APPENDIX IV

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE COLLEGE OF LAW

To the President of the University:

Sir: I have the honor to submit the report of the College of Law for the academic year 1907-1908.

The death of Judge Finch in July, 1907, deprived the College of one of its oldest and most devoted friends and of a teacher who for many years had inspired students from the wealth of his legal learning, the breadth of his culture and the grace and force of his powers of exposition. The valuable course of lectures heretofore given by him on the history and evolution of law was necessarily stricken from the curriculum as it was manifestly unwise to attempt to continue it under any other professor.

In other respects all the courses announced have been given regularly, and down to this time no member of the Faculty has failed to meet his classes at every hour assigned.

He

Professor Alfred Hayes, Jr., has conducted the courses in torts, equity jurisdiction and constitutional law with great success. has won the admiration and regard of all his colleagues in the Faculty and of the students. The course in bills, notes and checks, heretofore given by Professor Huffcut, was given during the first term by Mr. Colson with such success that it has been determined that he shall remain in charge of that course.

Judge Alfred C. Coxe, who has for so long given the course in admiralty, tendered his resignation because of the increased pressure of duties on the Circuit Court of Appeals. It was with great regret that the Faculty realized the necessity of losing his services and of severing relations with him as a colleague. Judge Coxe's letters have evinced a continuance of his interest in and friendship for the College, and it was largely through his advice that Judge George C. Holt, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, was invited to become his successor. Judge Holt has given the course in admiralty this year. The lectures were attended throughout by almost every student and were received with marked approval.

Judge Gunnison was unable to return from Alaska and give the course in bankruptcy. It was given by Mr. William H. Hotchkiss of the Buffalo bar, who has, ever since the passage of the present "Bankruptcy Law," been a referee in bankruptcy, who has edited the later editions of the text book in general use, and who, by his careful study and suggestions, has contributed greatly to the perfection of the law by amendments. The course as given by him proved very valuable.

Several special lectures were given during the year. Judge Hiscock, our honored Trustee, delivered during the first term a timely and suggestive address on "The Police Power." During the second term a course of four lectures was given on practical problems which present themselves to one about to commence the practice of law. For this course were selected graduates of the College, most of them graduates of recent years. These lawyers, speaking from recent experience and from a recollection of their own problems as the close of their law school course approached, accomplished the purpose of the course by aiding the students in solving critical questions concerning the choice of a location and equipment for the particular duties which will confront them upon their admission to the bar. To all those who have lent their assistance in this way, the Faculty desires to express its obligations.

The registration in the three classes since the full three year course was in operation is shown by the following table:

In addition there have been registered 25 students from other Colleges of the University, nearly all from the College of Arts and Sciences. This number is exactly the same as last year. The greater number of these students from the College of Arts and Sciences expect to continue the study of law as a profession, but a

few pursue certain courses, chiefly that in contracts, as a preparation for commercial pursuits. The courses now given are all extended courses designed solely to meet the needs of those intending to pursue the practice of law, and are not adapted to students who desire a general knowledge of the fundamental branches of law for cultural purposes, or as an aid in other vocations. There has been for some years a demand from the Engineering Colleges for briefer and less technical courses in contracts, torts and property, and students in the College of Arts and Sciences should be offered like general courses in these and other subjects. It is recommended that provision be made as soon as practicable for courses of the character indicated for the benefit of students in other Colleges in the University.

Of the 206 Law students 63 came from outside the State of New York. Last year there were 62 and in 1905-1906, 57.

The number of students in attendance May 1, 1908, was 180. Of the 26 registered and no longer in attendance, two transferred to the College of Arts and Sciences, 11 voluntarily withdrew, 12 were dropped for failure in work and one completed his course at the end of the first term and was given a leave of absence.

