Evening star., 1937-12-15
BAR STANDARDS
ISSUE SHELVED
Association Tables Stricter
Entry Requirements in
Short Debate.

Faced with the militant opposition
Of the faculty and alumni OF several
local law schools, the District Bar
Association last night declined to
recommend that two years of pre-
legal college work be required for ad-
mission to the bar.
A motion that the association urge
adoption Of the more exacting stand
ard was tabled after only five minutes
discussion, although ears Of a lengthy
and heated wrangle had caused an
hour limit to be placed on the debate.
Within a half hour, however, the
entire matter had been temporarily
disposed of, with the president, Henry
I. Quinn, authorized to appoint
committee to continue study Of the
subject. 1t was specified that no law
school faculty member would be ell
gible to serve on the committee.
Committee Dissolved.
The committee which heretofore
has had the matter In charge was dis
solved. Opponents Of the two-year
pre-legal requirement pointed out that
the life Of the new committee auto
matically will expire January 16 with
the election Of q new president of the
association, and hence there IS little
time left for thorough investigation.
Although reporting that the Stand
ards OF Legal Education Committee, of
which he was chairman, voted 4 to
3 against the proposition, James j.
Hayden moved that the association
recommend adoption of the two-year
requirement. His motion was tabled
on motion Of William j. Neale.
John R. Fitzpatrick, dean of the
Columbus University Law School, sug-
gested that the various law schools be
represented equally, through their
alumni, on the new committee, but
this plan was voted down, as was a
suggestion that the question be sub
mitted to . referendum.
Among the leaders Of the fight
against the stricter standard was
Conrad Syme, veteran professor and
former corporation counsel Of the
District.
Representatives of most of the
city's law schools were present and
most of those connected with schools
whose entrance requirements do not
include college work formed an ag-
gressiye bloc.
Indorsing in principle a public de-
fender system for Washington, the
association voted disapproval of q
bill now pending in Congress pro-
viding for the appointment of such an
official
This action was taken after a report
by Frederick 4. Ballard, chairman of
a special committee Of the junior bar
which had studied the proposal Mr..
Ballard said his group had come to
the conclusion that both the bill and
the present system of assigning private
attorneys to defend INDECENT defendants
were inadequate.
The matter was referred back to his
committee and the group directed to
prepare q substitute bill.
Report Refused.
The association refused to accent
q report Of its Legislative Committee.
headed by E. Barrett Prettyman, dis
approving the Senate bill for advisory
referenda in the District and referred
the measure back to the committee for
further study.
The association was told the COM
mittee disapproved the bill because
it limited the voting privilege to per-
sons without voting privileges else
where. The measure would permit the
District Commissioners to refer such
matters as they considered proper to
the citizens Of the District for ad-
visory referenda.
H. Winship Wheatley, former presi-
dent ct the association, spoke vigor.
ously In favor Of the bill, saying the
right to express an opinion on public
matters was "of the very essence Of
American citizenship"
Disappearing . pending small loan
bill for various technical reasons, the
association directed its Legislative
Committee to draft other legislative
to control the small loan business In
the District, covering particularly
"procurers of loans"
A House bill which would give the
District Court Jurisdiction to review
decisions by the Alcohol Beverage
Control Board was opposed by the
lawyers.
A report Of the Legislative Com
mittee that 10 action be taken con-
cerning the so-called "abattoir bill''
was accepted. Mr.. Prettyman stated
his committee thought the measure
involved no question Of law, but solely
one Of policy.
The meeting WAS held In the May
flower Hotsl A