The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-10-17
THE BAR ASSOCIATION,

Neither the President nor any
body else will take very seriously tho
proceedings of the Bar Association
in connection with the judgeship ap
pointment and the abolition Of the
fec system il: the office CT the auditor
of the court.
The performance as whole wa:
interesting. A postal-card call wa:
sent out, indicating that new direc'
tor of the association was to be
chosen. The call was dated October
G; the meeting was to be October -
Plenty of time, if it were desired, tt
get a good attendance. But there
was nothing exciting about electine
director; members didn't suspect
that something was to be pulled
off" in thu matter of judicial m
dorsements; and there was only 8
handful of members in attendance.
After a new director had beer
elected the real business began to
unfold; the business not mentioned
in the call. A resolution was Of.
fered, putting the association on rec
ord in opposition 20 tho Legislation
! that aims to abolish TIE fee system
in the auditors Office The resolution
passed.
That one performance ought to
convince the President, Congress-
and anybody else interested, that the
meeting was entitled to no serious
consideration.
Think of a gathering of serious
minded Public men, in this day and
generation, solemnly demanding the
continuation of the extravagant
corrupt, vicious, and archaic fee sys-
tenn in public offices! States, cities,
counties, everywhere, have beer
roofing out the fee system for gen
Grafton past. Where it remains,
there it is the root and the susten-
ance of political corruption.
There is no more excuse for its
continuance here than anywhere
else. The fact that the present au-
ditor is 4 pleasant and popular gen
tlemen with a gilt-edged good thing
is no possibl, reason why the COM
munity should continue paying two
or three times legitimate valLe for
his services.
Yet the Bar Association, called to-
gether to elect a director, :naraCes
to 90 on record in favor of the reac-
tionary fec system that ought to
have been completely abolished long
ego; that has been abolished as to
most offices mere and elsewhere; and
that will be abolished just as socn as
Congress can get around to final az
ton on tn. measure now pending.
What possible good does the Bar
Association do itself by getting on
record on that side of that issue?
Doesn't it merely sacrifice the lnfl-
ence it ought to have?
The fee question disposed Of, the
association proceeded to yet more
edifying part of its business; part,
likewise, that was not included in the
cell. On motion the chair was in
structed to appoint nine members,
who should confer and later report
the names of three r1emb1ce, the az
rointment of whom to the bench
would be satisfactory to the associa-
ton.
Q8ite n proper business Cor the
Bar Association, if the bar had been
notified or had been present.
AS it was, President Wilson. Of the
Bar Association, appointed his COM
nlittec, ard the committee recipro-
Gated by naming Mr. Wilson as first
Of its three candidates for the bench
Five of the min. members Of the
committee were Republicans; which,
we assume, is expected to give its
recommendation especial force with
the present Administration.
If these proceedings Of the snap
convention Of the Bar Association
were in fact intended as a neaq3 to
eliminating somebody from consider
atior in connection with the judicial
nomination, it can be said that thew
achieved as small success as their
character deserved.