University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

Page 21 text:

some question of a three years ' course in law. He met it and has settled it to the satisfaction of everyone. There was serious apprehension that the lengthening of the course would materially diminish the attendance of students. It was generally conceded that the change involved a sacrifice in numbers. What a surprise! The three years ' course has been in operation three years and we now have more students in attendance in the Department of Law than at any other time in its history. This result is due in no small degree to the administrative ability of Dean Hutchins. To advance the standard of admission to the bar in the West has been the ambition of every lawyer interested in the profession and in the cause of legal education. No one has been more influential along this line than Dean Hutchins. In 1892 he advocated, in an address before the New York Bar Association, the appointment of a State Commission for the examination of candidates for admission to the bar. The commission was soon raised and still exists. In February, 1895, at Kalamazoo, in this State, he delivered before the State Bar Association an address on Legal Education and its Relation to the State, in which changes were suggested regarding the appointment of a commission for the same pur- pose. His suggestions were adopted and the commission appointed is doing valuable service to the State. It is interesting to observe that the agitation which he has greatly assisted in promoting during the past few years, in favor of a higher standard in legal education, has had a marked influence upon the West. Law schools are adopting the three years ' course and legislatures are requiring three years of study for admission to the bar. A few years ago Professor Hutchins edited Williams on Real Property, and the work is now used in nearly all the law schools of this country. But he is not the writer of many books. To law journals he has made frequent contributions and his occasional addresses have helped to mould public sentiment along proper lines in his chosen profession. As a writer Professor Hutchins is a model in judgment and taste, and it is to be regretted that we have not received more from his pen; but the demands that have been made on his administrative ability have taken his time. Perhaps we have gained more on the one hand than we have lost on the other. A true leader in the field of facts is greater than a moulder of legal fictions. In 1897, the University of Michigan was honored by a call from President McKinley. He desired the services of our President Angell.

Page 20 text:

assistance to her husband in the performance of his present duties and also of great value to our community. Mr. Hutchins was admitted to the bar in 1876 and commenced practice at Mt. Clemens and Detroit as a member of the firm of Crocker Hutchins. In 1884 the Regents of the University were looking for some one to succeed Judge Cooley, as Jay Professor of Law, he having resigned that position, to the regret of all interested, and after many years of invaluable service to the institution. At this time Mr. Hutchins had made his mark as a teacher, as a lawyer at the bar, and as a literary gentleman of rare attainments. He had also been presented before the people of the State as a candidate for the position of Regent of the University. He was unanimously called by the Regents to the Jay Professorship and entered upon his duties in the fall of 1884. There were no doubts as to his qualifications for this new field of work. His success as a teacher and as a leader of students in and out of the class room was assured as soon as he returned to the campus where he had previously studied and taught. In 1887 Cornell University decided to establish a law department. Her eye fell upon Michigan and Professor Hutchins was invited to under- take the work of building up a school of law at that institution. He accepted the call. Ten years have passed and through his efforts Cor- nell has in its buildings, its library and its faculty, one of the best law schools in this country. Intelligence in administration and executive force are essential in university work and few men possess these qualifications in a higher degree than Professor Hutchins. We may quote here the words of Professor Huff cut, of Cornell: During the eight years that Professor Hutchins has guided the affairs of the school its growth in efficiency, reputation and material resources has been rapid and in some respects remarkable. The first faculty consisted of three members; it now numbers five resident professors and seven non-resident lecturers. The attendance of students has increased from 55 in the first year to 225 during the present year. It began life in the attic of an over-crowded building; it is now housed in a superb building erected to meet its special needs at a cost of over $100,000. Its library has grown from almost noth- ing to over 22,000 volumes. In 1895 Professor Hutchins was called by the Regents to the position of Dean of the Law Department of the University of Michigan. On entering upon his duties here, he found confronting him the trouble-

Page 22 text:

There was trouble in Turkey. The call was answered in the affirmative, but some one was required to fill his place temporarily at the University. ' The Regents selected the Dean of our Law Department and made him Acting President of the University. This was a great honor and well deserved by the man who received it. The writer knows that this honor came unexpectedly and under embarrassing conditions. It is one thing to be dean of a law school and quite another thing to be held responsible for the conduct of 3,000 students and seven facu lties. It is easy to deal with students, but faculties sometimes give trouble, in administrative work. The president of a university, great or small, carries a heavy burden. Acting-President Hutchins has been so successful with all concerned that he may be congratulated. His good sense has kept him from sug- gesting any startling changes. He is not by nature a sensational man. Some things, however, that he has done during the past few months ought to be mentioned. In a quiet way an addition to the Law Building, costing some $50,000, has been provided for. Again, there has been for several years a feeling that the University was not in touch with the people. This is radically wrong. But Acting-President Hutchins saw an opportunity of righting this wrong and asked various professors of the University to talk at farmers ' institutes, upon subjects of interest. This was done and at the round up at Lansing, Acting-President Hutchins spoke. What he said at this time is not important, but the fact that he developed the idea of having University professors visit farmers ' institutes throughout the State is important. The idea is valuable and he is entitled to credit for it. The closer the University comes to the people the better for the University and the better for the people. In concluding we are justified in calling attention to the fact that the subject of this sketch is not old. He is in the prime of life and with great promise during the years to come. His personal characteristics are so good that it would be bad taste for me to mention them, knowing him so well. All are to be congratulated, however, upon the fact that he is an alumnus of the University of Michigan. We are proud of the fact.