Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-28
STATE BAR FAVORS
new CONSTITUTION
Paul n. Gather Sounds Fore
word at Meeting Of
Association
LAWYER UNDER HOT FIRE

Asbury Park, n. j.. June 2S.--The
sessions Of the twenty seventh annual
meeting Of the Pennsylvania Bar As.
socistion began here this morning at the
Hotel New Monterey, wish an attend.
ance Of several hundred members and
their families.
The opening address of the president,
Paul H. Gather. Of Grcensburg. was
In part the foreword In campaign for
the formulation and adoption of new
Constitution for the State. as recon-
rnended by the recent Legislature. He
wss decidedly Of opinion that new
Constitution was highly desirable. II
was fifty years ago, ne said. that the
present fundamental law was adopted:
During that time vast changes had
taken place.
'Were We living in tho days Of
Methuselah," said Mr.. Gather, "a
new constitution every 500 years would
be quite sufficient but with a stupen-
dous rush OF events is Il not well to, at
least once in fifty years, hand back to
the people the government under which
they live for approval or revision as
necessity may require?
"While IL is true the Legislature. as
representative Of the people. at frequent
sessions grinds out huge tones Of statute
law, much of II is unnecessary, and
much Of that which Is necessary not
understandingly written. The day has
surely come when the principles of gov
ernment should be reasserted in the
fundamental law Of our Common
wealth"
Lawyers's Methods Condemned
A severe condemnation Of the pro-
fessiona conduct of former Pennsyl-
vania Congressman, John H. Rother-
mel. member of the bar of Berks
County, was the outstanding feature of
the report of the Committee on Griev-
ances, presented by Frank G. McGirr,
Of Pittsburgh, chairman.
The committe reported that It had in
yestigated a complaint made by one
John Smith. convict No. B7566, Of the
Eastern Penitentiary, who accused
Rothermel of extorting $50 from him
under the promise Of taking his case
before the Board of Pardons. at the
same time boasting Of his influence with
the board. with the judges and others in
authority. Smith also stated that Roth
ermel had obtained various sums from
other convicts. varying from a few dol
lars up to a hundred and more. for
which. as a rule, he rendered no serv-
zee, sometimes not even reporting as to
what. If anything, he had done in behalf
Of his supposed clients.
The committee recommended that un-
hess the 800 obtained from convict
Arvester Wood be refunded to him the
Bar Association of Berks County begin
proceedings for Rothermel's disbar-
ment.
Legal Discipline Urged
The Special Committee on Legal Dis
cipline. comprised Of Paul II. Gather,
Of Greensburg; Frank G. McGirr, of
Pittsburgh, and George Wentworth
Carr, of Philadelphia, reported a pro-
the Superior Court, in addition to the
jurisdiction already possessed by the
local courts, in cases of disbarment or
discipline of lawyers. and providing for
the appointment by the Supreme Court
of Committee on Grievances TO re
ceive, investigate and prosecute charges
of professional misconduct.
A review of what is being accom-
plished in harmonizing the divergent
laws of the States was given in
the report of the Committee on Uni
form State Laws, submitted by Judge
William NJ. largest, of Harrisburg.
The committee accepts the recommended
tions of National Conference of Uniform
State Laws, with which il works in
harmony as to new laws in the interest
of uniformity, and urges their passage
by the Pennsylvania Legislature.
A new departure In the property laws
of Pennsylvania was proposed in the
report of a special committee, through
its chairman, Graham c. Woodwork,
of Philadelphia, which recommended the
enactment of a chattel mortgage law.
for the nortgaging or pledgng for debt
Of personal and movable property,
similar to mortgages upon real estate.
Campaign for More Members
That there are upward of 5000 law.
yers engaged In Pennsylvania was one
of the things brought out in the report
Of the Committee on Admissions, pre-
sented by the chairman, George Went
worth Carr, of Philadelphia. The fig
ures were presented as an incentive for
the continuance Of a drive for new
membership in the association.
The Committee on Criminal Law,
whose principal effort for several years
has been toward the enactment of a
law for the abolition of county iails
and the substitution therefor of a
modern and enlightened system of penal
farms, reported that the bill for that
purpose had again failed of passage at
the last session of the Legislature.