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Georgia Bar Association was largely occupied with the discussion of the imperative need of relief for our over-worked Supreme Court, a question whose importance has been emphasized by events occurring since the meeting. But a congested Supreme Court docket is not peculiar to Georgia. The lawyers are met with the same condition of affairs and the same necessity for relief in Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia. It is interesting to see how the Associations propose to remedy the evil. California and Michigan ask an intermediate court of appeals very similar to the one recommended by our special committee appointed at the last session. Arkansas and West Virginia desire an increase in the number of judges, a plan which this Association, after some years of effort, succeeded in getting our Legislature to adopt, and one which has proved exceedingly helpful. Arkansas also recommends two divisions of the court and a stenographer for each judge, which recommendation also follows Georgia's lead. Kentucky thinks by abbreviating the record and requiring it printed some relief may be secured. In Tennessee, where a court of chancery appeals was established some years ago which has relieved the Supreme Court of a great part of its burden, it is still thought advisable to limit the right of review to cases involving two hundred and fifty dollars or more, except in certain specified instances. Nebraska. has adopted the expedient of referring certain cases to Supreme Court Commissioners, but the Association is not satisfied and asks for a general revolutionizing of appellate procedure, including constitutional amendments relieving the Supreme Court. While several of the Associations are recommending the establishment of courts of appeals, Colorado is asking her Legislature for the consolidation of the court of appeals of that State with the Supreme Court. In Ohio there seems to be

some criticism of the Supreme Court, for the Chief Justice feels called upon to explain the methods of work of that court, especially since it has been sitting in divisions, a step made necessary in order to dispose of the accumulated business upon its docket.

While these Associations are endeavoring to lessen the labors of the Supreme Court Justices, others hope to ameliorate their condition by securing an increase in their salaries. This is the case in Arkansas, Indiana, Texas, North Dakota, and Utah. North Carolina, while she recommends neither a decrease in labor nor an increase in pay, still hopes to make a seat upon her Supreme Bench more desirable by increasing its dignity and so asks the Justices to array themselves in judicial robes.

But let us take another instance. Last year this Association began the consideration of what is known as the Torrens system of registering land titles, and one of the principal subjects to be discussed at this meeting is the report of the special committee on that subject. Again Georgia is not alone. The Virginia Association, after full consideration at several meetings, has succeeded in having incorporated into the new Constitution of that State a provision authorizing the establishment of a court of land registration, after the plan of the Massachusetts court, and the Association expects the Legislature to adopt at its next session the bill which it has had prepared establishing the court and putting into operation the Torrens system. In Colorado, the Association and the General Assembly are co-operating in making a thorough investigation of the system and its adaptability to conditions there. The paper by Hon. Edward T. Taylor, the chairman of the Legislative Committee, read to the Colorado Association, is the most comprehensive presentation of the subject that I have seen. The Texas bar also recommends that the lands of that vast empire be brought under the Torrens

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system. In North Dakota, after some discussion, it was decided to make no recommendation for the present, but to wait till some further questions be settled in the States where the system is already in operation. The Michigan Association by a close vote refused to give its approval to a bill prepared by its committee, though the opponents of the measure conceded that the Legislature would probably pass the bill or a similar one at its next session. A committee of the Pennsylvania Association, charged with the duty of investigating the subject, reported progress and asked for additional time. The Washington Bar is also investigating and some action will be taken at the approaching meeting.

This Association, it will be remembered, recommended last year, the passage of the "Negotiable Instruments Law." It is but natural that this splendid piece of legal work, giving in one clear and comprehensive statute all the law on the subject of negotiable paper, coming as it does from the Congress of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, and with the unqualified indorsement of the American Bar Association, should meet with the approval of the State Associations. Accordingly, we find that largely at the instance of the Associations, the "Act" has been adopted in nineteen States, one territory, and the District of Columbia, and that the Associations in the States in which it has not been adopted, are each year urging it upon the attention of the legislatures.

In nothing are the Associations more generally united than in their efforts to raise the standard for admission to the bar to make the law a learned profession, in fact, as well as in name. In almost every one of them during the past year this subject has received some attention. Of course the conditions vary very greatly in the different States. Indiana, for instance, having a constitutional provision requiring the admission to the bar of any person of good moral character, though he may

never have opened the covers of a law book, while several of the States require a rigid examination by a Board of Examiners, after three full years study of the law and a general education, equivalent to a high school course. We shall not stop to inquire into the details of the legislation on this subject proposed by the different Associations, nor the fate of the measures so recommended; suffice it to say, that they have all been in the direction of higher standards and that the legislatures have generally followed the lead of the Associations. If the present very gratifying progress continues it will not be many years before those who are called to the bar, in most of the States at least, will be those only who have seriously chosen the law as a life work, and they will have sufficient preparation to entitle them to the respect and confidence of prospective clients. In Michigan, Missouri, and Tennessee, as well as in our own Association, the particular recommendation on this general subject last year was that the privilege of admitting their graduates to the bar be taken from the law schools. Tennessee has been urging this measure since 1888, and by the active aid of Vanderbilt University succeeded in getting the Legislature to pass it at the last session.

The Bar Associations stand not only for proper educational qualifications for those who seek admission to the profession, but for honor, uprightness, and ethical conduct on the part of those who have already been admitted to its ranks. Nearly all of the Associations have standing committees on grievances and legal ethics, whose duties are to call attention to such practices as affect the honor and integrity of the bar and to bring to justice recalcitrant members. During the past year Maryland, West Virginia and Wisconsin were added to the list of Aissociations promulgating Codes of Ethics for the guidance and government of the members of the bar of those States.

Kentucky has also framed a Code, the consideration of which is made the special order for the next session. Michigan determines to take active steps towards the disbarment of unworthy attorneys. Colorado sustains its reputation as a prosecutor, reporting two attorneys disbarred at its instance since the last meeting, and ten cases still pending. In several other Associations we have reports, addresses, and papers condemning in unmeasured terms every slightest departure from the paths of professional rectitude and holding up the highest and purest type of life and conduct.

Time would fail to discuss or even enumerate the varied matters of local interest and importance upon which action was taken by the several Associations. No State problem has been so great as to deter nor any defect so minute as to escape the attention of these patriotic members of a noble profession, whose sole aim has been, to advance the science of jurisprudence, promote the administration of justice, and uphold the honor of the bar, of their respective States.

Not only are the Bar Associations thus endeavoring to shape the legislation and perfect the judicial systems of the States in which they are located, but there is also being created through them in the addresses, monographs, papers, and reports a literature of considerable proportions and of great value, very creditable to the associated effort of the bar producing it. This. literature embraces a great variety of subjects touching almost every phase of professional thought. In the reports for last year we find great governmental and economic questions discussed as "What shall we do with our Dependencies?" by Moorfield Storey of Boston; "The Writ of Injunction as a Governmental Agency," by John N. Jewett of Chicago, a splendid defence of the use of this extraordinary power of the courts of equity in strikes and labor disturbances. We have studies in

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