REPORT

OF THE

SECRETARY.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, August 18, 1886

This Association during the past year has been composed of seven hundred and two members. A recapitulation by states will be found on page 145 of last year's report.

Several matters were at the last meeting referred. These will be found on page 471. They are as follows:

Resolutions reported by the Committee on Jurisprudence and Law Reform reltaing to commissions on legislation. Referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence and Law Reform.

Resolution of D. H. Chamberlain, of New York, relating to the question whether the whipping post or other similar modes of punishment are legitimate forms or instruments for the punishment of crime. Referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence and Law Reform.

Resolution of E. F. Bullard, of New York, relating to the subject of general codification. Referred to the Special Committee on the Delay and Uncertainty of Judicial Administra

tion.

Resolution of D. K. Tenney, of Wisconsin, relating to the question "Whether the rule of law which deprives the simple contract creditor of an insolvent debtor of all equitable relief against the frauds of the debtor until the claim has first been reduced to judgment, is now a senseless relic of antiquity which ought to be abolished by legislation." Referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence and Law Reform.

Resolution of Rufus King, of Ohio, relating to the subject of the relief of the Supreme Court of the United States. Referred to a special committee, with instructions to present the two reports (that of the Committee on Judicial Administration and Remedial Procedure and that of the Special Committee itself) to both branches of Congress.

Resolution of James O. Pierce, of Tennessee, relating to the subject of indeterminate sentences of convicted criminals. Referred to the Committee on Judicial Administration and Remedial Procedure.

Resolution of R. B. Roberts, of Illinois, relating to the subject of a form of procedure and acts for the consideration of the legislature of the several states, which will promote uniformity of proceedings in the settlement of estates of decedents who have left property in several states, etc. Referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence and Law Reform.

The usual programme of proceedings at this meeting has been printed and distributed and there are further copies for those who desire them.

There were three thousand copies of last year's report printed, of which twelve hundred and fifty were bound. The cost was about forty-five cents each in paper and about seventeen cents more for binding, which was in plain cloth.

Many persons, other than members and those to whom the reports are distributed by the Secretary under the By-Law, having applied for copies, the Executive Committee thought proper to order that they be sold at the rate of seventy-five cents in paper and one dollar in cloth, postage paid.

The fourth report is nearly exhausted, many copies having been destroyed by fire, so that the Secretary can no longer supply this report. He suggests that one thousand copies of this report should be reprinted, as the number of new members and others applying would render necessary at least that umber.

Until last year the Secretary had felt at liberty to supply new members with all the back reports gratuitously on request,

but as the edition of some of the reports is now being rapidly reduced, and the advantage given to new members in this respect is gradually becoming unjust, the Executive Committee determined that new members should pay for back reports at the prices above named.

Five thousand copies of the Report of the Special Committee on Delay and Uncertainty in Judicial Administration have. been printed as ordered, and about three thousand five hundred copies have been distributed. A sufficient number is now on hand to supply all who desire them.

The number of members who have signified to the Secretary their intention of attending this year's meeting is about two hundred.

The number now registered is about seventy. The members are requested to register at once, so that all may know who are here. During the sessions the register will be kept on the Secretary's desk, and at other times in the Reception Room of the American Bar Association, at the Grand Union Hotel, at the end nearest Congress Spring.

Respectfully submitted,

E. O. HINKLEY, Secretary.