Democrat, which allowed him no political promotion in Vermont, though his name was occasionally used by his party as a forlorn hope. He was independent in his opinions, and was free in his criticisms of all parties.

ABRAM B. GARDNER.

Abram B. Gardner was born at Pownal, Vermont, September 2, 1819, and died at Bennington, Vermont, November 23, 1881. He graduated at Union College in 1841; studied law with his uncle, Isaac P. Wright, at Carleton, Vermont; was admitted to the bar of Rutland County Court at its April term, 1844, and to the bar of the Supreme Court in Bennington County at its February term, 1847. His whole professional life was passed at Bennington. He held many offices, and graced them all with efficient and faithful service-as Register of Probate, State Attorney, Representative in the General Assembly for five years, for two of which he was Speaker of the House, state Senator for two years, Bank Commissioner for the state, and Lieutenant-Governor for two years. As a lawyer he ranked among the first in the state, having a large and successful practice. He was always truthful and honorable in speech and conduct, both as a lawyer and citizen, and so he secured universal respect and esteem. He was possessed of a sound judicial judgment and common sense-a better equipment, oftentimes, than the highest technical learning. He had a fine presence, and was a forcible and effective speaker.

APPENDIX.

11

ADDRESS

OF

FRANCIS KERNAN,

PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION.

GENTLEMEN, The Constitution of our Association provides that at each Annual Meeting the President shall communicate "the most noteworthy changes in statute law on points of general interest made in the several states and by Congress" since the preceding Annual Meeting.

In nearly two-thirds of the states of the Union the regular sessions of their respective legislatures are biennial only. In these states there has been no regular session of the legislature, and hence no important changes in their statute laws since your last meeting. I have examined the statutes enacted during the past year in the states in which sessions of the legislature have been held, and also the reports made to me by the members of our General Council from those states, and I do not find that many changes in their statute laws on points of general interest have been made.

In Georgia, acts have been passed requiring all acceptances of bills of exchange to be in writing, and also that all conditional sales of personal property (except as between the immediate parties) shall be in writing and be recorded.

In New York a statute has been passed providing that no new promise made by a person duly discharged in bank

ruptcy from his debts shall revive such debts unless such new promise be in writing, signed by the person to be charged thereby.

New York has enacted that where advances of money to an amount not less than $5,000, repayable on demand, are made upon warehouse receipts, bills of lading, certificates of stock, certificates of deposit, bills of exchange, bonds, or other negotiable instruments pledged as collateral security for such repayment, it shall be lawful to receive or to contract to receive and collect as compensation for making such advances any sum to be agreed upon in writing by the parties to such transaction.

A statute has been passed in Georgia whereby it is provided that the concurrent verdict of two juries at different terms of the court shall be necessary to authorize a decree of absolute divorce. The same state requires the decree of divorce to restore to the wife, where the decree is in her favor, her antenupital name.

In Georgia, judges now, upon the request of the jury, must, in all civil cases, furnish the jury with written instructions as to the form of their verdict.

Massachusetts has authorized women to be admitted to practise as attorneys-at-law on the same terms as men.

In several states, acts have been passed directing that seats be provided for car-drivers and female employés. Mississippi has passed a law authorizing persons charged with crime to testify in their own behalf. Acts have been passed in Massachusetts and other states to prevent the adulteration of food and drugs, and making such adulteration a penal

offense.

In many states, stringent license laws have been enacted. In Georgia it is now a penal offense to employ minors in any place where liquors are sold by retail to be drunk on the premises.