The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-10-07
VT. BAR ASSN.
In SESSION
Annual Meeting Was Held in
Montpelier
THE BANQUET LAST NIGHT
Members Discussed Matters for Recon-.
mediation to Legislature-Retiring
President Dunnett Spoke
Yesterday.

About fifty members of the Vermont
Bar association met at the county court
house in Montpelier yesterday afternoon
for the 3lst annual meeting President
Alexander Dunnett of st. Johnsbury was
in the chair. President Dunnett gave an
earnest plea for professional Fellow
ship" A memorial sketch OF the late
! j. D. Denison OF Randolph was read by
y. l.. Boyden and one OF the late Sem
ator Rediield Proctor by ex-governor r..
j. Ormsbee.
In concluding his remarks, Mr.. Duunett
said;
III the bar stood together as they
should, this work would receive better
attention and be better done, and the
whole bar would stand back of its ac-
complishment more steadfastly. Press
ure OF work is no excuse for neglecting
our meetings OF our social intercourse,
because relaxation and change are essen
tia TO good accomplishment, and with
out IL one is a commonplace and
drudge Both the bar and the court
should be more folksy. The judges will
not thereby decrease their dignity, but
will add 20 IL. There is no man so mighty
respected as one whose sole purpose is
to administer the law fairly. No great
ness ever has filed or ever will fill the
place OF the modest. unpretentious man
who devotes his whole attention to the
business OF deciding cases correctly, and
no man is great enough to get on well
at that business without the assistance
and the best assistance is impossible when
distance is maintained. No one man.
however great, has the honor OF first
correctly stating more than an intinitesi
NAL fraction OF the great body OF the
law. To quote the familiar expression
OF the late Thomas B. Reed, Everybody
knows more than anybody.
lit is to the end. therefore. of ad
vancement in the great work OF the bar
that bespeak a wider and closer ae
quaintanee between the members OF the
bar. and also between the bar and the
court. believe il will be the mother OF
a greater confidence and the forerunner
OF an easier and more dignited familiar
ity. from which viii come more Of tne
pleasure and grace Of social intercourse, !
and safer and sounder administration
of the law"
Following these formal exercises, the |
report of the committee on iurisprud- |
enee and law reform was made by Judge |
h. G. Mower Of Burlington. 1t contained |
one recommendation that provoked a \
discussion that lasted for more than two i
hours 1t was in substance tnat the law
should be changed 50 that cases shall not
be sent back from the supreme court
Tor a new trial except in cases OF sub
,tantial error not on technicalities. The
discussion was on whether the remedy
,hould be by statute or rule OF the
'ourt.
Recommendations.
The report Of the committee on law
'eform and jurisprudence was further
discussed and the following recommenda
ions were adopted; In amendment OF
ections 1850, 1890 and 1891 Of the pub.
ic statutes SO that the surviving party
nay be a witness in his own favor to
meet or explain the testimony Of living
witnesses produced against him whatever
he facts or circumstances to which they
nay testify In amendment Of court
ules and statute so tnat issue may be
oined more expeditiously both at law
md in chancery. A statute allowing
mendments from one form OF action to
mother and ioinder OF forms as at pres
mt prohibited.
The association rejected the proposed
mendment which made provision where ,
" the plaintiff may bring suit directly
o the county court at his election in
ases wherein appeal to county court is
ow allowed a
A Social Feature.
The annual banquet was held last even.
ne at the Pavilion hotel Alexander |
,nnnett OF st. Jonnsbury, the retiring I
resident, was toastmaster, and the \
oasts and responses were as follows: Z
The State Governor or.eleet e. II. Prou-
u; THE Supreme Court" Chief Judge !
w. Rowell; High Finance" Collector i
H. Darling OF Burlington; The Su-
erior Court, Judge W. II, Taylor;
of Retiring Secretary of
tate, r. q. Fleetwood; The State SEN ?
te," Judge T.. w Gibson Of Brattle- r
orc; The Railroad Commission" J.
7 Redmond Of Newport.
The nominating committee reported to- =
ay and their nominees were elected, !
aing as follows:
President, J. X. Batchelder Of Airing
IN. Il
First vice president, G G. Austin of
t. Albans; second vice president, J. X. 4
arling of Chelsea; third vice president,
A. Howland of Montpelier. 7
Treasurer, Hiram Carleton OF Mont u
'lier.
Secretary, j. H Mimms Of st Albans
Librarian, +. II. Dcavitt of Mont
,lier.
Managers, H. c. Shurtleff of Mont I
,lier. H. c. Royce of st. Albans, 4. G.
over OF Burlington and l.. p. Slack of
}. Johnsbury. r