Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-07-04

AMARILLO, July 4.@Hp-IhCr-
ough understanding of the conSti-
tuition of the United States, the
bulwark Of liberty OF the wealthiest
and most powerful Of nations,
, should be brought home to every
child and adult in the country, w.
M. Crook of Beaumont, president
of the Texas Bar association, said
in an address here today.
Delivering his annual message
before a joint meeting of the Texas
and New Mexico Bar associations,
in yearly session, MI. Crook said the
emphasis recently placed, through
publicity mediums, upon this ques-
ton as a means of attaining better
citizenship had convinced the
American people of it's Importance.
The Texas body, he declared, should
provide for a standing committee
to arouse interest in and devise
means for the study of the consti-
tuition.
The association also should exert
a helpful influence in the selection
of judges, the speaker continued. A
special committee on judicial Sc
lection to consider methods and
means to this end should be ap-
pointed and instructed to report at
the next meeting.
MI. Crook urged, also, that a
special committee on aviation law
be provided. Lawyers, he said, are
being called upon to consider prop
erty rights growing out of new avs
la>=rrI4T11 frnv1 olr tr0 nCNnTf 0f1nn
radio communication and other re-
cent inventions. Aviation presents
q complex of new relations and,
while still in its infancy, promises
soon to rival in industrial impor-
lance the railroad and the automo-
bile the president said.
Control Of Share
'"To what extent will the airplane
deprive me of my traditional ex-
elusive control of space above my
land?" Mr.. Crook asked.
"A ~carelessly operated mechan-
Ism miles away may deprive one OF
the use Of thousands Of dollars OF
radio equipment and yet the OBJ
jectionable mechanism be operated
within present legal rights. Can
the police powers Of the government
be extended to regulate the kind
of radio we can purchase and the
sort Of mechanical devices we can
operate? Can the government con-
stitutionally dictate to us what we
can transmit or receive by means
of wireless vibrations? If so, with
what limitations?"
1T is with a sense OF satisfac-
ton" the speaker said, that III
association reflects upon its further
initiative in bring about legislation
in this state resulting in the estab-
lishment of a civil judicial council
with the duty to make a continuous
study of the organization, procedure
and practice Of the courts and to
report from time to time to the
governor or legislature upon the
work of the various branches OF n
judicial system, with recommenda-
ton for their Improvement. This
action. while following a number OF
the other states, has placed Texas
In an advanced position in the
matter of improving its jurispru-
dence. ....
"The existing upward tendency IN
the standards Of education OF law
yers among the states, as a pre-
requisite to admission to the bar
reminds us that Texas must be
watchful lest it become the dump
ing ground and its people the prey
and victims Of unqualified lawyers.
An incompetent lawyer patronized
affords opportunity for great eco
nomic loss. The competition for a
livelihood which c%onfronts the I'M
skilled advocate or counsellor is a
standing temptation for him to step
without the bounds of the profess
sion's standard of ethics.
Salaries Problem
1.-The subject of judicial salaries
must be one of continuous solicita-
ton on the part Of our member
ship. Without adequate compen-
sation the state cannot secure nee
essary talent. When we are phys
ically i'll we insist upon the best
doctors who charge us according to
their skill and prestige. We should
exercise equal caution In dealing
with those who have in their care
matters involving our regulations,
lives, liberties and property inter
ests. A study of the report of the
committees Of the American Bar
association on judicial salaries re-
fleets that our state is not taking
are Of its best interests in this re-
spect. .
"Since our last meeting the coun-
try has been confronted with the
startling realization that there ex-
fists in the larger cities a well or
PaniZnd hand If 1aM uin1atnrc conn