The resolution is voted on and carried, and the following Committee is named:

A. L. Brooks, of Greensboro.

H. F. Seawell, of Carthage.

Theodore F. Davidson, of Asheville.

Upon the request of General Theodore Davidson that he be excused from serving, Mr. L. M. Bourne, President of the Asheville Bar Association, is substituted in his place. The President: I will call up the report offered by Mr. McLean, Chairman of the Committee on Legislation and Law Reform.

The President: Do you ask affirmative action by the Association?

At its regular session in 1914, this Association referred the following resolution to this Committee:

RESOLVED, That the Committee on Legislation and Law Reform investigate the principle of the Workmen's Compensation Act, and report their conclusions and findings to the next meeting of this Association.

It appears from the wording of the resolution that the committee was expected to consider only the principle embodied in these acts, and not to report any proposed bill to this meeting of the Association. After carefully considering the matter your committee recommends that the Association adopt the following resolution:

RESOLVED, That this Association approves the principle involved in the legislation commonly referred to as the Workmen's Compensation Act, and expresses the hope that the next General Assembly of North Carolina will enact proper laws on this subject.

In connection with this resolution, we desire to express the opinion that the efficiency and satisfactory operation

of such an act depend almost exclusively upon the wisdom and justness of its provision, and that the mistake which some of the States have made in enacting such legislation ought carefully to be avoided.

Mr. Edmond Jones, of Lenoir: I do not rise for the purpose of discussing that resolution, but in referring to the action of the Legislature with regard to certain new statutes passed by it; if I caught his reading, it appears that it authorizes service of process by telephone, including summons. My understanding is that that act as finally passed by the Legislature referred only to the summoning of jurors to attend court and to the services of subpoenas, but not to initial process by way of summons in civil actions. I think it was amended in the Senate.

Mr. McLean: This committee is required to bring to the notice of the Association any legislation that is enacted since its last meeting. It authorizes the service of certain processes by telephone; there is no intention to say that original processes can be served that way-subpoenas and notices to jurors.

Mr. Edmond Jones: Wouldn't it be better to substitute some other word than "process"?

Mr. McLean: That may be better. This is merely to refer the members of the Association to it so that they can look it up. I will change it from "process" to "process other than original process."

It is moved and seconded that this change be made. Adopted.

Mr. H. F. Seawell, of Carthage: I desire to offer a resolution in connection with that:

RESOLVED, That the present Committee on Legislation and Law Reform be and it is hereby appointed a special committee to draft a bill embodying the principles of the Workmen's Compensation Law, to be reported at the next regular meeting of this Association for discussion and presentment to the Legislature, if then deemed proper.

Mr. McLean: You mean a committee appointed by the incoming President?

Mr. Seawell: I mean the same committee, for they have already investigated it. Having investigated it, I think they are better prepared to do that than another that might be appointed.

Mr. J. D. Bellamy, of Wilmington: While I am greatly in favor of the principle embodied in the Workmen's Compensation Act, and while I believe that the corporations themselves have begun to believe in it, yet I would like, before I vote for my brother's resolution, to know what the text of the bill is that will be presented to the next Legislature. I do not care to approve a bill without knowing the features.

Mr. Seawell: The Association meets before the next session of the Legislature, and therefore, if I may be permitted to say so, I will ask that the committee prepare it and present it to this meeting next year before it is adopted by the Legislature.

The President: Do you want the old committee?

Mr. Seawell: Yes. The special committee for that purpose, that it be continued.

The President: The gentleman from Moore moves that the present Committee on Legislation and Law Reform be continued and prepare and present for the coming session of this Association a bill on Workmen's Compensation.

Mr. McLean: I am in favor of the principle of the Workmen's Compensation Act, but I do think the provisions of the act that tend to carry this principle in effect very important. I know that men differ, lawyers and others differ about the particular provisions that ought to be embodied in this act, but I sometimes doubt the wisdom of a committee drawing a bill to submit to the Legislature. I believe we have gone far enough in endorsing the principle, and it would be wiser to leave it to the Legislature to work it out. They will have finally to pass upon it and I doubt if we should attempt to adopt or submit to the Legislature any particular bill.

Mr. T. W. Davis: I will say that I have read the discussions of the different Bar Associations, and before the State of Massachusetts passed the Workmen's Compensation Act that matter was discussed and threshed out in the Massachusetts Bar Association, which had a committee appointed under this resolution, and they had a bill prepared and the committee sent the bill out and it was discussed and put before the meeting for discussion. Several discussed one side and several another, and they got up the best bill that has been gotten up yet, and I think this committee should report it to this Association next year, and not leave it to the Legislature to work out.

Judge J. D. Murphy, of Asheville: I hold with Mr. McLean's view. I do think that the principle of the Workmen's Compensation Act ought to be enacted as law. I think in the preparation of the bill all interests should be represented on the committee in perfecting the bill. I have understood that a committee from the Woodworkers has already been appointed. The Textile Manufacturers have taken no action, as I understand, but I am informed that the large manufacturing interests of North Carolina favor such a bill, and that in the preparation of the bill the employers and employees are to be represented and, of course, the lawyers draft the bill. There was presented to the last Legislature a bill by J. R. Young. I suggest that this Association appoint a committee with power to ask representatives of the employer class and employee class to join in the preparation of a bill to be discussed by this Association at its next meeting, because we know, unjust as it is-for there is no man on the face of the earth that has more desire for real justice-we know that if the bill originates with lawyers exclusively, there might be some prejudice against it, unreasonably so, but nevertheless it will be so, and we ought to ask the other interests to join us, and they will probably do so. I move that, as an amendement, the chair include three representatives of the employer class; three representatives from the public service; Textile Manufacturers and Woodworking Manufac

turers-three from each of those classes-to co-operate with the Committee on Legislation and Law Reform, as all these committees have a right to be heard, and their assistance will be very valuable.

Mr. Rickman, of Asheville: There are a dozen or more that ought to be represented; why only three?

Mr. Edmond Jones: Has Judge Murphy's amendment been seconded?

The Secretary: No.

Mr. A. L. Brooks, of Greensboro: I think, Mr. Chairman, the suggestion of Judge Murphy would tend to absolutely kill this matter. If you want anything done, it must be done by two or three or four.

The President: That will not be in order until it is seconded. The motion of Mr. Seawell is seconded.

Mr. Edmond Jones: I move that it appear as a draft of a bill instead of a bill, simply because if we prepare a bill, it might imply dictation.

Mr. Brooks, of Greensboro: This bill should be very carefully drawn. I had occasion to study the subject and I happen to know that there are a number of interests, accident companies, for instance, and other interests that would like to see the Workmen's Compensation Act, but the effectiveness of this act depends solely upon its justice, and I am thoroughly convinced that an act that is not properly safeguarded, that purports to be in favor of those injured or maimed, and whose earning capacity is destroyed, should be so drawn that the greatest care will be exercised. I move that this Association appoint a committee to report to this Association at its next meeting and then have it discussed, because it cannot be too thoroughly discussed, and then such a bill as is reported upon sent to the Legislature, and have a committee go to the Legislature and co-operate with the other Associations and interests so that a bill may finally be put through the Legislature, not that has been prepared for the benefit of any particular class, but that will work justice to all. We have posiknowledge of the fact that a number of the States that have