The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-22
An Important Reform.

AN Important Reform.
A great source Of annoyance, litigation
and expense is the lack of uniformity of
laws, relating to most important matters,
in the different states. Not long ago the
MORNING NEWS called attention to the work
of the state boards of commissioners that
are now engaged in making the laws uni
form. In this state the commissioners are
Hon. P. W. Meldrim and MIR. Walter B.
Hill. The report of the proceedings
of the first conference of the
boar is of commissioners has just been pub
lished, and an intererting report it lie. 1t
shows clearly not only the character, but
also the Importance, Of the work the boards
are doing. II they succeed In obtaining
uniformity Of legislation on the subjects Of
marriage and divorce. the execution OF wills
aud deeds, notarial certificates, bills and
notes and commercial law generally" and
other subjects. they will have earned the
lasting gratitude Of their fellow citizens.
The first conference took place at Sara
toga last August and dealt with the follow
ing subjects, viz: The execution and ac-
acknowledgement of written instruments or
deeds, bills and notes, the form of the cer-
tificate to be made by county clerks or
other appropriate public officers. the execu-
ton OF wills, marriage and divorce and
weights and measures. Some OF these
subjects were not dealt with fully, nothing
more being done than the presentation of
recommendations relative to certain phases
of them. For instance, in respect to the
suh ject Of marriage and divorce it is recon-
mended that no decree of divorce be
granted unless the defendant be domiciled
within the state in which the action is
brought. or shall have been domicled there
at the time the cause of action arose, or
unless the defendant shall have been per-
sonaliy served with process within such
state, or shall have voluntarily appeared In
such action. 1t is also recommended that the
age OF consent to marriage be raised
! to IS in the male and 16 in the female, and
that there shall be some formality or cere-
| mony or written evidence, signed by the
parties, aud attested by one or more wit
nesses IN all marriages. 1t is evident that
| if these recommendations should be adopted
there would be fewer divorces and fewer
abuses arising from them.
The subject of weights aud measures is an
extremely important one, and it is not gem
orally known probably that the legal
weights of bushel, for instance, with the
exception of wheat, vary in all the states
for all kinds of grain and other important
commodities of trade. such as rye, barley
coal, potatoes, apples. grass seed, etc. A
moments thought shows the advantage of
having the same legal weights for all the
states.
The foregoing indicates pretty clearly
what the boards OF commissioners are doing,
and no one can help seeing at a glance that
! their work is extremely valuable. The gov
ernor Of this state, in his recent message to
the legislature, called attention to benefits
that would flow from uniformity of law,
and recommended that the legislature make
some provision for bearing Georgia's share
OF the expense OF the work necessary to
secure the desired uniformity. The recom-
mediation should be acted upon. The
amount required is small, and should be
cheertully appropriated.
Do you remember Carlyle Harrisl The
chances are against 1t. During all OF the
political racket for the past few months
Harris has probably been lost sight of. he
is the young medical student who poisoned
his wife, Helen Potts, and was sentenced by
a New York court after a sensational trial