A year ago a radical change in the four year course was announced. In the past the greater part of the work of the students in that course has been each year in the College of Law. The change consisted in placing in the first year of the four year course a single Law subject, torts, and in requiring students in that year to take 12 hours a week of work in the College of Arts and Sciences. Elementary economics and English history are required subjects and the remainder of the Arts work is elected with the advice and approval of the Dean. The largest number entering the four year course in any previous year was 8. This year 24 registered. This increase confirms the statement in last year's report that there seems to be "a growing sense of the desirability of some kind of college work prior to the pursuit of professional study." Other facts lend emphasis to the statement. Of the three year Law students in their first year, 11 transferred from the College of Arts and Sciences after one or more years of work in that College and nine others entered after having one or more years of academic work in other institutions of collegiate rank. Five have the A.B. degree. Altogether only 39 members out of 89 are pursuing the first year Law work without previous Arts study. Furthermore, two students who registered for the three year Law course transferred to the College

of Arts and Sciences with the expressed intention of pursuing one or more years of work there and then resuming the study of law, and four others, expressing to the Dean their sense of inadequate preparation, have consulted him as to the practicability of transferring at the close of their first year of Law study for a year or two of work in Arts. The growing realization by the students themselves of the inadequacy of a high school course as preparation for professional study, and the conviction of the Faculty that further preparation is desirable led to the statement in the announcement for next year, just published, that "applicants who have not had at least two years of college work leading to an A.B. degree, or to some equivalent degree, are strongly advised to pursue the four year course." entire Faculty hope that this advice may soon become a requirement. The discipline of the College has been well maintained. Students have been almost uniformly regular in attendance and attentive to their tasks. They have heartily cooperated with the Faculty in its efforts to render efficient the work of the College. The so-called "honor system" was adopted in January, 1907, on the initiative and at the request of the students. While perhaps it is still too soon to pronounce conclusive judgment upon its merits the Faculty is convinced that so far it has produced good results, and that so long as the students maintain it in their present spirit it is desirable that it should be continued.

The

In these days when it is generally thought that the ranks of the profession are overcrowded, and that the young lawyer must wait a long time for employment, it is gratifying to note that the graduates of the College seem readily to find acceptable opportunities. During the year the Dean was several times compelled to answer inquiries for men by stating that he knew of no graduate of the school who desired the proffered position.

The report of the librarian is herewith submitted. It will be observed that the funds available have permitted little except the continuation of series already commenced, with such additions as seemed absolutely necessary. I beg leave to direct attention to the work pursued by the librarian in collecting the statutes of the various states. He has carried this work on with the skill and intelligence which have characterized all his efforts. A comparatively small appropriation would now permit its completion. The library will not be properly equipped for research work until this collection is complete. The difficulty of obtaining the remaining books and the expense of obtaining them are continually increasing

as other institutions realize the importance of such a collection and undertake the same work. I earnestly hope that the recommendation of the librarian for an opportunity to complete the collection be favorably considered.

Respectfully submitted,

FRANK IRVINE,

Director of the College of Law.

APPENDIX V

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE MEDICAL COLLEGE

To the President of the University:

Sir: I have the honor to present the following report of the Medical College for the year 1907-1908.

The important event of the year was the action of the Trustees directing that beginning with 1908-1909 no one shall be admitted to the school as a student in preparation for the degree of M.D. but graduates of certain accredited colleges and universities; and that for the ensuing year even such graduates shall not be admitted unless they are also proficient in inorganic chemistry and physics. Apart from the time gained in eliminating these two subjects from the schedule it is expected that a better educated class of students will enable us to modify our system of quizzing, so that fewer instructors may be needed. These changes constitute a fit beginning for the second decade of the school.

The completion of the first ten years of our existence warrants inquiry as to how much we have accomplished in justification of the public spirited generosity which prompted the creation of this College and the munificence which the founder has unfailingly exhibited towards it.

About the period of the foundation of the school it had become conspicuously evident that the proper place for the successful nurture of medical education was that assigned it at the beginnings of organized institutions of learning, that is, within the folds of the university as one of its coordinate colleges. The fact that Cornell