Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1884-12-17
THE COMPILED LAWS.

A Carson paper says: EVERY prac-
ticing attorney in the State is aware
that the compiled laws have become,
not only antiquated, but are scarcely to
be obtained. The two volumes were
printed in 1878 and have never been
satisfactory to the profession or the
laity, Since then, moreover, five vol
umes of statutes have been enacted and
published, which are not included in
the compiled laws. Much that remains
pom the statute books is obsolete, or
.pealed or modified, The result Is
that out oftthe mass of legislation
which has been enacted since 1861
there is but little to guide either the
practitioner or every day citizen to a
correct understanding of the statutes
npon any given subject, unless the
research be laborious, extensive and
skillful. Practically, therefore, our
State is without that compilation or
codifying of the statutes which every
other State provides for the people. In
1882 w. E. F. Deal commenced the
work of compilation, and in the midst
of steady practice he has found time
to bring the matter to good state OF
forwardness. His familiarity with the
course of legislation cannot be excelled
by that of any member of the bar in
Nevada. His work is consequently
destined to be Of the highest benefit,
and will prove permanently valuable
to the profession. 1t appears that his
labor has taken the form of a compia-
ton and annexation of our laws on
basis that will reflect the statute law
As it stands, together with the judicial
construction of our Supreme Court,
and also the construction of the
Supreme Court OF California
upon statutes similar to ours.
For all this arduous labor he
proposes only that compensation to
himself which comes from professional
pride and usefulness. He suggests,
however, that the coming session of
the Legislature shall contract with him
for the publication of the manuscript,
which shall include also the statutes of
1885. He will, he says, furnish the
State with 600 copies complete of the
compilation for $1,000, and have at
least 300 copies more for sale at SIS
each. The work is to be delivered to
the Secretary of State within eight
months after the close of the session.
1t will be in one volume, and the
paper, binding, indexing, mechanical
execution, is to be first.class. The
book is to receive the approval of the
Supreme Court of the State, before the
sale shall be binding upon the State
for disbursement of the $1,000"
There is no man in the State more
competent to perform the task OF CON-
pilation than Mr.. Deal. The only
surface objection to his plan is the
probability of portion of the work
being done outside of the State. We
rs State, are yerging little toward
impecuniosity, and it is proper that we
should consider our own welfare
before that of all others. Nevada has
. first-class printing office, and it
has been demonstrated that il can do
its own work cheaper than it can con-
tract for having it done in California.
And even if it should cost few dollars
more to have the work done at home,
the economy of expending $4,000 at
home instead of sending $4,000 to
California, is too self evident to admit
of argument.
1t might be urged also, upon tenable
grounds, that the retaining of the copy
right and 300 copies TOR private sale
would interfere with the State sales
and seriously impair the only mode
by which the State can get any cash
returns from the rather heavy outlay.
Let the State contract with Mr.. Deal
for the delivery of the manuscript to
the Secretary of State, and then make
. suitable appropriation to have the
book printed at the Nevada State
Printing Office.
California is dotted with palaces
built by Nevada bullion, and the time
has arrived when we should begin to
build few cottages for ourselves