The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-08-26

Portland. Me-, Aug 26-The thirteenth
annual meeting OF the American Bar asso-
ciation was opened at city hall today and
will continue through tomorrow and We'd
nesday. concluding with a banquet We'd
nesday evening. Two hundred delegates
called TO order and as many more were
expected today and tomorrow.
An executive session of the general
council was held at the headquarters pre-
ceding the formal opening OF the conven-
tion. President Alton b. Parker of New
York presided and the officers and COM
mittee were present. Final arrangements
for the convention were perfected
City hall, where the meetings of both
the American Bar association and OF the
International Law association, which
meets the last three days of this week
will be held. was well filed with Maine
and particularly Portland members of the
legal fraternity when the convention was
called to order by President Parker.
One OF the most important matters
which will be considered at the meetings
will be the report OF the standing COM
mittee on insurance law to be presented
tomorrow morning. 1t undoubtedly will
be followed by n lively and lengthy dis
cussion. This committee has under con-
sideration a bill TO safeguard the interests
of life insurance companies and the policy
holders
JUDGE PARKER CHEERED.
The opening or the convention was de-
layed an half hour after the appointed
time by the non-arrival OF the speakers.
President Parker and Governor William
T. Cobb. OF Maine were escorted into the
hall and to seats upon the platform by
members OF the committee on entertain
ment They were received with cheering.
President Parker was introduced as the
presiding officer and he in turn presented
Gov. Cobb, who welcomed the members as
the chief executive of the state.
Lucilus A. Emery of Ellsworth, chief
Justice OF the Maine supreme court. was
introduced and extended the welcome of
the Maine Bar association.
President Parker then arose to deliver
his address as president He again was
loudly applauded. In preface TO his for
NAL address he paid tribute TO Mr.. Chief
Justice Emery as "a most worthy success
sor OF that long line of chief justices,
from Chief Justice Mellen down"
In part Judge Parker said:
The proper function Of the legislator is
suppletory to that OF the Judge. He
should strive TO ascertain the growing
but imperfect customs which spring from
the eHOTt OF lp fiiVic.
and give 10 them the dignity and force Of
law This he often attempts TO do. and
frequently succeeds. But the task OF
even the wise legislator Is beset with
difficulties. so many bills press upon
his attention. that II he had the wisdom
OF Solomon he could not master them In
ono short session. Many such bills are
introduced by men who do not under
stand them, merely that they may gain
the applause Of the thoughtless or the en-
vious. Others are strike bills pressed In
the hope OF unlawful gain. stu others
are presented from honest motives. but
with no appreciation That their enact
nrrnr viii work injury. while stu more
represent the effort OF unframed legisla-
tors 90 enact into law what they mis-
takenly conceive TO be the Will of the
people.
More mischIevous still. as a rule. are
the bills pressed for passage In the In
terests Of a political organization. Ex-
pcrience teaches that comparatively few
or the many bills Of a legislative session
are carefully considered by the body as