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THE GREEN BAG
remarkable skill in checking such ineffective discussion and in devoting its time when reports were not too long to a discussion of subjects of importance. In comparison with the debates of the Association of American Law Schools and of the Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, however, those of the Association seemed ineffective. The former are conducted by men fully informed on the subjects and genuinely interested in the result of the discussion. Too often the debates of the Association are upon subjects upon which the members have made no effort to inform themselves. These con ditions have resulted in the creation of small sections of those interested in specific subjects where more careful consideration can be given than in general meeting, and the influence of their recommendations tends to minimize idle criticism. By two other means it seems that con ditions might be improved. If the com mittees of the Association could overcome the legal habit of procrastination and get their reports ready in suitable time for distribution to members the fault of ignorance
at least could not be laid to their door. Valuable time might also be saved by con fining discussion to subjects upon which we, as lawyers, are competent to speak from experience. Just why should the American Bar Association consider the advisability of excluding fraudulent insurance contracts from the mails under the guise of a discussion upon insurance law any more than it should debate, upon a codification of the law of sales, the propriety of prohibiting express com panies from shipping liquor to temperance towns; and why should lawyers pass resolu tions with reference to the policy of division of surplus of insurance companies merely because such action involves an effect upon contracts, rather than about other topics of public importance, upon which we may have decided opinions and scant information? There are pressing questions with reference to the organization of the profession and the reform of legal procedure which should more properly occupy the attention of the Bar, and the new committee appointed to consider these problems ■ should furnish the chief material for discussion at future meetings.
