New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-15

that there is 10 organized machinery Tor se'"l
ing concert of legislation among the different
States-nothing which even so much rs supplie'
the place of diplomatic representatives WI"
ed wise their own Governments OF what Is uoils
ir the capitals to which they are acfredl'eu-
and vet the separate States OF the Union are
affected more profoundly by the policy OF each
other than the different nations OF Europe can
possibly he. As a result, the Lawmakers OF tn"
various States. who are not invariably broad
minded and statesmanlikc men, who know
nothing of what Is doing or has been done in
other States and who have no means OF finding
ont these facts if they had the inclination, are
left 70 their own devices and to snch influences
rs may chance to prevail at Albany or Ienton
or Harrisburg. And thus it happens that lines
of State policy are diverSnS more ana more
widely III regard to the very matters when
come home most closely to mems business ana
bOsoms.
That our State laws have already come to be
a hackiess and tangled wilderness Of inconsi't-
encies Mr.. Smith shows by citing many stlik-
incly illustrative examples. The same property
can be the object of taxation III three or more
different States. The elementary questions
which arise as to the validity and ncgohahillty
of commercial paper are answered IN dliIef-
emf WAY every time a State line is crossed. \
note which is absolutely good in one Common
wealth i, valucleSS in another while It's posses
sion in a third may suffice to imprlson It's
owner. A cautious lawyer will often hesitate
before giving an opinion on the validity oil
contract until he has famiiarilcd himself with
fine LEGISLATION of three or four different States.
4 man may be imprisoned for bigamy in one
State. while he is the lawful husband OF one
wife in another. He may be a married man IN
one State aud m unmarried man i'll another.
He may have one lawful wife in one State and
another lawful wife IN another State. The
conflict of laws relating to corporations, part
ncrshnps. wills, intestacy, all domestic relations
and the whole circle of topics which are sub
iects for State legislation is equally violent.
Every interest. social, domestic, commercial
and moral, which naturally operates without re-
gard to State limits to bind the country into
closer union, finds an obstruction to its free de-
vclopment IN the pcrniciouS incompHuolllty OF
State laws.
Now this growing evil can I've cured in two
ways. Some power higher than the States may
enact uniform laws for the whole country or
the States NAV voluntarily adopt harmonious
ana self-consiStcnt policy. The first remedy Is
.entralization. But, Us President Woolsey has
demonstrated in regard to Federal Intervention
in the matter Of divorce laws, this would mean
q revolution in our form of government, and
prudent persons will hesitate before counsel
ling the adoption of such heroic treatment
Mr. Smith suggests a permanent council a. an
organ of official and diplomatic communication
between the States, with functions dchbcrativc
and advisory only. Its members could be IN
constant communication with the Legislatures
and Judiciaric, of the several states. and they
would be in a position 70 detect defects in the
workings of the National code and propose
changes. 1t would occupy a vantage ground
above any state Legislature in discussing Qurs-
tions of National poIty, while the horizon OF
the legislators themselves would be broadcncd
rs they felt that they were acting in concert
with other States, and the spirit Of Nationality
would he tostcrcd without adding any prcpon-
drradng power to the Federal Government.
This council could admirably OH the place OF
and cost no more than the commissions which
are now annually appointed by nearly every
State to investigate aud report upon important
subjects of statute regulation. Ii w0sld Toe an
invaluable agency for the dissemination OF po-
litical truth, and under is tuition the people
could learn how their commerce., industry aud
trade have been dcprcS, ed and discouraged by
conflicting laws. If only few States could be
induced AT first to unite in such convention,
it, evident advantages vould prubahly attract
others and the influence OF the council would
grow more potent rs it, members increased aud
it came 10 be recognized more widely IS a be-