Evening star., 1923-02-24
W|CKERSHAM HEAD
OF LAW INSTITUTE
Election Also includes That
of EIihu Root to Be Hon.
orary President.
TAFT BANQUET SPEAKER
Chief Justice Urges Reforms in
Civil, Criminal and Substantive
Civil Departments.
TAFT BANQUET SPEAKER


president and George W. Wickersham
Of New York, formerly Attorney Gen
eral of the United States. was elected
president of the American Law Insti-
tute at meeting today of the coun
ell of the institute at Continental Me-
mortal Hall.
Other officers elected were Judge
Benjamin N. Cardozo of New York
city. vice president; William Draper
Lewis Of Philadelphia, secretary. and
George W. Murray Of New York
treasurer
An executive committee Of Ave was
TO be elected, and it was understood
that the president later was author
ized TO appoint committee of five
on ways and means
Establish Terms OF Onice.
Among the early business to be
taken up by the council, in addition
to election of officers, was the estab-
lishmeht of the terms of office of
the tWenty-one members of the coun-
ell. Lots were to be drawn whereby
one-thlrd of the membership were TO
serve Tor three years, one-third for
six years and third for nine
years. Following the expiration OF
the first terms all the members of
the council. which is to serve as a
board Of directors, will be elected for
nine years.
The method to be adopted In pursu-
ance OF the program Of the institute
was under discussion today at a meet
ing which continued later than ! O'Clock.
The purposes of the institute as out :
lined in the bylaws adopted yesterday
are: ITO promote the Qualification and
slmpllf1cation OF the law and Its better
adaptation to social needs, and to secure
the better administration of justice and
to encourage and carry on scholarly and
scientific legal work.
Tnft and Davis Speak.
The institute held its first ban
quet in the ballroom OF the Hotel
Willard last night. The gathering
was, in the opinion of John W.
United States to Great Britain. the
most distinguished he had ever ad-
dressed. Chief Justice Taft was toast
master. He spoke but briefly, then
introduced the other speakers.
The Chief Justice said there were
three great departments OF the law
which needed reform. One, he de-
the civil and the third the substantive
civil.
1t was the habit, he continued, 20
attack the courts because Of ineffi-
cient administration OF the criminal
law. This was unjust. he added. be-
cause one of the reasons for defects
in the administration Of that law was
the unwillingneSS of legislatures to
give to the judges the necessary pow
ers in the procedure of their courts
| to render justice to those who. come
before them.
The institute had, in his opinion
taken over to itself all that 1t could
well accomplish in a restatement OF
the substantive law and a reform OF
| the present complexities OF that law
Sees Necessity of Action.
Former Gov. Hadley reviewed the
work accomplished by the Justinian
and the Napoleonic Qualifications, and
said
IF we do NOT do something alone
the line we today have undertak en-
VIC will be lost in the jungle or con
dcting and confusing decisions"
Speaking for the American Bar As
sociation, Mr.. Davis pledged Its hear
ty cooperation in the work. No one
pr esent anticipated. he said. that the
work Of codification would be COM
mitted to Congress or che legisla-
lures, for it was not necessary that i,
should be given the rigid form OF
statutory enactment.
Organization OF the American Law
Institute, an association Of the fore.
most jurists and lawyers in the
United States, was completed at a
meeting in Continental Memorial Hal
yesterday afternoon ito promote the
Qualification and simplif1cation Of the
law, secure better administration OF
justice and carry on scholarly ano
scientific legal work"
Distinguished Attendance.
The justices of the United State.
Supreme Court. the chief justices OF
judges Of other high tribunals
throughout the country and the lead
ing barristers of every state in the
Union were present at the meeting
The committee found two chief de-
fects In American law-its uncertain
ty and its complexity. These, the re-
port said, cause useless litigation
prevent resort to the courts to en-.
force just rights, make 1t often i'm
possible to advise persons OF theil
rights, and when litigation Is actually
begun create delay and expense
when the law is doubtful" the re-
port continued, most persons are in.
clined to adopt the view most favor.
able to their own interests. The time
consumed by the courts in disposine
of cases is an obvious fact which all
persons may criticize. Perhaps, how.
ever, the most serious result of these
defects is that they create a lack OF
respect for the law.
Lack Of Respect for Law.
Lack of respect for the law in it.
self becomes a cause of anti-social
conduct; the rich are more apt to
use their wealth to oppress; the busi-
ness man Is more apt to cheat; those
in immediate want are more apt to
steal. In our opinion the most i'm
portant task that the bar can under
take is to reduce the amount of un-
certainty and complexity of the law
AS its first step toward reducing this
uncertainty and complexity the insti.
tute appointed a council Of twenty
one members, which will perfect its
organization. Immediately after that
is accomplished the institute will un-
dertake q complete and exhaustive re-
statement Of American law in such
clear and unmistakable language that
II is expected to become the prima
facie basis Of determining what the
laws are and mean.
J. A. SMITHS0N NAMED.
At meeting held last night by the
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