Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-13
Bar Association Told
Of $4,000 Pledged
To Finance BuiIdinq
Noel Makes Report as
Lawyers Defer Vote on
Open Library Issue

Already having pledged $4,000 as
starter, members of the District
Bar Association today considered
the possibility of having building
of their own, wherein would be
housed the cramped library at pres
ent maintained at District Court.
Such a proposal was advanced as
the lawyers last night again failed to
take a stand on the question of ex-
tending the facilities of their library
to non-members. For the second
meeting in row the association de-
cllned to vote on recommendation
that accredited attorneys ineligible
for membership in the association
be allowed to use the library at the
courthouse upon payment of annual
dues for that purpose.
Action on the issue was delayed
until December II. At its October
meeting the association tabled the
matter amid accusations that OPEN
ing the library to members,
which would include colored. lawyers,
was political football"
Noel Brings Up Alternative.
Opposition to the proposal to make
the associations books available to
outsiders was led last night by F..
Regis Noel, who stated bluntly that
some of the membership wanted to
dodge the question permanently.
AS an alternative, Mr. Noel re-
vealed that he personally had sound
ed out lawyers on the idea of
independent quarters for the bar
association, perhaps in the shape
of remodeled building not too dis
tant from Judiciary Square.
Mr. Noel said that in casual con-
versations with members he had
tentatively lined up subscribers
willing to put up $4,000 for the
project The subscriptions reeled
off by him ranged from 500 to
top of $1,000 The names of some
of the subscribers and the sums
promised brought whistles of aston
ishment from the audience.
Judging from the reaction, how
ever, the lawyers seemed to favor
the scheme.
Mr. Noels fight to set aside the
library question was backed by
Henry I. Quinn, who suggested that
the association wait until the new
proposal had been subjected to study.
Darr Questions Upkeep.
Seton Darr, challenging that the
association could meet the upkeep
of a building with its individual
dues of s12 a year, sustained the
point that the organization cur
rently is lust able to make ends
meet"
Milton King. on Mr.. Noel's list for
a substantial gift for the proposed
building, said he nevertheless ia
vored a vote on the library recon-
mendation. Even if the association
had its own quarters, Mr.. King said
he would want the library open to
non-members.
Earlier the association heard a
report by Edmund D. Campbell.
whose committee recommended that
a manual of standardized jury in
structions be drafted and pub
lished for the guidance of District
lawyers. The association was SYM
pathetic to this proposal, and a
group of three lawyers, collaborat-
ing with local jurists, will prepare
the manual.
10 Morgan announced that the
associations annual banquet will be
held December 10 at the Mayfiower
Hotel, which was the scene OF last
nights meeting. The Cuban Ambas-
sador and the president of the
American Bar Association will be
the speakers.
Guests at the meeting included
Ewing L. Davis, chairman OF the
Federal Trade Commission, and
Robert E. Freer, member OF the
commission, who outlined methods
of procedure before his agency.