New-York tribune., 1907-01-17
TO SUPPORT GOVERNOR
Ld7cYers VII Haze Bill on His Debt
I'm pisOnment Viezcs.

Albany, Jan. lG-President Roosevelt's recon-
mendation of changes in legal practice to reduce
the number OF appeals in criminal and civil cases
was debated with considerable evidence of feeling
py the State Bar Association this afternoon. and
finally motion 10 indorse was laid on the table
A proposition made two years in paper
read before the association by Governor Hughes
then practising lawyer favorng legislation to
abolish methods amounting practically 10 impris-
onment for debt. will be embodied in a bill which
the committee on law reform authorized TO
draft Since Governor Hughess paper read
the bin has been twice before the Legislature an
defeated once in the Senate and once in the As
sembly
The association voted to hold the next meeting
in New York, the change being declared TO be due
to crowded hotel conditions in this city.
Ernest w. Huffcut dean of Cornell Law School
and counsel TO Governor Hughes, presented the
paper which opened the discussion Of the Presi-
dents recommendation which was that a law
should be passed that judgment should be set
aside or trial granted only where the re-
viewing discoses that the complained OF
resulted in a miscarriage OF Justice Dean Hun
cut argued in support of the Presidents sugSes-
tions. Everett p. Wheeler. of New York. took the
same ground and made motion that the associa-
ton indorse the recommendation.
J. Aspinwan Hodge. of New York. declared that
such idea 'alarmngly revolutionary A
d Wales. of Binghamton. after paying high
tribute to the laws of Pennsylvania as the best
Instruments for curbing public abuses by corpora
tOns, declared that they a dead letter-k1iled
by judicial discretion I'VE need all the laws we've
got" said he. ito control trial judges" The mo-
ton to indorse then tabled.
Thomas Nelson Page. OF Washington, in an ad-
dress THE Loss Of the Fiduciary Principle,
denounced in drastic terms corrupt officials of
trusts and other business who violate the
rights of others for their own gain. Mr.. Page de-
nounced especially that class Of lawyers whom ne
called "the personal counsel of the class of cor
morants who devour the public and who. by their
shrewdness and ability, keep their clients outside
the walls OF the penitentiaries."
The common shyster the jury hxer, the pro-
moter OF litigation and Of small get-rich-quick
schemes while offence to the bar can be readily
dealt with" said he They known like the
common thieves whose photographs decorate the
Rogues' Gallery. The real injury to the bar and
the public from him who. without a due
sense OF the greatness OF his profession and the
duties Of his position. advises his client how to
wrest the law against right to his advantage; or,
when conditions fail shows him how 10 secure. by
methods possibly outside the letter but not the
spirit OF statutes against bribery the passage
OF laws against the interests OF the public. de-
stroying thereby the very countenance OF the law
and polluting the very sources from which the law
springs"
The annual meeting closed tonight with the
usual dinner at the Ten Eyck. at which Governor
Hughes responded 20 the The State OF New
York" Others who spoke J. NJ Dickinson OF
Chicago: P. B. Misnaut X. G. OF Montreal;
Harry St George Tucker. William r Hornbower
and Joseph A. Lawson.
Governor Hughes said among other things;
The short time have been here have not found
II necessary TO discover definition Of the duties
and powers of the Governor OF the state. outside OF
the constitution and the statutes.
The Bar Association should see TO Il that the
ethics OF the profession will prevent lawyers from
accepting a retainer requiring any activity in op-
position to the public interest