Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-09

David Hillhouse Buel. Sd. opened the
ceremonies by calling attention to the fact
that Georgetown Law School was national
in character, as it received its power to
confer degrees directly from the United
States Congress under an act passed in
1915. This is d unique feature, as the
ma iority of schools and colleges received
their charters and power to confer de-
Srecs trrm state legislatures
Prominent Graduates.
President Buel then mentioned promi-
nent men of the day who had been grad
uated from the Georgetown Law School.
among them Secretary Cortelyou. the
Governor OF Rhode Island and District
Attorney Baker.
The degrees were conferred by Presi-
dent Buel. AS each was called the can
didate stepped forward and the president
presented the diploma and shook hands
with the graduate.
The comforting of the degree of master
of laws was attended with more cere-
mony In addition to receiving the d.
ploma the candidate was presented with
a silk hood of blue and gray. lined with
royal purple velvet
The address to the graduates was made
by George r. Gather of Baltimore. He
spoke of certain features in the law. but
preceded his more serious remarks with
humorously fattering praises OF the
handsome young men in front Of him."
II wonder" he said. why at every
commencement they always call these
handsome young graduates bachelorst'
Corner Stones Of Liberty.
Mr.. Gather also said. in part:
We all have to keep studying to keep
up with the law. for law is an institution,
not a science. If law was an exact sci
ence. such as mathematics. we would not
have all this talk about the unwritten
law and s29.noO.O0O fines. Law is the
greatest institution In the world except
religion, and is so great because it is
founded on the truth and upon right
dealings.
There are certain pecularities in the
law; certain records of the lawmakers
who have gone before us that prove con-
clusively that those old masters built
much better than they knew. For in
stance. there is that great milestone in
the worlds history. planted without any
thought of what would result from it.
refer to Magma Charta. that great
foundation stone OF liberties.
And it was written by barons-written
to protect the rights of noblemen from
the oppression of king Those old
barons had not the slightest thought of
the common people. And yet in that
charter they wrote the great corner stone
Take also the fourteenth amendment.
1t written to guarantee the rights
of freedmen We all know whas 1t has &C
complished in that direction. At the same
time there was written In 1t that no man
should be deprived of his life or liberty
without due process of law. And another
great corner stone. which has puheld
America strongly ever since. was
written there without the knowledge on
the part of the authors"
Mr.. Gather closed with a reference TO
Shakespeare's Portia. saying she was the
greatest pleader that ever lived in fact
ever hold before them a high ideal OF
honor and to always regard their profess
sion highly.
Prizes Are Distributed.
The prizes were awarded by Seth shep-
ard. chief justice OF the Court of APP
peals, District of Columbia
Faculty cash prize of $40 for the best
essay on any legal subject from the
members of the third-year class was
awarded to Cloud Marshall
Faculty cash prize of $40 for the best
essay from members of the fourth-year
class was awarded to Otis b. Kent; sub
ject: ITO What Extent Will the Courts
Sustain the Validity of Ultra Wires Trans
actions in Favor of and Against Corpo-
rationS?'
Special prize. set of Smiths Leading
Cases" for the best essay from among
the members of the third and fourth year
classes combined was awarded to Cloud
Marshall.
The Edward Thompson prize Of law
! books was awarded to Warren H. Wag-
ner.
a prize for the best graduation thesis
subject ITO What Extent Is Public
Officer Liable to a Person Injured by the
Act of Such Officer or His Subordinate.
Done in the Regular Course of His EN-
ployment? awarded to Daniel =.
j. McKenna.
The 500 cash prize. won In public de-
bate by Michael j. Igoe was presented
last night.
Cash prizes for high averages maintain
ed during the year were awarded as fol-
! lows:
Fifty dolars-First year best average,
Frank Morse Roosa; average, 9732
Twenty-Five dollars-First year second
best average, H. G. Wages; average,
$685.
Fifty dolars-Second year best average
George Melting; average. 1906.
Twenty five dollars-Second year. second
best average. Archie NJ. Cheney; average,
97O6.
Seventy-nve dollars-Third year best
average, Elmer c. Wood: average. as.tss
-dolars-Third year. second best
average. Erwin r. Ehier: average. 973s
The Senator Mallory prize for the best
essay from any student in the university
on subject relating to the Constitution
CONTINUED on Tenth Pa9e)