The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-05
TO SECURE UNIFORM LAWS.
Commissioners From Each state to
Meet Soon for This PURPOSE.

| Commissioners From Each state to
Meet Soon for This Purpose.
Maj. P. W. Meldrim has been appointed
by Gov. Northen one Of the commissioners
TO represent Georgia at conference OF
commissioners, similarly appointed by gov
ernors of other states and territories, to con-
slider important legal subjects.
! Hon. Walter B. Hill of Macon Is the other
commissioner from this state
At the last meeting Of the American Bar
| Association, OF which Maj. Meldrim il a
| member, committee was appointed to
memorialize the legislatures OF the various
states and territories, or otherwise bring TO
| their attention the necessity existing for a
more uniform system OF laws throughout
| the United States.
The subjects to which the attention of
the commission will be chiefly directed are
the laws of marriage and divorce and the
laws of wills aud estates. The wide differ
euces existing in the laws Of the difere ut
states upon these subjects is well known,
especially to lawyers who frequently have
them TO contend with.
The varied strlngency and laxity of the
laws Of marriage aud divorce in the differ
ent states has become notorious not only in
this country, but throughout the civilized
world.
Maj. Msldrim was seen yesterday about
his appointment, and stated the object of 1t
as given above.
The conference, he says. has been brought
about by the efforts of the American Bar
Association, an organization one OF whose
objects Is 10 promote uniformity Of legisla-
ton throughout the union.
In 1889 the association appointed a com
mittee consisting of one member from each
state TO compare the laws of the different
states upon the subjects OF marriage and
divorce, descent and distribution of prop
erty, acknowledgment Of deeds and execu-
ton and probate OF wills, and to report
such recommendation as would bring about
uniformity Ia the laws Of the several states
relating to the subjects.
In 1890 the association received the report
OF this committee, and as a result thereof
recommended the passage by the legislature
OF each state of an act modelled upon a re-
cent statute of New York, making 10 the
duty OF the governor Of the state to appoint
three commissioners TO be constituted a
board of commissioners, by the name and
style OF commissioners for the promotion OF
uniformity of legislation in the United
States. whose duty 1t should be to examine
the subjects of marriage and divorce, In
solvenoy, the form of notarial osrsificates
descent and distribution OF property, &C
acknowledgements OF deeds, execution and pro-
bate OF wills aud other subjects and TO as
ton and uniformity in the laws of the
| states, and also to consider the subject Of a
conference with commissioners OF other
states TO draft uniform laws to be submitted
for the approval and adoption of che sew
eral states.
The passage OF such an act by
the legislature Of Georgia was secured
through the efforts Of Maj. Meldrim,
the member Of the committee on
uniform laws Of the American Bar Associ-
alton from this state, and other Georgia
members Of the association. Mai Meldrim
was one OF tbs commissioners appointed by
The governor In consequence Of this act
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Michigan
New Jersey, Delaware and other states have
also appointed commissioners under similar
acts of their Legislatures. Just how many
not known. Maj. Meldrim said that
steps to bring about a conference
between the commissioners OF the different
states would be taken by the COMMITTEES
upon uniform laws of the American Bar As
ISOLATION at its next meeting, which will
take place at Saratoga Aug. rs. The an
nual meeting OF the American Bar Associ-
alton will occur on the following day. Aug.
| 26- time aud place OF meeting will prob
ably be suggested to the commissioners ap-
pointed by the different states 1t will also
| be ascertained how many states have ap-
| pointed commissioners for such conference
Maj Meldrim is very much interested Ii
the work delegated 30 the commissioners
| The obtaining of some uniformity in thC
laws Of marriage and divorce, he consider,
Of utmost Importance. At present, he says
the laws upon divorce vary from no grounds
allowed for divorce in South Carolina, *
divorce allowed upon almost no grounds il
other states. By the present laws upoI
marriage in this country, a man may actu
ally be married in one state and not marrieC
in another; man may b
married In foreign country
and not married in some states Ii
this country, and man ma,
have two legal wives residing il
different states, each a legal wife accord
ing to the law OF the state in which she live
aud an illegal wife In the state In which tn
other wife lives. A man may be legal,
married in one state and upon moving T.
another state discover that his marriage /
illegal according to the laws Of that state.
1t is to the work of connecting in some de
gree, OF least, these glaring differences II
these important laws that the American
Bar Association has set itself.