Second: Such court to be composed of nine members, one each from nine independent States or nations, such representative to be a member of the Supreme or Highest Court of the nation he shall represent, chosen by a majority vote of his associates, because of his high character as a publicist and judge, and his recognized ability and irreproachable integrity. Each judge thus selected to hold office. during life or the will of the court selecting him. Third: The court thus constituted to make its own rules of procedure, to have power to fix its place of sessions and to change the same from time to time as circumstances and the convenience of litigants may suggest and to appoint such clerks and attendants as the court may require. Fourth Controverted questions arising between any two or more Independent Powers, whether represented in said "International Court of Arbitration" or not, at the option of said Powers, to be submitted by treaty between said Powers to said court, providing only that said treaty shall contain a stipulation to the effect that all parties thereto shall respect and abide by the rules and regulations of said court, and conform to whatever determination it shall make of said controversy. Fifth Said court to be open at all times for the filing of cases and counter cases under treaty stipulations by any nation, whether represented in the court or not, and such orderly proceedings in the interim between sessions of the court, in preparation for argument, and submission of the controversy, as may seem necessary, to be taken as the rules of the court provide for and may be agreed upon between the liti gants. Sixth Independent Powers not represented in said court, but which may have become parties litigant in a controversy before it, and, by treaty stipulation, have agreed to submit to its adjudication, to comply with the rules of the court and to contribute such stipulated amount to its expenes as may be provided for by its rules, or determined by the court. Your Petitioner also recommends that you enter at once into correspondence and negotiation, through the proper diplomatic channels, with representatives of the governments of Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, The Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil, and the Argentine Republic, for a union with the government of the United States in the laudable undertaking of forming an International Court substantially on the basis herein outlined. Your Petitioner presumes it is unnecessary to enter into further argument in support of the foregoing propositions than is contained in the report of its · committee, which is given above, and which your Petitioner has already asked to have considered as a part of this Petition. Your Petitioner will be pardoned, however, if it invite special attention to that part of the report emphasizing the fact that the plan nerein outlined is intended, if adopted, at once to meet the universal demand among English-speaking people for a permanent tribunal to settle contested international questions that may hereafter arise between the governments of Great Britain and the United States. While it is contended that it is wholly impracticable to form such a tribunal without the friendly interposition of other nations on the joint invitation of the Powers who unite in its organization, it is very evi dent that a most acceptable permanent International Court may be speedily secured by the united and harmonious action of said Powers as already suggested. Should obstacles be interposed to the acceptance, by any of the Powers named by your Petitioner, of the invitation to name a representative for such a court on the plan herein generally outlined, some other equally satisfactory Power could be solicited to unite in the creation of such a court. Believing that, in the fulfillment of its destiny among the civilized nations of the world, it has devolved upon the younger of the two Anglo-Saxon Powers, now happily in the enjoyment of nothing but future peaceful prospects, to take the first step looking to the permanency of peace among nations, your Petitioner, representing the Bar of the Empire State, earnestly appeals to you as the Chief Executive officer of the government of the United States, to take such timely action as shall lead eventually to the organization of such a tribunal as has been outlined in the foregoing recommendations. While ominous sounds of martial preparations are in the air, the shipbuilder's hammer is industriously welding the bolt, and arsenals are testing armor plates, your Petitioner, apprehensive for the future, feels that delays are dangerous, and it urgently recommends that action be taken at once by you to compass the realization of the dream of good men in every period of the world's history, when nations shall learn war no more and enlightened Reason shall fight the only battles fought among the children of men. AND YOUR PETITIONER WILL EVER PRAY. Attested in behalf of the New York Bar Asso ciation at the Capitol in the City of Albany, N. Y., April 16th, 1896. [SEAL OF ASSOCIATION.] ED. G. WHITAKER, President. L. B. PROCTOR, Secretary. MEMORIAL TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC BUILD INGS, IN REGARD TO THE OCCUPANCY On November 5, 1895, notice was given L. B. Proctor, Secretary of the New York State Bar Association, by the Superintendent of Public Buildings, to show to the board of trustees of Public Buildings by what right or authority the Association occupies, and has occupied for a long space of time, a department or room in the Capitol. Accordingly, on November 20, the following memorial, setting forth the right of the Association to a room or rooms in the Capitol, prepared by the president and secretary of the Association, was presented to His Excellency, Governor Levi P. Morton, Lieutenant-Governor Charles T. Saxton, and the Speaker of Assembly, the Hon. Hamilton Fish. "To the Honorables, the Board of Trustees of Public Buildings: GENTLEMEN: —The undersigned, the president and secretary of the New York State Bar Association, beg leave to submit to your honorable board, in behalf of the said Association, the following memorial for your review and consideration, showing, as we believe, and as the officers and members of the Association believe, the undoubted right of the said organization to |