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PROCEEDINGS.

the Committee, but they varied the form to some extent and added that the Committee have no grievances of their own.

In Virginia and in West Virginia much attention has been given to the Torrens system of land titles.

In Texas the unanimity of the verdict has been the subject of much discussion, and in many states-I do not recall which ones they are there has been a serious attempt to solve the problem occasioned by the fact that among twelve men in a long trial, illness and death are possibly apt to occur, and that some provision should be made to avoid the serious effects of a mis-trial in such cases, either by providing that the remaining jurors may find a verdict, and in some a feeling that the magical number twelve must not be disturbed has been so strong that they have a sort of extra jury box, two or three jurors who are substitutes, who listen to the evidence and argument, and yet who do not retire to consider the verdict unless on occasions of disqualification of one of the original twelve.

Ohio and Kentucky have been discussing taxation and regulation of corporations.

New York devoted perhaps most of its last meeting to the consideration of the electrical system of the state.

New York, Washington and Pennsylvania are very seriously discussing the desirability of uniform laws on the subject of divorce, and in Washington there was cited the case of a man from Illinois whose wife was insane, who went out to Washington to get a divorce because he could get one there for that reason, and could not here. I have a printed report from Pennsylvania in which the Committee on Uniform Laws have been seriously discussing the question of migratory parties who want divorces, and suggesting action by all the states, and I shall be pleased to submit that to any gentleman who is interested in the subject.

In Colorado the Association of the State has been called upon by the Supreme Court in several instances to inaugurate investigations of the actions of attorneys that amounted, per

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haps, supposedly so at least, to libels on the Court, and to advise the Court as to whether the cases were such that the Court itself ought to take action.

During the year death has been unusually active among our members, particularly among the older ones: Mr. Pence, Judge Tuley, Mr. Hurd, Mr. Moses, Mr. Thomas, all prominent at times in the history of this Association, have been called away, and even as I speak, Samuel P. Wheeler, one of the noblest of the Old Guard, and a former President of the Association, lies stricken with serious disease, and the result is indeed doubtful.

PRESIDENT PAGE: At this time it is in order to appoint a committee to audit the accounts of the Treasurer. What is your pleasure, gentlemen?

MR. STEVENS: I move the Chairman appoint the usual committee, consisting of the usual number.

The motion was seconded and carried.

MR. STEVENS: Appoint somebody who knows an account when he sees it. Do not put me on simply because I made the motion.

PRESIDENT PAGE: I think that is one of the penalties that goes with making the motion.

MR. STEVENS: Well

PRESIDENT PAGE: I will appoint Mr. Stevens, of Peoria; Mr. Poppenhusen, of Chicago, and Mr. Taylor, of Taylorville, a committee to audit the accounts of the Treasurer.

MR. HUNTER: I move that the Chair appoint a Committee on Nominations.

The motion was seconded and carried.

PRESIDENT PAGE: I will appoint that committee after the next number. The report of the Committee on Law Reform,Judge Wright.

Report presented as follows:

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To the Illinois State Bar Association:

At the request of the Executive Committee, we have devoted considerable time to what is known as House Bill No. 31, introduced last year in the House of Representatives by Mr. Pendarvis.

About two weeks before our committee met, a copy of the bill was furnished each member, and his attention was directed to the able discussion of it, as published in the proceedings of this Association

for 1905.

At the meeting all the members but one appeared and a session was held lasting from 1:30 to 6 p. m., during which time the Pendarvis Bill was considered section by section and your committee unanimously recommends the adoption of the bill as printed with the following changes.

Sec. 6. Omit the words "unless they appear and defend the action, nor then if the action is dismissed as to the defendant or defendants resident in the county," following the word "county" in the 9th line.

Substitute the word "residing" for the word "resident" in the 8th line; the word "defendants" for the word "defendant" in the 6th line; the word "directed" for the word "directly" in the 5th line, and the word "actions" for the word "action" in the 11th line.

Sec. 17. Insert the words "or the clerk" after the word "judge" in the 4th line and the words "including plaintiff's attorneys fees" after the word "litigation" in the 11th line.

