Evening star., 1934-01-17
DEMANDS APOLOGY
F0R|CKES' REMARK
AGAINST LAWYERS
F. R. Noel, New Head of Bar,
Insists on Statement
in Address.
DEROGATORY EXPRESSION
BY HOPKINS ALSO IS HIT
Poor Conditions Among Attorneys
of District Are Attributed to
"Grossest Negligence"

ton heads, demand" apologies, F
Regis Noel declared last night in an ad
dress following his election as presiden
of the District Bar Association at {
meeting in the Mayflower Hotel
The new head Of the local bar singled
out quoted statements by Secretary o
Interior Ickes and Relief Administrato
Hopkins and also hit at the attitud,
toward private attorneys expressed b,
Treasury Secretary Morgenthau, Johr
H. Fahey. president Of the Home Own
ers' Loan Corporation. and the Ma
tional Recovery Administration.
"Of course, II shysters. politicians IL
the guise of lawyers and downright
lobbyists" he said, ARE annoying pub
lie officials by methods approaching
bribery, even the Bar Association woulG
join in an outraged cry to throw then
out. But these statements, as put il
currency through the press, make NJ
exception between high-class and ethi
cal lawyers and so-called lawyers. W.
contend that if free, American citi
zen desires to employ an attorney o
proper standing as his representative
and If the attorney conducts himsel
properly and ethically, any objection
warranted invasion Of the rights 0
both client and attorney"
Urges Association Change.
He told the lawyers that amy gen
eral statements rejecting on lawyer
as a class, broadcast through the press
demands, in the spirit of American
fair play an apology. retraction ant
explanation by the author through tn
same vehicle of public information"
Mr.. Noel also advocated alteration il
the organization of the Bar Associa
ton, libera lization of domestic relation
and corporation statutes in the District
change in the disbarment procedure
and the elevation of lawyers to a posi-
tion of greater dignity in the com
munity and in the judicial system.
A statement said to have been mad
by Secretary Ickes, to which Mr. Noe
objected was quoted by him as follows
The easiest money in Washington il
being collected by lawyers, agents
lobbyists and politicians of supposed
influence with the P. w. A. ant
in spite of warnings sent out they ar,
able. I am informed. to collect large
sums of money in the way of 'rets liner.
and fees. Money paid to such person!
is money thrown away. The fact is, i
it is known here that people are beine
employed to advance projects, we are
likely to look with suspicion upon such
projects"
L. S. Hires Specialists.
Hopkins was quoted by the speaker
as saying: We have no need fol
lawyers around here. I cannot under.
stand why any business man would pa,
lawyer to help with a bid. Lawyer.
aren't needed around this office for an
purpose whatsoever"
Mr. Noel said that while the Fedora
Government assumes this attitude to
ward private attorneys, it employs it
own legal specialists to represent its owl
interests.
Bad conditions among lawyers her
are due in large measure, Mr.. Noel de
clared. to "grossest negligence" by mem
bers of the bar. This neglect has beel
manifested in allowing overcrowding o
the profession by "lInprepared. unquali
fed and unethical individuals" he saio
and by permitting the proper and we
defined field Of the practice of law to b
invaded by laymen and corporations.
He also called attention to a propose
act to merge the Court Of Claims wit
other Federal tribunals, which woul,
limit attorneys fees to per cent o
the claim. This, the speaker declared
would bar good lawyers from takin
such cases, and would react to tn
detriment both of the public and tn
legal profession.
Hits Divorce Situation.
Domestic relations and corporation
statutes we're called "antiquated" an
were said to be driving hundreds Q
thousands of dollars in fees to othe
jurisdictions annually. The situatio
here regarding divorce was terme
immoral, unjust and intolerable to th
public" Corporations operating local.,
Mr.. Noel asserted. should be subject t
control by the local courts.
He also urged establishment Of
daily publication reporting court deci
sions.
Mr.. Noel. who holds degree of doc
tor of philosophy. was post-graduat
student of oxford University In Eng
land and has held many prominent post
in legal, education and civic organiza
tions.
Arthur p Drury was elected first vic
president; Richmond B. Keech, secon
vice president; Walter M. Bastian re
elected treasurer, and George c. Cert
man reelected secretary New mem
berS of the board of directors chosel
were George E. .McNeill, Francis P. Hill
jr., and Chester G. Caywood.