6i8
THE GREEN BAG
was finally rejected. Most of the discussion centered about the resolution recommending "the contingent distribution of the deferred dividend surplus on existing life insurance policies of all companies as a condition pre cedent to the transaction of business outside of the home states of the several companies." After extended debate this was laid upon the table. In the evening the report of the com mittee on professional ethics was taken up. It had been expected that this committee would have ready for discussion at this meet ing a draft of a code, but they had wisely concluded to await opportunity for further and fuller discussion and the report prepared by the secretary, Mr. Alexander, consisted of an elaborate collation of codes of ethics here tofore adopted by state Bar Associations which furnishes full material for the consideration of the subject by all who are interested. The recommendations of the committee for its continuance and enlargement were adopted, and it was instructed to correspond with the members of the association and with state Bar Associations for suggestions with reference to its draft of a code and to have copies of the proposed code transmitted to each member of the association and to the state Bar Associa tions, requesting suggestions and criticisms, on or before May i, 1908, the final report of the committee to be ready for submission at the 1908 meeting. We recommend that all attorneys interested in this subject obtain a copy of the committee's report from the secretary. The report of the committee on legal education was then read and was followed by an elaborate written argument over an hour in length which had been prepared by the chairman of the committee. A dissenting report in writing was filed but not read. The report related chiefly to the regulations for ad mission to the Bar. Consideration of the report was postponed to the next session. One of the most important reports was that of the committee on patent and copy right laws. Its chief recommendation was for the appointment of a court of patent appeals to be made up of judges, temporarily assigned from the present circuit courts, to sit for a limited period in the central court of appeals, thus insuring uniformity of decision
on this important subject, which, owing to the fact that most of this litigation now ends in the circuit courts of appeals, differs widely in the different circuits. There was extended discussion and much criticism of the method recommended for the selection of judges, but the resolution favored was finally adopted by a large majority. The committee on judicial administration and remedial procedure, to which was referred the subject of the address of Prof. Roscoe Pound at St. Paul, last year, on "Causes of Popular Dissatisfaction with the Administration of Justice," summarized his paper and in the main agreed with his conten tion that there is dissatisfaction and that the evils complained of are real evils and that an attempt to remedy them is an appropriate undertaking for the American Bar Association. The committee, however, felt that it was not justified in making specific suggestions and recommended the creation of a special com mittee to consider carefully the evils, suggest remedies and propose laws, and when so authorized by the Association, procure the enactment of such laws, continuing their work from year to year until some wise and com prehensive scheme of judicial procedure shall be adopted by the federal government and by the states, from which shall be eliminated, as far as may be, every element that causes delay in litigation or unnecessary cost. The report of this committee together with that on professional ethics will doubtless be the important matters to come before the meeting next year. On Tuesday afternoon were held the meet ings of the sections on patent and copyright law and on legal education. At the latter was read by Professor Pound his paper which we publish in this issue. On Wednesday morning the hall was crowded with members and friends, as well as with people of Portland, to listen to the address of Ambassador Bryce, which we publish in full in this number. In spite of the modesty with which the Ambassador referred to his official position the enthusiasm of his welcome, it was very evident that the demonstration was a tribute to his personality, and to his sym pathetic comprehension of America and Americans. At the close of the address Mr. Bryce was unanimously elected an honorary
