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Memorandum in re Corpus jun's

71

We believe that a large group of ex perts should be employed, but that in

might by any possibility arise, such as in matters of classiﬁcation, the space

order properly to co—ordinate the activi

to be assigned particular subjects, the

of all those collaborating there

method of treatment of mooted points

should be highly centralized executive and editorial control, with sufficient

in the law, etc., etc.,—in fact, the making

power to enforce proper proportion, clas

editorial matter. As explained here after, they are to have the best expert advice and assistance obtainable, and we would expect at least three or four

ties

siﬁcation, system, method and style in every department of the work. Dr. Andrews, Dean Kirchwey and I after numerous conferences have worked out a plan which we believe to be prac tically workable, an essential element

of success,—a plan which in our judg ment should bring to the profession in

the near future that for which the call has gone out now at intervals for more than a century, but which has never been answered, yet the need of which is more apparent today than at any

other period in our history. The plan in outline is as follows:—

We propose to block out with the ablest expert advice obtainable the entire ﬁeld of the law under a logical system of classiﬁcation, so that when the work is

published, the law on any particular point may readily be ascertained. BOARD OF EDITORS.

Our plan,

of this Board of Editors supreme in every

of this Board to devote their entire time to the work, and all to attend sessions

whenever necessary. ASSOCIATE BOARD OF ED ITORS. We also propose to form with the aid of the central group of editors, an Associate Board of Editors, to con

sist of about twenty, each to represent the best the law-schools have in the way of experts in particular departments of the law. These men must also re ceive such compensation aswill command

the services of the ablest men in every department of the law. The chief function of a member of this Associate Board of Editors would be the preparation of the text on the particular topic or branch of the law assigned him. It would no doubt also be feasible to form small advisory

stated more in detail, is to associate a Board of Editors not exceeding seven men—the ablest to be found in America, so situated that they can undertake the

groups upon particular topics, the same to be composed of the ablest men in the

work (such as the late James Barr Ames of Cambridge and John H. Wigmore of

nized experts in particular branches.

profession, who either as practitioners, authors or teachers, have become recog After the system of classiﬁcation, etc.,

Chicago, whom I mention merely as

has been outlined by the Editors, and

types). The criterion for selection must be that each is the best expert obtain

the Associate Board been formed, it

able for the particular class of work to

tem of classiﬁcation most thoroughly

would be called into session and the sys

be represented and directed by him, and

examined, and revised wherever neces

each must receive whatever compensa tion is necessary to command the best

authoritative control over every editorial

sary as a result of the deliberations of the combined editorial forces, aided by an Advisory Council, concerning which I shall speak in a few moments. Our plan is not to ask the Associate

matter about which differences of opinion

Board of Editors to give up their law

services in every ﬁeld.

Our plan in

volves vesting in this Board ﬁnal and