66 The West Virginia Bar, a magazine published by the West Virginia Bar Association, pays the following merited tribute to the Virginia Bar Association: 'The Virginia Bar Association is one of the best and most prosperous Associations the legal profession can boast in any State. The esprit du corps among its membership, the high professional ideal, the loyalty and enthusiasm which are manifested in all of their meetings, make the Bar Association of our sister State a good example for us to follow.'' The AMERICAN LAW REVIEW then adds: "Unless our information is incorrect, the Virginia Bar Association. is now the best attended State Bar Association in the Union." We had 431 active members on our rolls after our last annual meeting; and since then we have lost 11 by death, 6 by resignation, and 1 by promotion to the honorary list, to take the place of Judge McLaughlin, who had died since our last meeting, making a total of 18; but one has been reinstated, and we have, therefore, at the beginning of our Eleventh Annual meeting 414 active members. Our honorary members, of whom one has died, but whose place has been filled as stated above, number 43, and our total membership, therefore, is 457; while a number of applicants are now seeking admission. Since our last meeting I have received the Proceedings of the Alabama State Bar Asosciation for 1898, the American Bar Association for 1898, the Colorado Bar Association, Organization and First Annual Meeting, 1898; Georgia Bar Association for 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892 and 1893, Bar Association of Indiana, Volume I., 1897, Illinois State Bar Association for 1898, Maine State Bar Association for 1899, Maryland State Bar Association for 1898, Missouri Bar Association for 1898, New Mexico Bar Association for 1897-'98, New York City Bar Association for 1899, North Carolina Bar Association, Organization, 1899, Pennsylvania State Bar Association. for 1898, South Dakota Bar Association, Organization, 1897, Bar Association of Tennessee, 1898, Texas State Bar Association for 1898, Washington State Bar Association for 1898, West Virginia Bar Association, 1897 to 1899. Some idea of the business of this office may be gathered from the statement that from July 1, 1898, to July 1, 1899, about 3,500 communications were sent out, including about 1,000 letters, in addition to the distribution of Volume XI. of our reports and a large number of pamphlets containing annual reports of various committees rendered at our last meeting. This brief review of the past year and the large attendance upon this meeting offer proof of unabated interest in the Association, and I trust our influence and activity may continue to grow and extend from year to year. Respectfully submitted, EUGENE C. MASSIE, Secretary. The President: The report will be received and filed. Next in order is the report of the Treasurer. Mr. Massie then read his report as Treasurer. (See Report at end of Minutes.) Colonel E. E. Stickley, of Woodstock: As suggested by the report of the Secretary and Treasurer, I desire to give notice looking to a proposed amendment of the Constitution. (Reads.) Notice is hereby given that a motion will be made at this annual meeting to amend Article VIII. of the Constitution so as to read as follows: ARTICLE VIII. FEES AND DUES. The Admission Fee shall be five dollars, and the annual dues shall be five dollars, to be paid as may be prescribed in the By Laws. No member shall be qualified to exercise any privilege of membership while his fees or dues remain unpaid. (Signed) E. E. STICKLEY, JOHN A. COKE, R. CARTER SCOTT, GEORGE L. BROWNING. Colonel Stickley: This notice is signed by five members, as the by-laws require, and will lie on the table as is provided. The President: We will now receive the report of the Executive Committee. Mr. Jackson Guy, of Richmond, Chairman of the Executive Committee, read the report of that committee. (See Report at end of Minutes.) Mr. Guy: In this connection, Mr. President, I will state to the Association that I this morning received from Mr. Irvine, of Big Stone Gap, a letter stating that he was engaged in the trial of a case which would not be concluded in time to permit him to attend this meeting and read the paper he had prepared at the request of the Executive Committee. This is a source of regret to the Committee in which I am sure all the members present will unite; but we hope to have the pleasure of hearing Mr. Irvine's paper at another time. The President: The next business is the report of the Committee on Admissions. Colonel E. E. Stickley, of Woodstock, Chairman of the Committee on Admissions, read the first report of that Committee. (See Report at end of Minutes.) On motion, this report was received and adopted. The President: The Committee on Legislation and Law Reform will now report. Mr. Willis B. Smith, of Richmond: Mr. Chairman, in the absence of Mr. W. P. McRae, the Chairman of that Committee,. I beg to read its report. (See Report at end of Minutes.) On motion, the report was received and adopted. The President: I understand that Mr. William B. Pettit, a distinguished member of this Association, has, at the request of the Committee on Legislation and Law Reform, prepared a paper which he will read at another time. The Chair would suggest that Mr. Pettit read that paper at the time set for Mr. Irvine's paper, or to-night, if we have time. Judge George L. Christian, of Richmond: I move that it take the place set apart in the programme for Mr. Irvine's paper. Motion adopted. The President: The report of the Judiciary Committee is next in order. (No answer.) The President: Next is the report of the Committee on Legal' Education and Admission to the Bar. (No answer.) The President: The Committee on Library and Legal Literature. Mr. John Stewart Bryan, of Richmond: Mr. President, on behalf of the Chairman of that Committee, I beg to report that I have prepared a paper which I am ready to read at any time the Association may think proper. Reading of this report was postponed until the evening session. The President: The report of the Committee on Grievances is next in order. (No answer.) The President: The Committee on International Arbitration. Mr. Thomas D. Ranson, of Staunton, read the report of that committee. (See Report at end of Minutes.) On motion, the report was received and approved. Mr. James P. Harrison, of Danville: Mr. President, before adjourning I would like to offer this resolution: "Recognizing the eminent and lasting services of ChiefJustice John Marshall to our country, and gratefully acknowledging the action of the Bar Association of the State of Illinois to do honor to his memory by celebrating February 4, 1901, as John Marshall Day: "Resolved, That this Association take steps to celebrate appropriately February 4, 1901, as John Marshall Day; 66 That to this end a committee of five be appointed to correspond with other State Bar Associations, and to report to our next annual meeting; and That as a special tribute to his memory, this committee seek to interest all State Bar Associations of the United States in our effort to secure, and preserve as a perpetual Home of American Lawyers, the residence of John Marshall in Richmond, to be opened on February 4, 1901." Mr. Harrison: I have long advocated (as is known by this body) the securing of that residence and making it a receptacle for the archives of this Association. In a conversation I had with Senator Hoar, who takes an interest in this matter, he made the suggestion that it be secured and made the home of this Association, but that all members of the Bar of the United States should be invited to make it their home as well. And it was suggested to me when the Secretary was reading his report that if we could harmonize our forces, possibly our Association, |