Robert G. Street, of Texas:

If the resolution reads in that way, I will second it.

The President:

The Chair is somewhat in doubt as to the propriety of the resolution because one of our By-laws provides that no resolution complimentary to a member of the Association shall be entertained. However, Senator Sutherland is not a member of the Association. Then, too, we have a publication committee to which is committed the matter of publishing whatever takes place in our meetings. I have no doubt that the committee would respect any expression by the Association, but I think it would be quite respectful if this resolution were referred to the Committee on Publication for favorable consideration. I am inclined to think that is the better course to pursue.

Ralph W. Breckenridge, of Nebraska:

I make that motion.

Albert W. Biggs, of Tennessee:

At the last meeting of the Association, in Boston, because of the lateness at which the proceedings are published it was ordered that the three papers delivered should be immediately sent out for distribution. We should only be following the precedent there set by ordering the immediate publication of the addresses made at this meeting.

It would not be infringing upon the prerogatives of the Committee on Publication for the Association to instruct that committee to print and distribute at once the papers embraced or referred to in the resolution.

I move as an amendment that the Committee on Publication. be requested by the Association to publish these papers.

Ralph W. Breckenridge, of Nebraska:

My motion was to refer the matter to the committee with such request.

Albert W. Biggs, of Tennessee.

That is satisfactory.

The President:

The resolution offered by Mr. Vandervort, amended so as to include the addresses heard this morning, is that the papers be referred to the Committee on Publication with the request that they order their immediate publication and distribution. The motion was carried.

Charles A. Boston, of New York.

I have a resolution relating to the institution of a Standing Committee upon Professional Ethics. I ask that it be referred to the Executive Committee.

The President:

The resolution is received, and will be referred as requested. Harry S. Mecartney, of Illinois :

I have a very brief resolution that I present for the consideration of the Association. It reads as follows:

"Resolved, That this Association appoint and maintain a permanent office for the transaction of business in. (I have left the name of the city blank, but the suggestion has been made that Chicago ought to be the place.) That the Executive Committee establish such permanent office as soon as may be convenient, and that the Secretary shall upon the establishment of such office appoint an assistant to take charge of the work in such office, and that the Executive Committee may entail an expense for the purpose aforesaid, including rental, salary of such local Assistant Secretary, compensation of stenographer, etc., not to exceed $2,500 a year."

At the time I drew this resolution I did not know that there was an Assistant Secretary and therefore I should amend the resolution as drawn by making it read a local Assistant Secretary. The President:

Under the rules, resolutions presented on the floor of the house and not emanating from a committee are referred without debate to an appropriate committee.

Harry S. Mecartney, of Illinois:

I only want to speak briefly and state why I offer the resolution.

The President:

The Chair must rule that debate upon the subject of the resolution is not in order. To what committee does the gentleman suggest a reference?

Dan W. Simms, of Indiana:

I would suggest the Obituary Committee.

Harry S. Mecartney, of Illinois:

I am sorry I cannot state the reason why I offer the resolution; I wanted an opportunity to show that I am not a corpse.

The President:

The Chair would again inquire to what committee the gentleman suggests the reference?

Harry S. Mecartney, of Illinois:

I think it ought to go to the Executive Committee.

The President:

Very well. Then the resolution will be received; it is referred to the Executive Committee.

Harry S. Mecartney, of Illinois:

With power to act?

The President:

With power to recommend.

George G. Sutherland, of Wisconsin:

I have a brief resolution that I ask be referred to the Executive Committee:

"Resolved, By the American Bar Association that a suitable badge or emblem be adopted for annual meeting purposes so designed that the name of the member can appear thereon." The President:

The resolution will be received; it is referred to the Executive Committee.

William Draper Lewis, of Pennsylvania:

I desire to offer the following:

"WHEREAS, There is in this country a growing tendency to criticize and condemn the courts, federal and state, for their alleged tendency to declare unconstitutional or render ineffective by interpretation legislation enacted for the purpose of remedying existing social and industrial evils; and

"WHEREAS, We believe that much of the social and other remedial legislation, however worthy in its aims, is so little considered in its relation to existing constitutional and statutory provisions and so hastily prepared and so unscientifically drafted that it is often impossible for the courts to give its purposes effect.

"Resolved, That the President of the Association appoint a special committee consisting of seven members of this Association to consider whether some efficient agency cannot be devised to provide our legislatures with scientific and expert assistance in the formulation of legislation and to report at the next meeting of the Association the existing methods of furnishing such assistance in the preparation of legislative enactments with recommendations as to the part, if any, which this Association should take in this matter."

If that resolution is seconded I desire to say a word in explanation of it.

Charles A. Boston, of New York:

I second the resolution.

The President:

The resolution seems to be on a plane with the other. I would suggest that it be referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence and Law Reform.

William Draper Lewis, of Pennsylvania:

It calls for the appointment of a special committee.

The President:

If you will leave out the preamble and then move for the appointment of a committee to consider and report whether some means cannot be devised of affording assistance in the matter of legislation I should be very glad to entertain the motion.

William Draper Lewis, of Pennsylvania:

Very well, sir; I will follow the suggestion.

The President:

Now you may have the floor.

William Draper Lewis, of Pennsylvania:

The object of the resolution is to provide that we shall have a special committee to investigate the drafting associations and bureaus connected with legislation to ascertain whether they have really been effective in rendering legislation less slipshod, and to report whether this Association should in the opinion of the special committee encourage the movement now before Congress to create a similar bureau in connection with Congress and the movement to create similar bureaus in connection with state legislatures.

Charles A. Boston, of New York:

I desire to add that there is such a model legislative drafting bureau now existing in the City of New York, established under the auspices of Columbia University, and endowed by private contribution for a period of five years which it is aimed to make a model and show what similar institutions can do. I have reason to know that that bureau was consulted about and is now considering some of the most important legislative changes that are being attempted in this country designed to carry out the movement toward reform of which we have heard so much. It is of great interest to this Association that the investigation proposed by Professor Lewis should be made. The Association would act wisely by putting this matter in the hands of a special committee.

Oscar Hundley, of Alabama:

This resolution ought to be referred to the appropriate committee. The fact that the gentleman from Pennsylvania has simply stated what he has incorporated in his resolution does not take it out of the rule.

The President:

The question is on the motion referring the subject-matter to a special committee.

Oscar Hundley, of Alabama:

I rise to the point of order that the motion is not in order.