DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRONX 27 



Secretary, Philip J. McKinley. 



That the Taxpayers' Alliance has been of incalculable benefit 

 to the citizens of The Bronx no one will deny. There has not 

 been a public improvement in which the hand of the Alliance 

 cannot be traced. From its very inception, the chief aim of the 

 organization has been to further the general interest and promote 

 the welfare of the Borough, and to attain the greatest good for the 

 greatest number. 



The Association of the Bar of the County of Bronx, Inc., is 

 the only lawyers' organization in the new county. It was incorpo- 

 rated in 1902 as the Association of the Bar of the Borough of 

 the Bronx in the City of New York, the name was changed in 

 February, 1913. 



It was a committee of the Association that drafted the first 

 proposed Bronx County Act back in 1904. Since then this body 

 has steadily kept in the fighting line. When the present act became 

 a law in 1912, a committee of seven was delegated for the inevitable 

 legal struggle to maintain the constitutionality of the legislation. 

 The Association, thru its committee, was the sole advocate of 

 the entire act before the courts. When the decision went contrary, 

 the question was speeded to the Court of Appeals. There the brief 

 filed on behalf of the Association was largely embodied in the 

 opinion that preserved Bronx County. 



The membership is 150 and increasing. Any lawyer in good 

 standing, residing or practising in the City of New York, is eligible 

 for membership. Admission fee and dues are moderate. Advan- 

 tages offered are many, including the use of a large law library 

 in the comfortable headquarters at 1187 Washington Avenue. A 

 regular meeting is held the second Friday evening of the month, 

 at which there is discussion and action on matters of importance 

 to the profession and the county. Prominent men frequently at- 

 tend and deliver addresses. Active officials and committees keep 

 the general spirit keyed high. 



The former presidents are W. Stebbins Smith, J. Homer Hil- 

 dreth, Arthur C. Butts, Douglas Mathewson, and Charles P. Hallock. 



The officers are: 



President: Louis 0. Van Doren. 



Vice Presidents : Maurice S. Cohen and John Davis. 



Secretary: J. Philip Van Kirk. 



Treasurer: Arthur L. Howe. 



