Governor Hoch in his recent message to the legislature called the attention of that body to the necessity for legislation that would preserve the vast natural reservoirs of gas and oil of the state from waste and from the greed of arrogant monopoly. The matter is one of vast importance to the people of this state. It is particularly so to those residing or having interests. in what is known as the gas and oil belt. The indications are that only a small portion of this field has yet been explored and that it will prove to be the largest and greatest producer of gas and oil in the world. If conservatively regulated and properly utilized it should add greatly to the population and taxable wealth of the state and give employment to its labor. The committees having the matter in charge have suggested the character of the legislation needed to accomplish the desired end. Possessing myself no practical knowledge of the gas and oil business, I am unable to add to the remedies suggested by Governor Hoch in his message and those proposed by the committees. The public has confidence that the legislature will enact laws to preserve to the people of the state the benefit of these rich and bounteous gifts of nature. Great credit and praise awaits the legislators who shall wisely solve these problems to the best interests of our commonwealth.

The foregoing are a few only of a great many subjects toward which the legislature could with profit direct its attention. But after all it is not how many laws adorn the statute books, nor how readable or how reasonable the laws enacted may be; but rather, how well they are observed and how rigidly they are enforced. It is not the severity of a law but the certainty of its enforcement that renders it effective. No citizen has the opportunity to render aid and contribute to the end that laws may be effective, equal to

that of the lawyer. His duty to his client cannot require that he neglect or ignore his own obligations to the law and its proper administration. A high ideal as to the mission and responsibility of the lawyer, honestly and courageously adhered to by the profession, will accomplish much toward establishing and maintaining respect for the advocate, the law and the courts. The bar is in many ways responsible for the business of the courts and the manner in which the law is administered. The lawyer presents the case to the court, determines the issues raised and largely shapes the conduct of the trial. His ideals should be such, that in him is found no champion of a proceeding without merit; no friend to a frivolous issue, and no defender of a cause which would reflect discreditably upon the profession, or bring reproach upon the administration of justice.

Constitution.

ARTICLE 1. The name of the Association shall be The Bar Association of the State of Kansas.

ART. 2. The object of the Association shall be the elevation of the standard of professional learning and integrity, so as to inspire the greatest degree of respect for the efforts and influence of the bar in the administration of justice, and also to cultivate fraternal relations among its members.

ART. 3. The officers of the Association shall be a President, VicePresident, Secretary, Treasurer, and an Executive Council of five members.

ART. 4. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association, and shall open each annual meeting of the Association with an appropriate address. The Vice-President shall preside in the absence of the President; and in the absence of both, a president pro tem. may be elected by the meeting. The Secretary shall keep a record of all the proceedings of the Association, and conduct the correspondence of the Association.

ART. 5. The Treasurer shall keep an account of all funds of the Association. The Executive Council shall manage the affairs of the Association subject to the Constitution and By-Laws.

ART. 6. A quorum for the transaction of business shall be twenty members.

ART. 7. No person shall be admitted to membership of this Association who is not a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court, and who has not been engaged in the regular practice of the law for one year next preceding his application for admission.

ART. 8. All applications for membership shall be referred to the Executive Council, who shall report the same to the Association with their recomendation thereon; and no person shall be admitted to membership except by a two-thirds vote of the members present. Each member shall pay an admission fee of five dollars, and annual dues of three dollars.

ART. 9. The annual meetings of the Association shall be held in January of each year, at the Capital, at such time as the Executive Council fix. Thirty days notice of the annual meeting shall be given by the Secretary. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Council, of which meetings thirty days notice shall be given to the members by the Secretary.

By-Laws.

SECTION 1. The Executive Council shall, on or before the first day of May of each year, designate such a number of members, not exceeding six, to prepare and deliver or read at the next annual meeting thereafter appropriate addresses or papers upon subjects chosen and assigned by the Council to each of said members, as may be so selected for such purpose.

SEC. 2. The order of exercises at each annual meeting shall be as follows:

1. Opening address by the President.

2. Consideration of applications for membership.

3. Reports of Secretary and Treasurer.

4. Report of Executive Council.

5. Reports of standing committees.

6. Reports of special committees.

7. Delivering and reading of addresses and papers.
Miscellaneous business.

8.

9.

Election of officers and delegates to American Bar Associciation.

SEC. 3. There shall be chosen by ballot, at each annual meeting, three members as delegates to American Bar Association for the ensuing year.

SEC. 4. All addresses delivered and papers read before the Association, the copy of which is furnished by the author, shall be lodged with the Secretary. The annual address of the President, the reports of committees, and all proceedings of the annual meeting, shall be printed; but no other address delivered or paper read shall be printed except by order of the Executive Council.

SEC. 5. The terms of office of all officers elected at any annual meeting shall begin at the adjournment of such annual meeting, and end at the adjournment of the next annual meeting. And in case of any vacancy, the Executive Council shall appoint some member to fill the vacancy, who shall hold until his successor is elected.

SEC. 6. The Treasurer's accounts and reports shall be examined annually by the Executive Council before their presentation to the Association, and the Executive Council shall report the result of such examination of Treasurer's report and accounts to the Association at its annual meeting.

SEC. 7. The Executive Council shall cause to be printed such a number of copies of the proceedings of its annual meeting as it shall deem best, not exceeding one thousand copies, and shall distribute the same to members of the Association, and to such other persons, or associations, or societies, as they may deem prudent; and shall, with the proceedings of each annual meeting, print the roll of active and honorary members of the Association, and its Constitution and ByLaws.

SEC. 8. Every member of the Association shall pay to the Treasurer on or before the first day of May of each year, (after the year of his admission), annual dues of three dollars. All members who have not paid their annual dues on or before May 1 shall, within thirty days thereafter, be notified of this fact by the Treasurer and requested to forthwith comply with the requirements of this by-law.

SEC. 9. The Secretary shall keep a "general membership roll" on which shall appear in alphabetical order the name of every member of the Association from its organization, with the date of his admission.

The Secretary shall also keep an "honorary membership roll" to be composed of those members who shall be specially designated for this honor, by resolution of the Association on the formal written recommendation of the Executive Council.

The Secretary shall also prepare on the first day of March in each year, the “roll of active members" of the Association for that year, which shall include only those who have paid to the Treasurer their Association dues for the preceding year and the new members by whom no dues are payable for that year.

SEC. 10. The Treasurer shall, twenty days before the first day of March in each year, notify all active members in arrears for the dues of the preceding year, that the roll of active members for the year, to be printed in the Annual Report of the Proceedings, will be made up on that date, and that their names must be omitted from that published roll of active members, unless their delinquent dues have been paid.

SEC. 11. Only the active and honorary members of the Association shall be entitled to participate in the proceedings of the Association, or to a seat at its annual banquet.

SEC. 12. On the general membership roll opposite each name omitted from the active membership roll, shall be noted the reason for such omission-whether death, non-payment of dues, or personal request.

SEC. 13. Any member whose name has been omitted from the