New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-27
COURT REFORM URGED.
Bar Association Recommends Radi-
cal Changes an Judiciaru.

Detroit. Aug. 2s.-At to-day's session Of the
nual convention of the American Bar Association
the committee appointed two years ago to consider
unnecessary costs and delays in litigation sub
mitted a report in which IL advocated gradual
but sweeping reform in judicial procedure The
committee reported satisfactory progress in bring
ing TO the attention OF Congress proposed laws TO
authorize the appointment OF official stenographers
for United states courts and TX their compensa-
tiOn TO limit the setting aside of verdicts
unless the complained OF should appear 70
have resulted in a miscarriage OF justice. and 10
permit the of authorized. printed copies Of
records in appealing cases. instead OF written or
typewritten manuscripts
Further. the committee outlined the general prin-
ciples on which it considered reorganization OF
state courts should eventually be effected The re-
port says:
The whole judicial power Of each state should
burels should be branches. departments or divi-
siGIs line of 1i coS,St SSoud he thoronghI or
ganzed as 10 prevent not merely waste or
dI,pIcation OF papers and records and the like.
thus obviatins expense to htisants and cost to
This court should have three chief branches
county courts. including municipal courts. SUI
perior court OF first instance and single ultimate
court of appeal All Judges should be Judges OF
caHty but eligible and liable to sit in any other
branch when called upon 10 To- 90 10 So, bT f
should be committed TO some high official of the
court who would be responsible for failure 90
utilize the judicial power Of the state effectively
The COMMITTEES suggests that a similar official.
who should be a Judge. not clerk should act in
each branch or division. and that in like manner
the clerical and stenographic should be under
the supervision a responsible officer. with suits-
bic subordinate supervisory officials
Chairman Everett p. Wheeler announced that thu
clause of the committees report referring to re-
orga nzatiJ.n Of state courts not inserted for
discussion, but for the consideration OF the asso-
citation until next year
The second section of the proposed bilF to regu-
late judicial procedure provoked storm of debate
II provides that the trial judge may in any case
submit to the jury issues of fact arising upon the
pleading. reservug questions Of law for subsequent
argument ana decision II adopted. however.
In the discussion the report of the commit
tee taxation. inheritance tax met with de-
cded opposition from many delegates
A rumOr. which members OF the association viii
neither confirm deny. is in circulation tonight
to the effect that tomorrow Charles +. Libby. OF
Portland Me. will be elected president of the
land Railway Company. was a prominent candi-
date for the office at the meeting held in 1901.
Secretary Dickinson Of the War Department was
chosen president.
At meeting this afternoon of the Association
Of American Law Schools. John H. Wigmore. dean
Of Northwestern University Law School. and Harry
Pratt JudsOn. president of the University of Chi
cago. strongly urged four years liberal arts
course before a student begins the study Of the
law. Dean WigmOre declared that out of
hundred law students picked at random who had
only high school preparation. only two attained
high legal position. whereas of hundred taxi
ing a four years preparatory course ten were
found to have become lawyers of note.