Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-11-19
LAWYERS At ANNUAL BAIQUET
Meeting of County Bar AssOcia
ton at Hotel Vermont.
Speakers Defend Members of Their
Profession and Suggest Changes
In wny of Handling Cases
in Courts.

The annual meeting and banquet Of tn
Chittenden County Bar association was
held Tuesday evening at the Hotel Yer
mont with thirty members present. The
banquet was held in the dining room
at 1880 o'clock and at its conclusion ad.
journment was taken to the roof gardor
for the business session and discussion
Of topics assigned to speakers. The
guests of the evening were Judge FREQ
NJ Butler of Rutland. who presided al
the September term of court Just closed
Judge Frank L. Fish Of Rutland and
Daniel L. Cady Of this city. Robert
Roberts. president Of the association
presided.
President Roberts spoke on the lay
mems notion OF the law ana lawyers
Contrary to a widespread impression
lawyers do not enact legislation for
their own benefit, he said. In this con-
nection he stated that the laws drawn
by them are in the interest Of the peo-
pie whom they affect, and 1t is a fact
that the trust relationship that exists
to-day between the lawyer and client
has been brought about by the lawyer
| Judge Fish spoke of the Importance
| VI 'Ii' IIilN'l I'VE VI lHNyPTS III tlld'l4Il-a
legislation In Vermont, he said the
early lawyers and Judges made the
State famous The early lawyer was n
unique, strong, vlrile and remarkable
man. Nowadays. lawyers seem 10 have
to come down TO common plane. The
character Of the modern attorney ,s
different because Of the difference Of
practice and pleading In the earlv days
there were many famous trial lawyers
| whose appearance in court would crowd
the courthouse with spectators. IN those
days he was trained orator Nowadays
the attorney tries his case in more
practical and sensible way and is less
spectacular Greater progress Is being
made the speaker said. in simplifying
methods of legal procedure There are
fewer trials on the questions Of plead
ings which is due to the efforts OF the
court to get TO the issue. Although
pleadings have been simplifed, there Is
still room for improvement. Judge Fish
took the stand that courts should have
more liberty in exercising discretion on
questions Of evidence and the opinion
should be final and not subject to re-
view by the higher court The trial
judge should be allowed to settle pues-
tons of improper argument without Re.
view Speaking of lawyers as connected
with legislation, Judge Fish cited the
fact that of Vermonts q senators %
were lawyers and Of its sc congressman
SO We're lawyers. OF the States SO gov
errors % were lawyers.
In conclusion Judge Fish stated that in
view of the fact that the lawyer Is called
upon to perform an active part In draft
ing legislation he should fit himself care
fully for the duty
Daniel L. Cady made a enthusiastically
, humorous speech OF which the legal pro-
fession was the subject.
Henry b Shaw. who is one Of the three
members from Vermont on the national
9 conference for uniform Legislation. gave
5 a review of the work of the members OF
1 Vermont on bills that are proposed for
t the next session Of the Legislature.
Judge Butler was the last speaker. He
f opened his remarks with reply to a
. newspape item which had appeared to the
h effect that of the s3S3, 40 expended for the
. department Of justice In this state in 1913
g the lawyers got the larger share of II. He
10 said that he had looked over the auditor =
- records and found that about $4,000 had
+ been paid to the attorney-general Il
o states attorneys and assistants and about
5000 toattorneys defending criminals. The
sum of about 1884 600 was paid to wit
nesses. sheriffs jail keepers, etc.
In regard to the statement that Yer
= mont has an excessive number OF
:. judges. Judge Butler cited the fac
. that only sixteen states have as few
- judges according to the population as
Vermont. Those which have more are
. States which have larger cities
. Judge Butler also took occasion tC
refer to the frequent remark that law
. yers charge excessive fees. If there
are occasions for criticism they are
frequently caused by the lawyers yea
for his client He took the stand thai
the lawyer frequently gets blamed toi
the fact that a mistrial of his cas'
has resulted from faulty pleadngs
The result of this is a re-trial and
!, the attorney cannot explain the mys
/, terry of pleadings to his client Th'
# trial court should he given authority
! to use greater discretion and right o
l. be circumscrlbed by a set Of technica
70 rules. and the Legislature should tel
/ the court plainly what to do.
n The association elected Allen Mar
tin and Henry b. Shaw members of thu
governing board for two years. The
board usually elects the officers bu
n Tuesday night as the hour was late adj
-. journment was taken until Later
= date for the election.