Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-08

tCOntlnueQ FROM F1rSC RAGE
while men dispute in Legislatures and
public meetings and In the press, over
the most sound and sane methods OF
dealing with crime.
Real Advance VisiOned.
at believe our model code provides for
real advance in criminal procedure
and for the removal of many abuses"
he said in referring to the work accom-
pliShed by the institute in seven years
study and restatement of the law. He
declared it to be distinct contribution
10 the improvement of law enforcement"
as we'll as to the improvement Of
criminal law enforcement.
Both Chief Justice Hughes and Mr..
Wickersham expressed the opinion that
1t is improbable that the model code
shall be enacted as a whole in even a
majority of the States, but rather as
a useful model.
It's proposed simplification Of pro-
cedure, Mr.. WickerSham suggested, and
The invitation 1t extends to remove much
of the unpopular reproach of the adj
ministration of criminal law. may
educate public opinion and furnish
Legislatures with material for use in
removing some, at least, OF the abuses
or deficiencies"
Mr.. Wickersham declared that the
wisdom of promoting the code has met
with criticism from "a certain school
of reformerS" who maintain there
should be no remodeling of existing law
until the public is ready to consider
the whole subject of crime and its
punishment from q totally different
viewpoint than now prevailing"
But, he added, II am unwilling to
accept the doctrine that all improve
ment in criminal procedure should
await the birth OF an entirely new ap-
proach to the problem of crime.
THE realities of every day life press
in upon us, importunate and instant"
he warned. I'VE cannot await the mil
lenium to deal with the actualities of
every day."
Mr.. Wickersham reminded that Presi-
dent Hoover had referred to the fact
that law enforcement mechanism lis
in need OF vigorous reorganization; that
its procedure unduly favors the crimi-
nal; that our judiciary needs to be
strengthened; that the methods of as
sembling our juries needs revision; that
justice must be made more swift and
sure"
The task that confronts the institute
Is more modest. he said, than that in
trusted to the Law Enforcement Com
mission.
Much Of the blame for the unsatis-
factory condition of our law and judicial
procedure Is visited upon the bar. Mr..
WtckerSham added. 1T is true that the
bar, as an organized entity in the United
States today is somewhat mythical
quantity" 1T is equally true" he said,
that leadership In public matters no
longer is in the hands of lawyers only"
which he claimed Is result of progress
in world of science.
Chief Justice Hughes, who spoke in
formally, paid a tribute to the late
Chief Justice Taft and in carrying out
the custom of the latter in yearly ad-
dressing the institute. reported on the
work OF the Supreme Court.
Good Showing Promised.
Despite the loss of two members dur
ing the term, he said the work has gone
forward as rapidly as cases can be ade-
quately prepared. I'VE will make as
good showing as last year." the Chief
Justice said.
BY the end of the present term, he
said, the court will have disposed of
800 cases, and there will remain about
lao undispo6ed on the calendar. About
40 OF these, he said, will be applica-
tions for writs of error not yet made to
the court.
Chief Justice Hughes said he regarded
the gathering Of the institute as "a
roundup Of the intelligent discontent~
ed, but in commencing the progress
that has been made in restating the
law, he sand, you have proved it Is
not a fanciful task"
Activities of the institute during the
past year were reviewed by William
Draper Lewis, its director, in a report
submitted at the opening session. In
another report, Herbert r. Goodrich,
adviser to the institute on public and
professional relations, outlined the work
that State bar associations and other
agencies will have in working for GRIM
inal codes similar to the model prepared
by the institute. Discussed in terms
of an experiment two years ago." he
said, "the cooperative effort has now
definitely become fundamentally i'm
portant part Of our great project for
the improvement of the law"
With various sections of the code
under discussion this afternoon and
during the three days of the annual
session, the lawyers prepared to visit
the White House at 4:S0 o'clock this
afternoon, where President and Mrs.
Hoover will tender them a reception.
The sessions concluded with the an
nual banquet Saturday evening, at
which former Senator George Wharton
Pepper of Pennsylvania, Henry Upson
Sims, president pr the American Bar
Association, and kustice Royal A. Stone
Of the supren& Court WIN be the
speakers.