Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-29
LAwMsKiNG REFORM.

The. .Dyerproducti6i Of Law"'was the
subiect Of a lengthy aadress delivered
at Thursdays session of the American
Bar Association by Hon. John w. Griggs'
Governor of New Jersey. careful pc
rusal Of the address developes that one
very important question escaped the at
tention of Governor Griggs. That ques-
ton is: If we curtail the production OF
laws TO any appreciate extent, what Will
the ever increasing lawyer product OF
the country feed upon?
Seriously. however. Governor Griggs's
address was timely and full OF sugges-
tions of reform well worthy Of the con-
sideration of our state and national legis-
latures. There is no doubt as the speak
err said, that there is no one thing In
all the various departments of govern
ment or business that is carried on with
less scientific or orderly method than the
making OF law. There is also no doubt
as TO the correctness of his view mat
the process of turning mental concep-
ton into a law is so simple and easy
I'm the ordinary State Legislature that
laws are losing the sanction of solemnlty
and moral authority that they once pos
sessed.
The tendency of the age is to load the
statute books with what may be termed
special laws. which in many cases are
covered, as TO principles. by previous
enactments. with the result of protract-
ng and complcating litigation and piling
up conflicting decisions.
In treating Of the remedies for this
state of things, the speaker declared that
q was necessary that our Legislative
bodies should be controlled, restrained,
and regulated by proper sense OF the
solemnity and responsibility that per-
tain TO the power they exercise, and that
they should learn 10 respect the WISDOM
OF conservatism and TO value stability
more than experiment Also, that there
was needed higher sense of respon-
sibility among lawyers who engaged in
the drafting of bills at private soicita-
ton; and that there ought to he more
censorious attitude among Legislators
toward propositions for legislation that
emanate from private sources. In large
degree" added Governor Griggs, faulty
construction OF our statutes Is due tc
the legal profession; for there Is no doubt
that they are mostly framed by lawyers
But they are prepared in most Instances
by attorneys specially employed for par
ticular objects, which, being accom-
plished, little regard is paid TO their lie
lation TO kindred laws or TO their effec
upon the general body of Jurisprudence.
In support OF his contention as to over
production, the speaker cited the numbers
OF new laws to be found In the volumes
Of Acts Of Assembly for this year of the
States OF Massachusetts. New York. New
Jeryy. Pennsylvania. and Illinois W.
doubt not he could have further fortife,
his contention by putting In evidence
some recent volumes of Virginia Acts o
Assembly.
Governor Griggs expressed the opinion
that biennial sessions OF State Legisla
OF reducing the amount OF legislation. AM
for that reason he commended them. A
10 the proposition that biennial session
IN themselves carry cure for the evil
he so forcibly presented. Governor Grigg
will find many who viii take issue witt
him. The principal argument advances
against biennial sessions is that the,
are the fruitful source of in-digested
hurried. and unnecessary legislation
But on the score OF economy. the biennia
system, wherever II has been adopted
has ''come 20 stay" and IL the systen
does present the objections named. ant
is destined TO be extended. as Goyerno
'-0rs~~s h~sisves there Is all the more rea