no report. If the president who is conscientious in his duty advances ideas that should be accepted by the association, it should devolve upon that committee to take these suggestions and whatever others they could and formulate it in such form as to bring out legislation. Particularly a year like this, when the legislature is in session, there should be a formal report, which might and can be productive of good. Year by year there has also been a resolution passed that the secretary shall notify the various members of the committee of their appointments, and year by year the secretary has, like the committee on reform, been derelict in his duty. It was not until receiving the note from President Wilds, a week or ten days since, that I was aware I was on the committee; I may speak of Mr. Stafford to the same effect -too late to get communication with Stafford and do anything. Yet if we had the right men on that committeemen like Mr. Wilds, Mr. Baker and Mr. Read, who have taken pains to bring forward these ideas-to represent the committee and let them be notified that they are on that committee, there is no reason why this committtee should not come up and report matters in such shape as to be presented to the legislature and work to the good of the association. That is all the report I have to make.

President Wilds: The report seems to be all on one side. The next committee is that of legal history and biography, of which Mr. Hall is chairman; he is also on the examining committee. Mr. Baldwin will report for the committee.

Mr. Baldwin: I would say that as it stands on the circular sent out to the Bar Association, my name appeared as chairman. I am not quite as bad off as the gentleman on the committee who has just spoken; I knew I was on the committee, but supposed I was third, which was the fact; but when I got the circular from the secretary and found I

was chairman and that was understood, I felt considerably stirred up. I was afraid it would affect my reputation as a historical man, but I find on investigation that it don't. Since the colonel is used up to some extent in his locomotion and also being on the examining committee, he has asked me to make such a report as I could from what I had in hand after I arrived at Montpelier, so committee report as follows:

To the Vermont Bar Association:

Your Committee on Legal History and Biography would respectfully offer the following report:

As near as we can ascertain there have deceased of members of the bar in the State during the past year or since the last meeting, Gen. George W. Grandey of Vergennes, Norman Paul of Woodstock.

There have been articles prepared since our last meeting upon C. B. Eddy of Bellows Falls, Norman Paul of Woodstock, Joseph A. Wing of Montpelier.

There are unreported, as near as we can ascertain, the following deceased members: John Hone, Castleton; Barnes Frisbee, Poultney; Charles S. Colburn, Pittsford; Henry Smith, Warren H. Smith, Rutland; George M. Fish, W. F. Bohen, F. R. Bates, Northfield; L. L. Durant, Charles W. Porter, Montpelier; E. E. French, Barre: Stephen M. Pingree, Hartford; Luther Adams, Chester; Heman S. Royce, John A. Fitch, St. Albans; Homer E. Hubbell, Fairfax; Charles Lamb, South Royalton; Abishai Stoddard, Westminster: J. B. Bridgman, Bellows Falls; S. H. Davis, Richmond; George L. Waterman, Hyde Park; John J. Simonds, White River Junction; Hiland Hall, Bennington; Cornelius W. Clark, Chelsea. Some of these have been promised by members of the bar.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

I don't know of any other way except to bring up the

names from

year to year.

Undoubtedly there will be an

other committee made up of different members next year and by reference to the minutes the new committee can avail themselves of what the old committee have done; many of these must be dropped out.

Mr. Brown moved it be accepted and adopted, and it was so ordered.

President Wilds: Is the committee on professional conduct ready to report?

Mr. Shurtleff: The committee have no report to make. President Wilds: If the committee on admissions have any further report to make we will hear it now.

Mr. Stanton: I think there was a candidate for membership whose name was on the report last night that was accidentally omitted-it was not read, for it was so indistinctly written that the committee could not read it. Mr. W. H. Taylor of Hardwick should have been reported last night for admission to the association.

Mr. Gordon: What will be done with the new members not admitted? I think they want to be admitted, and some of the names were handed in last evening. If the meeting adjourns there will be no future meeting that can take action unless it is referred to some committee.

President Wilds: They will have to be admitted by the society, and that could not be delegated to a committee without changing the rules. If they succeed in getting into the bar, that will be well enough for this year.

:

Mr. Gordon I propose again the name of W. H. TayThere seems to be no other member present but my

lor.

self.

Seconded by Mr. Royce.

President Wilds: We will hear the report of the commitmittee on admissions in regard to Mr. Taylor.

and seconded that Mr. Taylor be admitted.

It is moved

Mr. Royce: I move to amend the motion by moving that the secretary be instructed to cast a ballot.

Amendment accepted.

The secretary: The vote of the association has been cast and found to be unanimous for W. H. Taylor of Hardwick to become a member of the association.

Mr. Baker: As it is pretty late in the session, and as a matter which will require some deliberation, I move a committee of one from each county be appointed to bring in nominations of the elective officers of the association.

Seconded by Mr. J. W. Gordon and carried.

President Wilds: The chair will appoint as such committee, Mr. Baker of Rutland, chairman; Addison county, W. H. Button; Bennington, Mr. Darling; Chittenden, Mr. Brown; Caledonia, Mr. Blodgett; Essex, Mr. Dale; Franklin, Mr. Royce; Grand Isle, Mr. Ladd; Lamoille, Mr. Gleed; Orange, Mr. Dennison; Orleans, Mr. Prouty; Washington, Mr. Shurtleff; Windsor, Mr. Tarbell; Windham, Mr. Allbee.

Some of the members of this committee are not here, but they are all in town, I believe, and very likely all to be at the Pavilion this noon, so that if the other members are to remain for this meeting and should then adjourn for the purpose of reporting the list of officers after dinner, it can be done in that way, or a large majority of the committee are probably present now if they wish to act at once.

Mr. Shurtleff: At the proper time I wish to introduce for the consideration of the members of the association a

There are

matter that requires legislation. It is a matter that usually comes up in discussing matters of law reform. one or two things that should be brought to the attention of the association. If in order, I offer this resolution :

Resolved, That it is the sense of this association that an act be passed at the present session of the legislature providing for the

appointment of a committee upon the subject recommended by the American Bar Asssciation, namely, the uniformity of practice among the several states.

The American Bar Association, in the last two or three years, have had this matter under consideration, and they have recommended that those who are connected with the associations of the several states should procure an act to be passed appointing a commission to meet at some time and place to recommend to the several states the result of their deliberations, so that there shall be uniformity in certain legal matters, such as the execution of deeds and wills and the execution of various papers. These should be uniform throughout the various states. Thus far, up to last evening, twenty-four states have passed acts providing for that purpose, and as our legislature will not be together again for two years, I thought it best to bring the matter to the attention of the association at this meeting. Mr. Paul brought this matter up at the last session and a bill was introduced, but it was killed, and I am informed the members of my political party had more to do with the killing of it than anybody else. All I can say is, if they did it, I am ashamed of it; but there are not enough of them in the legislature this year to hustle around among the farmers and scare them about a little expense, so that I think it is a favorable time to introduce such a bill.

Such action ought by all means to be taken, and I presume such a bill should provide for payment of those who are to serve under it, but the matter is of such importance, as I regard it, that if you can't get a bill through including payment for services, get one passed, and make them serve without pay, and pay their own expenses, and trust to some future legislature to give them something to reimburse them; but something should by all means be done, and such a commission should be appointed to meet