Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-12-13
Re-Compilng the Code.

The Legislature seems in a fair way
to rid itself OF the subject Of much dis
content, by ignoring entirely the work
OF the Code Commission and employ
ing w. Lair Hill to make a new Code
to be submitted to the next Legisla-
ture. This is virtual acknowledge
ment that the combined wisdom OF
1O5 Solons is inadequate to adopt
code OF laws carefully prepared by
three lawyers OF acknowledge reputa-
ton. They propose, however, to place
their successors under the necessity of
passing upon the work Of one man, at
a SESSION Of limited length. "Oh Con-
sistency, thou art a jewell"
Here is the text Of Mr.. Hills propo-
sition, submitted at the request OF a
Joint committee of the two houses:
will compile, arrange and fully an
notate the laws contained in the code
Of the Territory of 1881, and the laws
passed since, including those of the
present session of the Legislature; /
will propose in form for enactment,
such additional laws and amendments,
and such repeal OF superhuous laws as
seem necessary to harmoniZe the
whole body of our laws with the con-
stitution of the State and the new Or
der OF things incident to the change
| from a Territorial to u State govern
ment, together with the bills for the
enactment thereof, excepting in this
connection to be allowed to make such
use as seems desirable of work reported
by the late Territorial Code Commits
sioners. l will print this work in two
royal octave volumes, (Which l esti-
mate at about 500 pages each) and
complete the entire work on time for
the action of the Legislature to meet
in January, 1881. will furnish to
the Governor OF the State for examina
ton by himself and Judges of the SUI
preme Court and Superior Courts and
members of the Legislature. $50 sets
of the work, printed, indexed and
bound in paper binding Immediately
upon the adjournment of the Legisla-
ture in 1891. will republish volumes
with such notifications and additions
as the Legislature shall have made
and deliver to the Secretary of State
1000 sets of two volumes printed and
bound in the best style of law book
binding. l shall wish to receive as
compensation for the editorial work
named and the entire publishing and
republishing of volumes and furnish
ing of l ,150 copies, the sum of $4,000,
PAYABLE as follows: Four thousand
when the editorial work on the RENE
dial and penal code is completed;
81, 900 when all editorial work is COM
pleted except the work OF arraging the
general laws passed at the session of
1891. $1,000 when $50 copies are de-
livered to the Governor, and $4,000
when 1000 sets are delivered to the
Secretary of State. / will further
agree to furnish to the State and pub
lie all the additional copies required
for six years at $40 per set. This
proposition is submitted upon the as
sumption that if the legislature should
determine to act upon it, such action
would be promptly taken as l should
mot wish to undertake work of such
magnitude and responsibility under an
obligation to complete it in the time
Indicated unless it could be commenc-
ed without delay. In explanation OF
the difference between the estimated
amount of $4,000 and the proposed
Estimate of $4,000, it is proper to say
that 1 estimate sales of volumes in adj
dition to 1000 copies OF the complete
work furnished to the State would
probably realize about $4,000 before
the work would get out of date, so as
to be unsaleable.
The proposition was thoroughly dis
cussed by the committee in connec-
ton with Mr.. Snively and Mr.. Hill
land it was concluded advisable to
frame a statute to cover the PROPOSE
ton made by Mr.. Hill, which could
only be accepted through the medium
of q statute enacted for that purpose.
Messrs. Kinnear, Houghton and Her
rem were appointed committee to
draft bill embodying this idea.