The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-07-29
WILL REORGAN|zE 1 BAR ASSOCIATION
More Cooperation Is Needed
 Among the Lawyers
NEEDS OF THE LIBRARY
Urged Closer Relations and More Frequent Meetings Among
 Members of the Bar

If the plans of its members materialize, the Birmingham Bar association will soon be thoroughly reorganized. the constitu- ton and bylaws will be amended, some change will be made in the amount of dues required for membership, and eff forts will be put forth along other lines to increase the membership of the as- sociation and broaden It's influence Sentiments of this nature were forcibly expressed at a meeting of the Bar as- sociation held yesterday afternoon in the circuit court room of Judge A. O. Lane. A fair attendance was present, and the matter at hand was discussed at length. The chief business transacted was the adoption of a motion that a committee be appointed to consider plans for reor- ganization. Judge A. c. Howze, who presided at the meeting, will appoint the committee today. Another committee will be appointed to draft resolutions on the death of the late Capt. W. c. Ward, a motion to that effect having been passed at yesterdays meeting.
 The meeting was called mainly for the purpose of discussing the matter of re- organization, since many complaints have been heard of the inadequacy of the as- sociations work with its present small membership. The law library at the courthouse, established and maintained by the association, has been the chief subject Of complaint, 1t being claimed that the collection is in need of many additional volumes
 librarian Reports
 Much discussion followed the report of F. l. Monks, secretary and librarian of the Bar association. MT. Monks declared that the library at the courthouse is bad ly in need of funds for necessary books, and that the dues now collected from the members of the association are not suf- ficient to properly maintain the library MT. Monks stated that 5000 is needed to procure the necessary volumes, and asked that some action be taken either to in crease the dues paid by the members, or to in some manner increase the member ship of the association
 Sterling Wood, who was the next speak CT, said he could see no reason why the lawyers of Birmingham could not Set to- oe-% citation, and advocated some action look ing toward a reorganization.
 Tn comparison with the physicians, for instance" said MT. Wood, "the lawyers of Birmingham are sadly in lack of the spirit of cooperation and mutual benefit. If a doctor comes across case of un- usual scientific interest in his practice he reads a paper concerning it before the next meeting of the medical association, and gives his fellow-physicians the bene- fit of his experience On the contrary, if a. tudge should make a particular ruling which would be of interest to the whole legal profession, the lawyers present would go away and say nothing about 1t. but would probably use his informa- tion to gain a point on some other law yer.
 What this association needs Is the get-together spirit We ought to have regular monthly meetings at some suit able place, the Chamber of Commerce auditorium, fof instance, and discuss matters of mutual interest and benefit
 Paul A. Savage next introduced mo tion that a committee be appointed by the chair to suitably amend the consti- tution and bylaws of the association making such changes in dues and other provisions as would be deemed necessary
 Judge Howze asked for suggestions as to what the committee should be instruct ed to do-
 w. H. Sims declared he believed that the influence of the Bar association would be greatly strengthened if the older and more experienced lawyers of Birming- ham would show more interest in It's work
 .aThe recognized leaders of the bar" said Governor Sims. do not seem to take a proper interest in the welfare of the younger members to whom this asso- citation Is of the greatest benefit The Mobile Bar association composed of 75 members. maintains such an esprit and influence that there is absolutely no cor rupt practice among Mobile attorneys
 ..The New York Bar association. which admits members on payment of $16 dues monthly, has the fourth best. if not the third best, law library in the country. It wields such political influence that neither party will nominate a candidate for the bench without it's recommendation.
 ''The Birmingham Bar association is in need of such an esprit. We should em- phaslze the social side of the organiza- tion and make the association more ar tractive to prospective members.
 '.I believe the law library should be moved from it's present place here in the