The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-20
SAYS STANDARD
OF ATTORNEYS
HAS LOWERED
Profession in Grip of CONNER
cialism. Declares Bankruptcy
Referee JOslyn
CLIENTS ARE TAUGHT
HOW TO EVADE LAW
DetrOiter, in Case and Com.
ment," Makes Plea for Return
To Ideals of the Past

fession has become 'commercialized.'
the trend Of leading members of the
profession to become merely paid EN-.
ployes Of the 'Napoleons of finance,
and of great business and CONNER.
cial enterprises, has become matter
deserving and receiving much atten.
ton during the past few years..
writes Lee E. Josiyn, referee In bank.
ment" for February, In an article CALI
cd "Evading the law"
The march forward toward COM
mercialfsm," says Mr.. Joslyn. "the
falling of the standard OF the aver.
age lawyer and practitioner. and the
tendency toward sale OF the brain
and training Of the modern lawyer.
must be. and Is, followed by its neces-
sary and natural corollary--system
attic efforts to evade the law as II
may. from time to time, be enacted
by the legislative authority, or inter
prcted by judicial decisions
Mr. Joslyu gives several instances
of evasfons Of the law. which have
come to his attention. Regarding the
liquor laws Of Michigan. he says:
Under the laws regulating the sale
Of intoxicating liquors, person
licensed to do business may not sell.
assign. or transfer his license, and on
his death It does not pass to his
executor or administrator. Yet the
law II now, by the aid OF counsel.
often avoided and evaded. A man.
unable to longer continue the bust
mess, enters into an agreement with
prospective buyer to the following
effect:
"A-That the buyer may. for the
balance Of the year. continue the
business under the name of the
lcensee.
"BeThat the licensee will make
application for q license, the following
year. 1t the same place.
"C-That the buyer is also to make
application for license at the same
place: II the buyer is granted the
license. the seller will drop his pro-
ceding.
"D-lf the seller gets license, and
the buyer does not. the seller will
still continue - permit the buyer to
run the busine1b, in the sellers name
and under hin ucense; this to con.
;,nu; s. unit, u k'r legally obtains
The whole scheme and agreement
II void and contrary to the statute,
but the method has been worked out
by attorneys. and ii results In defeat.
ing the clear purposes Of the law In
most cases. In some cases where the
OF licenses that may be issued
IL limited, as much as $500 has been
offered. and paid. for such q contract
and agreement"
Mr.. Joslyn also takes up tax-dodg.
ing:
"The annual fatal attacks, necessi-
tating removals from the state. COM
for assessment; the unheard-of and
recoveries. permitting q
return in perfect health. a. soon AZ the
assessment has been completed
would be worth mentioning only be-
cause Of the truly great efficiency Of
tho air, and the high degree or skill
Of physicians in foreign states and
at those particular
periods when the home assessing ON
Gers are performing their various
functions.
"lcvasions Of the law of the same
class cannot long continue. When
they aro discovered and corrected,
others follow TO take their place. ID
Il 70 be wondered at that the law,
lawyers, courts and Judges are under
are? There will and can be no per
manent remedy until the legal pro
pcmsfn0 IN peat0rod tn its former high
standing, when the successful. the
prominent and the respected attorney,
The man at the head Of hia profession.
he one most beloved and respected.
vas tho lawyer who knew the law,
ind who was willing to take no posi-.
lion other than that which would
cause the Ian, ~ hs -knsw IT, to be
Duforced."