Lapas attēli
PDF
ePub

the proper committees in Congress, and at each hearing membens of our committee attended. The bills are still pending before the committees of the two houses, and they will require further attention and further diligence to secure their passage. We find ourselves confronted with a bill drawn by a lawyer upon his own responsibility, but which, nevertheless, was entitled to consideration, and the consideration of which impedes the progress of the Association's bill.

I desire to offer this resolution:

Resolved, That the action of the committee in reference to the bills which were directed to be laid before Congress by the Committee on Patent, Trade-Mark and Copyright Law be so far approved and the committee directed to continue its efforts to secure the passage of the bills.

The resolution was seconded and adopted.

Robert S. Taylor:

There were two or three other matters referred to the committee last year upon which it has taken no action, and I ask that as to those time be given the committee.

The President:

If there is no objection, it will be so ordered.

Is there a report from the Committee on Federal Courts? Charles F. Libby, of Maine:

In the absence of the Chairman of the committee I beg to state that the situation is much the same as at the time of our last report. The bill which has received the approval of this Association has been presented to Congress. There has also been presented another bill which differs somewhat from the bill presented by our committee. We hope to have our bill reported by the Judiciary Committee, but time is necessary to work out that result, and I move that the committee be continued with the same powers as heretofore.

The motion was seconded and adopted.

The President:

The Committee on Federal Code of Criminal Procedure, of which Mr. Tucker is Chairman.

George M. Forster, of Washington:

I was formerly a member of that committee. The committee has not been able to accomplish anything, and I move that it be dropped from the list of special committees.

Charles F. Manderson, of Nebraska :

That is a special committee and can be dropped, and I therefore second the gentleman's motion.

The motion was adopted.

The President:

The Committee on Industrial Property and International Negotiation.

Paul Bakewell, of Missouri :

The Chairman of that committee died during the past summer, and the preparation of a report was in his hands. Therefore there is no report from that committee, and we ask for further time.

The President:

If there is no objection, time will be granted and the committee continued.

Is there any report from the Committee on Title to Real Estate?

Ferdinand Shack, of New York:

No, sir; and I ask that the committee be continued.

The President:

Unless there is objection, the committee is continued.

Next and last is the Committee on Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

Jacob Klein, of Missouri:

This committee, which has had charge, so far as this Association is concerned, of working out the details for the Universal Congress of Lawyers and Jurists, has completed its work. I have not been able to confer with all the members of the committee on account of the multiplicity of duties which have devolved upon those who are here, and I will ask that the

Secretary of the Association read the report which I have handed to him.

The report was read by the Secretary.

(See the Report in the Appendix.)

A Member:

I move the adoption of the report with the thanks of the Association.

The motion was seconded and adopted.

Thomas J. Kernan, of Louisiana :

I desire to offer the following resolution and move its adoption :

Resolved, That this Association expresses its deep appreciation and tenders its sincere thanks to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, the Missouri Bar Association, the St. Louis Bar Association, the Board of Lady Managers of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and to the people of St. Louis for the genial welcome and cordial hospitality extended to it and its members during this session of 1904.

Frank M. Higgins, of Maine:

I second the resolution and ask that it be put to a rising

vote.

The resolution was adopted by a rising vote.

The President:

Is there anything under the head of miscellaneous business? Ralph W. Breckenridge, of Nebraska :

I rise to make a report from the committee to whom was referred the resolution to amend the Constitution so as to create a standing committee on Insurance Law, and to move its adoption.

The report was read by Mr. Breckenridge, as follows:

Your committee, to whom was referred the resolution to amend the Constitution so as to create a standing committee on Insurance Law, begs to report:

No business touches, directly and indirectly, more people and so many interests as the insurance business. Insurance con

tracts are issued every day that furnish indemnity against loss from the perils of the sea, from fire, water, wind, death, sickness, accidental injury, negligence, boiler explosions, broken windows, bad debts, burglars, thieves and dishonest employees. This is not a complete list of the subjects of insurance, and the list is growing. The American people paid in 1903 for insurance the startling sum of $1,000,000,000. For that vast treasure they had in force on January 1, 1904, $50,000,000,000 of insurance of all kinds. They were paid by the insurance companies for losses during the year 1903 approximately $750,000,000. The actual assets of the companies engaged in this stupendous business approximates $3,000,000,000. All will admit that without the substantial collateral afforded by insurance the complex structure of modern business enterprise would crumble and fall.

But the mutual rights of the assured and of the companies have not up to this time been understood by the general public or by the Bar as a whole, nor have these mutual rights and obligations of insurer and insured invariably been intelligently or fairly administered in court. Our great universities are instituting courses on insurance and the law schools now make the law of insurance a separate topic in their courses of study. The problem of the nationalization of insurance companies and how to accomplish it is a live one and will not be settled by one decision. The adoption of a uniform fire policy and the things that ought to be embodied in it are matters that have had consideration to some extent from that muchburdened Committee on Uniform State Laws. These facts show the magnitude and importance of the subject and furnish most excellent reasons for the creation of a standing committee of this Association through whose efforts, acting so far as may be practicable with the Committee on Uniform State Laws, steps may be taken to secure needed reforms bearing directly on this vital factor of our commerce and social organization. Your Committee therefore recommends the adoption of the resolution by which the proposed standing committee is established.

Respectfully submitted,

RALPH W. BRECKENRIDGE,
RODNEY A. MERCUR,

GEO. WHITELOCK,

Committee.

Theodore P. Davis, of Indiana:

I second the adoption of the report.

The report and the resolution amending the Constitution were adopted.

The Secretary:

I have a report from the Executive Committee. There was referred to that committee at the first session of this meeting a resolution offered by Mr. Spoonts, of Texas, for the purpose of providing a method by which members who had been dropped for non-payment of dues might be reinstated. The Executive Committee yesterday considered the matter, and they report the resolution in a little different form, but accomplishing substantially the same result:

Resolved, That the second paragraph in the thirteenth section of the by-laws be amended as follows: By striking out the words "all back dues" and inserting the words "such back dues as the committee shall think equitable.'

M. A. Spoonts, of Texas:

I move the adoption of the report of the Executive Committee and the amendment of the by-laws in accordance with it. The motion adopting the report and amending the by-laws was adopted.

Adolph Sloman, of Michigan:

Mr. President, I offer the following amendment to the bylaws:

"There shall be appointed annually a committee to be known as the Reception Committee, consisting of fifteen members of the Association, whose duty it shall be to attend immediately before and at the opening of the first day's session of the meeting to receive members and delegates and introduce them to each other, with a view of making them better acquainted and establishing a spirit of good fellowship among them."

I have attended several meetings of the Association and have invariably noticed the lack of facilities provided for getting the members better acquainted with each other, and it

« iepriekšējāTurpināt »