The Washington times., 1909-10-21
Statement of Retiring Dean
Against the American Bar
Raises Associates Ire.
BAKER DEFENDS
LOCAL INSTITUTIONS
DR.. William p. Robinson and G. D..
CaruSi Utter Indignant
Protests.

Flat contradiction is made today by
eminent members of the District Bar
and deans and instructors Of law
schools of the statemnts Of Dean VIII
liam r. Vance, Of the law school Of
of George Washington University, that
"the American bar is n failure" and
that the instruction in law in the vari-
ious schools in the District Of Column
bia is carried on in a slip shod man
ner with promises that exceed the IL
cense Of the poet or the advertiser.
Among those who aligned themsels
In opposition to the views of Dean
Vance this morning were District At
torney Baker, who is connected with
the Georgetown law school, Charles D.
Carusi dean Of the National University
Law School, DR.. William P. Robinson.
dean Of the law school OF the Catholic
University
Indignant protest that at times de-
scended to personal issue with Dr.
Vance and his views echoed through
the corridors Of the City Hail and in
the SANCTIONS Of the Districts leading
legal lights.
Condemns Procedures.
The ADDRESS of DR.. Vance was a gen
eraI condemnation of the system Of
legal procedure in the United States,
lawyers declare, a procedure based en-
tirely on the desires and wishes Of the
people themselves as expressed through
laws enacted by the legislatures of the
several States. Dr. Vance declared no
constructive reforms of a CON- 3rehen-
sive kind have been seriously attempted
since the days Of David Dudley Field,
and that there IS no free and civilized
country on earth where tie laws are
so III administered as in the United
states. He declared further tnat while
America leads most of the 8 cat strug-
giles mankind is making. it T. two gem
eratons behind the remain lar OF the
civilized world in the matter Of law.
''Our- inefficient civil procedure Is a
reproach TO the nation and disgrace
to the bar. an our procedure in Grim
inal cases. with its enormous expense,
its incredible delays. and its frequent
gross miscarriages OF justice, Is n
stencil in the uostrile of nations" DR..
Vance declared The legal profession
in America is blighted by two serious
faults The first is a low nor ~ tone.
and the second is a lack of knowledge
OF tis1 law as a science as distinguished
from knowledge of the law as craft.
The great majority of lawyers are mere
ly craftsmen"
Local Colleges Are Lacking.
In reference to the local schools Dr.
Vance spoke particularly Of the lack OF
preparation for the study of law among
the members of the various classes
Owing TO the lack Of restriction in the
District any group Of persons can in
corporate a law school. DIT. Vance as
serted, and with clover instructors can
make money for its stockholders The
quality Of the knowledge Of tue stu
dents Of such institutions must neces-
sarily sueffr he declared because thev
were men or women who devoted their
daylight hour to working for a living,
and went TO school in the evening for
an hour or two. No system of half seS-
sions or short lectures, could educate 4
man or woman n law within the course
Of two years. which one institution in
the city advertlses to do. he said. .'ex-
ceedIng even the license Of the poet or
the advertiser ia its promises he de-
ciared.
while a Lincoln or a Marshall among
these men and women, there is also
the countless hundreds OF people in no
way fitted for the practice of the
profession, and who constitute drain
and a menace 20 the public
Legislation Is Needed.
Congress, as a Legislature OF the
District. should interpose in the in
Continued on Sixth Page)