Evening star., 1894-04-13

of civil procedure was to obliterate the dis
tinction between the form of action and
between legal and equitable suits. so that
all the rights of the parties in relation TO
the subject Of litigation can be determined
In one action, instead of dividing them he
tween different suits. This system has
been adopted in twenty-four of the states
and territories. and is the basis of the
legal reform established by the new Judi
cature act in England, and of the practice
In several of the English colonies, including
India Eighteen of the states and terri
tories have adopted this code of criminal
procedure.
For some years following the enactment
of these laws he continued to publish numer-
Gus pamphlets, including the Law Reform
Tracts" also frequent articles. and drafted
bills that were introduced into the legisla-
ture for the purpose of effecting the compile
tion of codification. In 1857 Mr.. Field was
appointed by the state of New York head OF
commission to prepare a political code a
penal code and civR code These with the
two codes of procedure previously made
were designed to supersede the unwri:ten or
common law.
They were completed in 1861. an dcovared
the entire province of American law. and
presented to the people in compact form the
whole law by which they were governed.
The state of New York has as Vet ,6on,a5
only the penal code, although othar states
nave drawn largely on the civil codes in
their legislature and in California and the
Dakotas they have adopted them in fun.
Reforming international Law,
In 1866 he brought before the British As
sociation for the Promotion of Social Sci
ence. at its meeting in Manchester. Eng
land, a proposal for a general revision a, a
reform of the law of nations, similar to that
which he Rad before undertaken in regard
to the civil and criminal laws He indncaa
tne appointment of committee. consisting
OF emlnent Jurists of different countries,
charged with preparing and reporting 10 tbe
association an outline of the interna-ional al
code, to be first submitted to their caref,1i
revision and amendment and when made &c
eomPiete az possible to be presented TO the
attention of the different governments in
the hope of receiving at some time their an
proVal and adoption as the recognized IL n,
OF nations. The distinguished jurists com
posing TINS committee resided in different
countries, and hence it was difficult 10 ACT
In concert In consequence, Mr. Field Tonk
the whole matter upon himself and in lS72
aIter the lapse of seven years presented 10
oie social science congress his Outlines OF
an international Code" which attracted the
attention of all jurists, and has been trans
lated into French. Italian and Chinese
1t resulted in the formation of an asso-
cation for the reform and codification of
tne laws OF nations also having for his
OBJECT the substitution of arbitration for
war in the settlement of disputes between
countries. The membership includes jurists.
ieSlsldlOIS ana pOllt1c1anS, ard
to this organization Mr.. Field was elected
first president.
An eminent chancellor of England has
SAID that Mr.. Dudley Field Of New York
has done more for the reform of laws than
any other living man."
Mr.. Field took much interest in politics
originally democrat, he voted with that
PARTY, although he persistently opposed
Its pro-slavery policy, until the nolnination
OF John c. Fremont in 1856, whom he sup
ported in the presidential canvass of that
year. During the civil war he was a
staunch adherent of the administration
and was active with voice, pen and purse
in aid of his country.
For eight weeks in 1876 he filled the un-
expired term in Congress of Smith Ely,
who had been mayor of New York city
He acted with the democratic party and
was one of the advocates on that side in
the dispute over the presidential election.
He delivered numerous addresses and
contributed largely to current literature
on political topics. His Sketches over the
Sea" appeared at the time of his first trip
abroad In 1886, and he published speeches,
arguments and miscellaneous papers.
The funeral services will take place at
Calvary Church on Sunday afternoon next
at 30 o'clock.
The interment will take place at Stock
bridge. Mass, on Monday.
Mayor Gilroy ordered the flags on the
city hall to be displayed at half mast today
for the death of MIR. Field.