Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-31

I England and America. He said he was
I informed by his solicitor that in cut
ting a small opening through an in
terror partition he had violated the
terms of his lease. in Chicago said
MIR. SeIfridge, Il would have instructed
my attorneys to maintain the opening.
In London Immediately requested my
solicitor 10 inform the landlord that
/ would close the opening"
one good reason for unsatisfactory
results in administration of law In this
country is the compleXity OF the stat
utes With the congress OF the United
States and the legislatures OF IS states
grinding steadily IN the last two years
alone no less than 1880 laws were
placed upon the statute books. The
number OF opinions handed down By
the higher courts in the same time
was more than half as great Among
this multiplicity OF statutes there are
many which might have been better
left out OF the books. Ottentimes
their freakish character does much TO
invite contempt for the entire body of
the law Instead OF trying to aid still
further in complicating the admins
tration OF justice IL is the duty of
lawyers TO use their efforts in simpli
flying the system.
III these reforms be made law in
this state" said the speaker, and we
lawyers. by q united, disinterested. de-
tcrmined effort can bring them about.
then an Illinois court will not fit the
old negro's definition as "A place where
they dispenses with Justice"
Chief Justice Upholds View.
Chief Justice George A Cooke OF
Aledo was called upon and spoke
briefly. commenting the reforms adj
vanced By Mr.. Mayer. England, he
said. has been far quicker TO discard
the antiquated forms OF law than this
country has. Here we have been too
bus at other things to devote the at
tentinl to lis subject that it deserves.
Lateiv However. indications are that
the American people are waking up
ami the activity manifested by the bar
s1o..iIons indicate that al least some
OF the sufsCsdons made will shortly
be rrali- ed.
Judge Emory c. Graves of Geneseo |
said the reforms advocated by the
chief speaker of the evening should be
near to the hearts OF every lawyer. In
general, it may be stated that the law
the same respect that its ad-
yocates do. - For tine evils complained
of the legal profession is in a large
measure TO blame. The mind of the
average client who enters the Office
OF a lawyer for assistance is more !
taken up with whether
he has money enough to command pro ,
fessional services than whether he
shall get exact justice. Nothing has ]
gone farther in reactinE against the /
dignity OF members OF the profession I
and the law which they are supposed I
to uphold then the practice of advo- |
eating what they do not honestly be- I
lieve. The judge cited a number of .
his experiences on the bench 20 Illus
trate the lengths TO which attorneys /
go TO stretch a point for
their clients. their inconsistency being !
perfectly patent to even the uneducat-
ed layman. Perjury, the most common
Of all crimes. Is the least often prose
cuted. fact which IL largely 20 the
discredit OF lawyers.
Would Coordinate States Courts.
Judge X. W. Olmsted. the last speak
sr. suggested an effort TO coordinate
The courts of record in the state. There
are more than $50 OF these in Illinois.
ne said. and some OF them have more
work than they can do ard some of
hem are idle much OF the time. mas