tracts are issued every day that furnish indemnity against loss. from the perils of the sea, from fire, water, wind, death, sickness, accidental injury, negligence, boiler explosions, broken windows, bad debts, burglars, thieves and dishonest employees. This is not a complete list of the subjects of insurance, and the list is growing. The American people paid in 1903 for insurance the startling sum of $1,000,000,000. For that vast treasure they had in force on January 1, 1904, $50,000,000,000 of insurance of all kinds. They were paid by the insurance companies for losses during the year 1903 approximately $750,000,000. The actual assets of the companies engaged in this stupendous business approximates $3,000,000,000. All will admit that without the substantial collateral afforded by insurance the complex structure of modern business enterprise would crumble and fall. But the mutual rights of the assured and of the companies have not up to this time been understood by the general public or by the Bar as a whole, nor have these mutual rights and obligations of insurer and insured invariably been intelligently or fairly administered in court. Our great universities are instituting courses on insurance and the law schools now make the law of insurance a separate topic in their courses of study. The problem of the nationalization of insurance companies and how to accomplish it is a live one and will not be settled by one decision. The adoption of a uniform fire policy and the things that ought to be embodied in it are matters that have had consideration to some extent from that muchburdened Committee on Uniform State Laws. These facts show the magnitude and importance of the subject and furnish most excellent reasons for the creation of a standing committee of this Association through whose efforts, acting so far as may be practicable with the Committee on Uniform State Laws, steps may be taken to secure needed reforms bearing directly on this vital factor of our commerce and social organization. Your Committee therefore recommends the adoption of the resolution by which the proposed standing committee is established. Respectfully submitted, RALPH W. BRECKENRIDGE, GEO. WHITELOCK, Committee. Theodore P. Davis, of Indiana: I second the adoption of the report. The report and the resolution amending the Constitution were adopted. The Secretary: I have a report from the Executive Committee. There was referred to that committee at the first session of this meeting a resolution offered by Mr. Spoonts, of Texas, for the purpose of providing a method by which members who had been dropped for non-payment of dues might be reinstated. The Executive Committee yesterday considered the matter, and they report the resolution in a little different form, but accomplishing substantially the same result: Resolved, That the second paragraph in the thirteenth section of the by-laws be amended as follows: By striking out the words "all back dues" and inserting the words "such back dues as the committee shall think equitable." M. A. Spoonts, of Texas: I move the adoption of the report of the Executive Committee and the amendment of the by-laws in accordance with it. The motion adopting the report and amending the by-laws was adopted. Adolph Sloman, of Michigan: Mr. President, I offer the following amendment to the bylaws: "There shall be appointed annually a committee to be known as the Reception Committee, consisting of fifteen members of the Association, whose duty it shall be to attend. immediately before and at the opening of the first day's session of the meeting to receive members and delegates and introduce them to each other, with a view of making them better acquainted and establishing a spirit of good fellowship among them." I have attended several meetings of the Association and have invariably noticed the lack of facilities provided for getting the members better acquainted with each other, and it has often occurred to me that if we had an active and energetic committee to do this much good would be accomplished, as I believe it is just as important to the success of an organization of this character to awaken a spirit of good fellowship among its members as to transact its other business. The President: The Chair would state that this year we appointed the local Association in St. Louis and in the State of Missouri as such reception committee. I do not know whether it has been possible for them to be much in evidence or not, because of the multiplicity of attractions and the press of business upon them here. Adolph Sloman: Presumably, the committee was appointed by the local Bar Association, and I have no doubt they attempted to do good work, but I believe such committee should be appointed from this body. The President: That was a committee from this body consisting of those members residing in this state. Upon motion duly seconded, the proposed amendment was referred to the Executive Committee. Sigmund Zeisler, of Illinois: I desire to submit an amendment to our by-laws and then to move that it be referred to the Executive Committee for consideration and report at the next annual meeting. Resolved, That the third paragraph of By-Law XII be amended so as to read as follows: All committee reports shall, at least twenty days before the annual meeting of the Association, be transmitted to the Secretary, who shall have the same printed and distributed by mail to all the members of the Association at least ten days before the annual meeting. No legislation shall be recommended or approved except upon the report of a committee. The reading of reports at the annual meeting shall be dispensed with, unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Committee or called for by a vote of the meeting. The resolution was seconded and the motion referring it to the Executive Committee was adopted. Edward Q. Keasbey, of New Jersey: I desire to bring in the same way before the Association the question whether it is the wish of the Association that the President's address shall continue to be occupied with a statement of the statutes passed during the year. I am aware that it is a matter of very great importance that this Association should have before it every year a statement of the development of the statute laws of the country. Very great good is done by having the Association examine this subject and by having the work done by some man of pronounced ability who is able to get at the spirit and meaning of the statutes and show the progress of legislation, but at the same time I think it prevents the Association from having the benefit of the original ideas of the man chosen as President on some subject which he wishes to discuss, and it has occurred to me that it might be well to give the President free foot on the topics of the day and at the same time have some responsible and able man appointed to do the other work. I would therefore make the suggestion that this matter be referred to the Executive Committee for its consideration in order to determine whether or not an amendment of the Constitution should be made in this regard. James O. Crosby, of Iowa: I am opposed to that idea. Great honors are always accompanied by great responsibilities, and it is a very great honor to be President of the American Bar Association, and if this work is transferred to the hands of another it should be with a compensation commensurate at least with the labor to be performed, because there would be no honor attached to it. Charles F. Manderson, of Nebraska : If I may indulge in a little personal reminiscence on this subject, I will call the attention of my brethren to the fact that there was placed upon me for two consecutive years, the odd and the even numbered years, the duty as acting Presi dent of making this compilation, showing the noteworthy changes in the laws, federal and state. I found it to be a most difficult task, taking much time, exhausting one's patience and a labor that ought to receive considerable compensation in honor. I agree with my friend that full compensation comes to the man who is honored by selection to the presidency of this Association for any amount of labor that may be entailed upon him. I think, perhaps, the most valued and most valuable part of the printed proceedings of the Association is the information concerning changes in the law contained in the addresses of the Presidents, and I do not believe that if you throw this burden upon a committee or upon any man other than the President of the Association that it will be so well performed. I am glad to note that Mr. Keasbey's proposition is not that we shall now amend the Constitution, but simply suggest this matter to the Executive Committee for its consideration and report. There is nothing in the Constitution that prevents, there is nothing in the Constitution that has ever prevented, any President of this Association from giving his views upon any subject. Sometimes, perhaps, Presidents have stepped a little outside of that which we considered strict professional duty and have given their views upon subjects that might just as well have been omitted; but, however that may be, the President in the preparation of his address can dilate upon any subject that is near his heart to the full extent of his desire, and when it comes to this mere formal matter of showing the changes that have been made in the laws, federal and state, it is very easy for him to ask the congressional privilege and print and not talk. I hope there will be no change made in the Constitution in this respect, for the printed matter showing the changes in statute law is of great value to the profession. Fabius H. Busbee, of North Carolina: I heartily concur in the remarks made by the gentleman. from Nebraska. The labor, if thrown upon a single man, would be great, but I apprehend that the usual course which |