Davis brought the
BANQUET to a close in a witty and serious
response to THE Profession
The guests Of honor included:
The Justices OF the Supreme Court
OF the United States
The Justices of the Court of Appeals
The Justices of the Supreme Court OF
the District of Columbia.
The Justices of the Court of Claims
Col James @. Payne, John r. Young
Harry W. Hodges, Aulic Palmer, Archi
bald Hopkins, and Mrs. James NJ. Tan
ner.