Retiring President of Connecticut Bar Advocates .9,
“American Corpus jurzs AT the annual meeting of the Connecticut State Bar Association. held at New Haven Feb. 7, Hon. George D. Watrous, president of the Association and Professor of Law at Yale, strongly supported the Corpus jun's project of Messrs. Alexander, Andrews and Kirchwey in his annual address. Professor Watrous drew attention to the excellent oppor tunity ofiered the members of the Association to aid by voice and pen the performance of a colossal undertaking, the need of which has been steadily increasing for upwards of a century. After setting forth some of the particulars of the plan, Professor Watrous
concluded his address with the following words : There is practical unanimity with respect to the urgent need of such a statement of the entire law. I am well satisfied that if it is, as I believe, within the reach of human achievement, it can be brought about by the gentlemen who have undertaken it. The Chief Justice of North Carolina said to them, "You are proposing to do for this country what Justinian did for Rome and Napoleon for Western Europe. It is, for many reasons, a far greater work and more diflicult. Of its value and of its necessity, there can be no two opinions. Fame and fortune will wait upon those who shall confer such a boon upon the present and future millions of our country." A
COMPOSITE
PRODUCT MINDS
OF
THE
BEST
For more than a hundred years there has been a call for an orderly statement of the Corpus jun‘: in America. The need has become greater and the demand increasingly insistent during this period. Attempts to meet the demand by digests, and di gests of digests. treatises, etc., have been inadequate, and such a work, if it is to meet the demand and command universal respect, must be the most carefully matured product of the most thoroughly trained and educated intellects. It is too vast a subject for any one brain, and must be the com posite product of the best brains obtainable. In brief, the following method is suggested. It is proposed "to block out with the ablest expert advice obtainable the entire field of the law under a logical system of classification, so that when the work is published the law on any particular point may readily be ascertained." It is proposed to have a Board of Editors not exceeding seven men in number; the ablest to be found in America, and each should receive whatever compensation is necessary to command his best services. This Board is to have final and authoritative control over every editorial matter as to which differences of opinion may arise. There is then to be an Associate Board of Editors,—about twenty in number.— representing the best that the law schools have, as experts in particular departments of the law. These
Project
men are not to be expected to give up their entire time to the subject, though many of them might deem it wise to obtain leave of absence for a year or more for this purpose. In addition to this, an Advisory Council of twenty or twenty-five is sug gested, made up of men who would do little actual work either as authors or editors, but would give their advice, from time to time, as it might be needed. In addition to all this, a Board of Criticism is planned, of from one to two hundred lawyers and judges, whose function would be advisory criticism. I cannot further pursue this topic here. The February number of the Gum Bag will fill in this mere outline and present to you the highest expert evidence in this country and abroad as to the need
and feasibility of achieving this result, and should this subject appeal to us—as I think it should each one of us may, by his voice. his pen, give aid and comfort to the brave men who have under taken this colossal task. The man has not yet stepped forth to establish the longed for ‘Foundation of Jurisprudence.’ If there be such a man in this body, who would aspire to have his name go down in history with that of Justinian and Napoleon, never again is he likely to have so excellent an opportunity.
There was a large attendance at the meet‘ ing, called out partly by the banquet given in honor of Ex-Chief Justice Baldwin and Chief Justice Hall. ASSOCIATION ADOPTS CODE OF ETHICS
A code of professional ethics was adopted without argument. The draft had been pre pared by a special committee, and was based upon the American Bar Association code, being a re-arrangement of the text in a slightly shortened form. The following resolution was adopted : Resolved. That the president be authorized to bring to the attention of the judges of the Superior Court and of the members of the state bar examin ing committee in such manner as he may deem appropriate. the expediency of some modification of the rules of court or of the regulations of the state bar examining committee for the purpose of securing an adequate understanding by those admitted to the bar of the principles and recognized rules of professional ethics.
Edward M. Day delivered at the afternoon session an able sketch of the history of employers’ liability and workmen’s compen sation legislation. Prof. Theodore S. Wool sey delivered an address on “International Arbitration." The following ofiicers were elected: president, George E. Hill, Bridgeport; vice-president, Hadlai A. Hull, New London; secretary treasurer, James E. Wheeler, New Haven.
