The New York herald., 1922-05-13
new COURT TO GIVE
QUICK, CHEAP TRIALS
| BY SIMPLE JUSTICE
Civil Disputes to Be Lifted
From Congested and
Tardy Tribunals.
JUDGES INDORSE PLAN
Experts to Decide Disputes
OH Behalf Of Arbitra-
ton Society.
M'MILLIN is PRESIDENT
Lawyers and Merchants Join
to Provide Substitute for
Wasteful Suits.
M'MILLIN is PRESIDENT

Arbitration of every kind of civil
dispute except divorce cases is to be
undertaken at once by a unique tri-
bunal organized yesterday by judges.
lawyers and merchants at a luncheon
at the Lawyers Club.
The Arbitration Society of America,
as it is called, will aim first to cut
legal red tape and delays and court
congestion. 1t will provide fair and
speedy decisions on an economical
basis. It will be a legal but nom
technical court for litigants who agree
to abide by it's decisions.
Work to BE Self-Supporting.
The society is incorporated under the
membership law. which provides that
none of its officials or governors can
receive payment for their services. The
necessary expenses until 1t is self-sup-
| porting will come from donations OF
prominent men.
Headquarters for arbitration have
been established at 115 Broadway. Ulti-
mately the founders plan to have tho
society housed In single independent
building. In the meantime floors in the
new Bar Building in Forty-second street
may be obtained.
The society is operating under law
passed by the Legislature in 1920. which
gives legal status to arbitration and
invests the arbitrator with the power of
.
decision which is binding and cannot be
appealed unless the defeated llitigant ,an
show fraud and corruption or an obvious
abuse of power.
One of the aims OF the society will
be to have state Legislatures pass uni
form arbitration laws which will con-
form to the laws in New York and, with
slight notifications, in New Jersey. The
American Bar Association is to take up
this question at its annun. convention in
San francisco In August There also
has been prepared draft of bill to
be presented in Congress extending the
right Of arbitration to, Admiralty cases,
which now can only be tried In the Fed
eral courts.
Praised Highly by Judges.
Judge Julian w. Mack of the United
States Circuit Court. Justice Charles l..
Guy OF the Supreme Court, Judge Ed
win L. Garvin of the Federal Court and
others spoke in unstinted praise of the
efforts of the society, declaring, in ef-
feet. that it would be of the greatest
benefit to the courts to have some CO.
operative agency which would absorb
a great deal of the litigation now chok-
ing the calendars.
The founders believe that IL public
response is forthcoming the volume of
litigation will be reduced fully rs
per cent. The society already has a
list Of men in various trades and pro-
fessions who have volunteered to act as
arbitrators in cases arising In their own
lines The names of some of these are
to be announced in few days.
At yesterdays meeting Emerson Nc
Millin, president OF the American
Light and Traction Company. was
Prof. Samuel McCune Lindsay of
Columbia University and president
OF the New York Academy Of Po-
litical Science, and former Magistrate
Moses H. Grossman, vice-presidents.
The treasurer Is Jules S. Bache. the
executive secretary J. w. Slaght and
secretary ]. Noble Braden.
Has Broad Purposes.
The purposes of the society were
stated as
1. To conduct an international
campaign Of education in promotion
of the general cause Of arbitration in
all disputes and differences.
O. To organize and operate In New
York city and In other cities of this
country tribunals of arbitration for
the speedy, inexpensive and just de-
termipational of all disputes and con-
troversies.
3. To move for uniform arbitra-
tion law in all States of the Union,
and for the insertion of an arbitra-
ton clause in all trades and indus
trial contracts.
The society's arbitration hearings will
be held in secret, II the disputants so
desire. and the only records tbas Will
appear will be the notice of the case
and the award on the formal documents
of the court
The litigants will not be required to
be represented by lawyers, although
lawyers will be admitted to act a ad-
visers, but there will be a complete alb
sence OF the usual rigamarole a1J no
cross-examination of witnesses by oppos-
Ing lawyers A nominal fee wiil be
charged for the use of the rooms OF the
society, but there will be no charge for
the services OF the arbitrator unless he
demands u.
The large number OF volunteer arbi-
traitors who have offered their services
precludcs. for tho time being. II 70 un-
derstood. amy charge for this service.
In cases where special arbtrators are
Obtained and demand payment. tns fee
is 10 be provided under = special agree
mcnt between the lltlgants.
A campaign OF education to infnrm
the people Of their privileges undas the
arbitration law of 1920 Is TO be one OF
the principal endeavors OF the secretly.
The law virtually endows an arbitrator
with the powers OF a Judge. Special
Couttuued on Pare Flight