The next step is the restatement of the law upon a scientific basis. What more important work on the law can be conceived of than the restatement of the law contained in the decisions of the courts and general statutes? The laws may as well be hung up so high, as was done by an ancient ruler, that people cannot read them, as to bury them in the depths of a judicial wilderness where they cannot find them. If a classification can be perfected so as to demonstrate the practicability of the plan, a board of competent persons, interested in the work and not in the compensation attached to it, could develop portions of the plan from year to year without great expense to the state and with incalculable beneficial results to the public, bench and bar. The expense from year to year need not be large and might be expanded as the results justify it. While the necessary pecuniary assistance is being secured this association should take such steps as may be necessary to point the way to a restatement of the law, by working out through a competent committee a logical classification upon which such a restatement might proceed.

The plan of state aid contemplates contemporaneous work in other states under the same classification so that the material can be collated without a redistribution and all the material upon a particular subject or relation in all of the states. can be brought together for a statement of the general principles of American law with exceptions, limitations and modifications and with such illustrative cases and such historical and philosophical observations as may serve to illuminate the subject.

The preparation of the work on American law from the separate efforts in each state is the consummation devoutly to be wished which will put the law where it belongs, at the head of all of the sciences and useful arts because it concerns one of the greatest interests of man on earth. This can be done

either by federal assistance or as a private enterprise when the work in the separate states has been accomplished. There ought to be enough public spirit and professional pride in the legal profession to bring about such a result whatever direction the work may take. Some patriotic client ought to be prevailed upon to provide the funds or sufficient advanced subscriptions ought to be obtained to encourage a private enterprise or enough influence ought to exist in the profession to secure the necessary state aid.

Whatever course is taken, the logical restatement of the law with a historical and philosphical background is one that should appeal to every member of the bench and bar and should receive his thoughtful consideration. It is not enough to rail against long opinions and multiplication of reports. Some remedy should be suggested and none affords such possibilities of beneficial results as a logical restatement of the law with the elimination of all unnecessary verbiage and protracted argument. Such a restatement if duplication and padding is avoided, which is the bane of private publications, would be surprisingly brief for the same principles and rules reappear time and time again in the course of judicial opinions and cases over and over again are extended applications of facts to well-known principles and rules and are therefore mere illustrations of these principles and rules. To every case involving the determination of a principle of law there are five hundred, perhaps a thousand cases, maybe more, involving the application of well known principles to facts.

The time has come for action. The thought is uppermost in the minds of lawyers and judges, teachers and students of the law, and in the minds of the people themselves, who suffer most from the overwhelming volume and perplexing condition of the law. Everybody realizes that something ought to be done and yet we delay and to use the language

of James Wilson, we are "fruitful of words but barren in works". The time for learned discussions has passed. The exigency of the situation requires results. We cannot drift along hoping for something to turn up. The thing will not correct itself but will grow worse. It is necessary, ought to be done and can be done if the spirit of accomplishment will only take possession of us and the genius of the American lawyer is given an opportunity to apply itself to the problem. The constructive skill of the bar which has been equal to every emergency in our country's history should be applied to the task inspired by the sentiment expressed by Mr. Justice Holmes, when he said:

"Law is the business to which my life is devoted, and I should show less than devotion if I did not do what in me lies to improve it, and, when I perceive what seems to me the ideal of its future, if I hesitated to point it out and to press toward it with all my heart."

Waldo G. Morse, of New York:

Mr. President and gentlemen, I desire to offer the following resolution:

Resolved, That a Committee upon the classification and restatement of the law be appointed by the President to consist of five members, charged with the duty of examining and reporting upon the various forms and plans. for classification and restatement of the law which may be submitted to it.

Resolved, That the thanks of the Association be extended to Judge Rodenbeck for his valuable and comprehensive presentation of the results of his masterly and painstaking research.

The resolutions were duly seconded and adopted.

The President:

The next item of business is the amendment to the By-laws creating a Committee on Legislation.

John G. Van Etten, of Kingston;

Mr. President and Gentlemen. At the present time there is no committee of this Association authorized to promote or oppose such legislation as this Association believes to be required. That matter came up for discussion at the last joint meeting of the Executive Committee and the Committee on Law Reform, and a Special Committee was appointed at that meeting to draft a proposed amendment to the by-laws. Such an amendment has been drafted by the Special Committee and submitted to the Executive Committee at its last meeting, and the proposed amendment reads as follows:

COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION.- The President shall appoint a Committee on Legislation which shall consist of fifteen members. It shall be empowered to watch. pending legislation and proposed amendments to the law, especially with regard to procedure, and, when in its judgment action should be taken, report thereon to the Committee on Law Reform; and, alone, or in co-operation with individuals, other committees, civil bodies or other associations, support or oppose proposed or pending legislation when directed so to do by this Association or by the Executive Committee or by the Committee on Law Reform.

We have been careful not to conflict with the authority of the Committee on Law Reform, and also that this Committee should not act except when directed so to do by the Committee on Law Reform or by the Executive Committee or by the Association itself.

The number of members suggested, 15, may seem rather large, but if the Association desires to use its influence to promote legislation it is of advantage to have members of the Committee from different sections of the State who may get into communication with the various legislators and explain such measure as they desire to have passed.

I move the adoption of this amendment to the by-laws.

The motion was seconded.

The President:

The chair understands that the provisions of Article XII of the by-laws has been complied with, and that this is the recommendation of the Executive Committee proposed to the Association under that article.

Are you ready for the question upon the adoption of this. amendment? The chair understands that this amendment if adopted should be by a two-thirds vote of the members present at this meeting. All in favor of the adoption of the amendment will therefore rise; all opposed will now rise. The amendment is unanimously adopted.

The President:

We will now have an Analysis of Premier Lenin's Address to the All-Russian Soviet Congress, by Henry A. Forster, of New York.

Henry A. Foster, of New York, then read the following:

ANALYSIS OF PREMIER LENIN'S ADDRESS TO THE ALL-RUSSIAN SOVIET CONGRESS

All patriotic citizens who desire to learn what Bolshevikism is and what the real intentions of the Bolsheviks are, should read Nikolai Lenin's the Soviets at work (published by Rand School of Social Science, 7 East 15th Street, New York City), as told by Premier Lenin to the All-Russian Soviet Congress:

Hearken unto Lenin's description of what Bolshevikism has done to Russia through its dictatorship of the proletariat:

"In a few days we destroyed one of the oldest, most powerful, barbarous and cruel monarchies. In a few