Sec. 58. Strike out the words "or in equity" after the word "law" in the 1st line.

Omit Sections 60 and 66.

Sec. 74. Insert the word "suit" after the word "such" in line 13. Sec. 77. Add the words "No person or persons, firm or corporation, who dismisses his or their suit or action either at law or in equity or suffers a nonsuit shall be permitted again to commence such suit or action in any court without first paying all of the costs accrued in such suit or action up to and including such dismissal or non-suit."

Sec. 81. Strike out the words in italics.

Sec. 103. Add the words "Nor shall any such attorney become surety on any bond or recognizance of any sheriff, clerk of court, masterin-chancery, justice of the peace or constable."

Sec. 107. Substitute the words "Thirty (30)" for the words "Twenty (20)" in line 4 and omit after the word "taken" in line 7 the words "but if ten days and not twenty shall have intervened as aforesaid, then the record shall be filed as aforesaid, on or before the tenth (10th) day of any such day of said succeeding term."

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For Sections 125 and 128 substitute Sections 88 and 90 of the present Practice Act.

Sec. 127. Omit the proviso printed in italics.

It is believed that with these changes the bill is reasonably free from objectionable provisions and contains much that will facilitate the administration of justice. And. if this Association can secure its passage, or assist in that result, it will have aided a reform of no small importance.

In addition to the foregoing we favor the adoption of a law that will authorize a person injured or any one interested in such person or representing him to inspect the premises and examine into the cause of the injury as soon as the injury is inflicted.

We also favor the re-enactment of the act giving Probate and County Courts supervision of testamentary trusts. It was passed last year but failed because it was not signed by the presiding officer of the Senate.

We are agreed that the inheritance tax law might be amended to advantage but have not gone into it in detail for want of time. Mr. P. V. Castle of the Committee, whose experience as inheritance tax attorney for Cook County has given him especial opportunity to discover wherein it is weak, has furnished to the committee some suggestions which we commend to you for future consideration.

We purposely refrain from extending this report to embrace other subjects, believing that the surest way to get results is for this Association to determine definitely what it most desires to see accomplished and then concentrate its efforts upon that subject until its desire ends in fruition.

GEO. D. BURROUGHS,

Secretary.

WM. B. WRIGHT,

Chairman.

PRESIDENT PAGE: What will you do with this report, Gen

tlemen?

MR. MUSGRAVE: I move it be accepted and placed on file.
The motion was seconded and carried.

PRESIDENT PAGE: The next number on the program will be an address by Judge William R. Curran, of Pekin, "The Lure of Graft and the Mettle of its Cure."

(The address will be found in Part II.)

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MR. BROWN: I move we adjourn until two o'clock.

PRESIDENT PAGE: Before putting that motion, if you will permit me, I will appoint the Committee on Nominations: Mr. Hunter of Kankakee, Mr. Riggs of Winchester, Judge Harker of Carbondale, Judge Holdom and Mr. Pindell of Chicago.

MR. ADKINSON: Before the motion to adjourn is put, I move a vote of thanks of the Association be tendered to Brother Curran for his address, and that a copy be requested for publication in the minutes.

The motion was seconded and carried.

PRESIDENT PAGE: On account of the insinuation of Mr. Curran at the opening of his remarks, I very gladly put this motion, because I do not think he could have gotten the foundation for his high and lofty ideas anywhere else except in Peoria. (Laughter and applause.)

Whereupon a recess was taken until two o'clock p. m.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The Association reconvened at two o'clock p. m. PRESIDENT PAGE: I would like to ask if the Committee on Judicial Administration is ready to report.

MR. WILLARD: I have telegraphed the Chairman of the Committee and will have an answer tomorrow morning.

PRESIDENT PAGE: Is Judge Harker here? Is the report on Legal Education ready?

JUDGE HARKER: Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT PAGE: We will have that.

JUDGE HARKER: Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Association: When I was notified and placed upon this Committee as Chairman, I was told that of all the Committees connected with this Association that were able to secure an attendance, the Committee on Legal Education was the one. I thought I had devised a scheme by which I could secure attend

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