The Irish standard., 1897-02-27


rowing Il oonpsiled toa5wlait ~ lawyers
to examine the title 1T al expense often
outrageously unjust. The question
| arises, why Is the rObber system per-
mitted 70 exist? / answer because our
people have lost their manhood. and
shamefully submit to be plundered by q
set of schemers, who might be called the
chartered robbers of the age. There is
better system in Australia, New Zea-
land, Tasmania, Manitoba, Ontario,
Great Britain and Ireland. A similar
system has been in operation in Ger
many and the Scandinavian countries
for ages. When Richard Torrens intro
duced the system that today bears his
name in Australia, so years ago, he had
to fight the lawyers to the bitter end.
but the people, when they found out the
merit of his SYSTEM. stood by him. II
the people of this state only wake up
and give this matter the attention it de-
serves, the "Torrens system" will soon
be in force here, ais a bill introduced by
Hon. Henry Feig for that pu, Use is
now before the legislature. In illinois.
Ohio, Massachusetts,. Georgia and other
states the people are moving to adopt
the Torrens system: but, as in the case
of every country that has abolished the
old medieval system, the lower classes
of lawyers-the speculative shysters-
are fighting the great body OF the peo-
pie with desperation born of despair.
and as many OF this class are members
of our legislature, their opposition must
be overcome before such a measure can
become law. That the present system
has outlived it's usefulness goes without
saying.
The Torrens system now in operation
in many progressive nations is the long
est step yet takeL anywhere towards
that freedom, security and cheapness in
land transfers which the intrests OF the
people demand. Under that simple.
common sense system it is possible to
ascertain the title to a piece OF land by
simply looking at the certificate on
record, without loss of time Or expense.
Under the Torrens system real estate
can be transferred or pledged for loans
with almost as much ease as stock i'll
corporations; and the title transferred
is absolute, no fear for vexatious, ex-
pensive lawsuits as Is frequently the
case now, as the records Of our courts
will prove. The fact Is, the great ma
jority of our people have no idea what
wretched, expensive, oppressive burden
the present system Is, without one re-
deeming feature. A committe OF ex-
perts in Illinois in report say: we
have for this state an annual expense Of
about $40 900, 900 for abstracts and their
examination. This Is necessary expense
of our cumbersome and yexatious sys-
tenn OF transfers" They further say
that stocks, bonds and other property OF
equal value can be transferred without
dollars expense
I speak within bounds In saying that
the citizens of Minneapolis for the past
ten years have pain 100000 yearly,
over and above, what they would have
paid had the Torrens system been In
operation. This sum does not include
time spent In waiting for lawyers to
look up titles. and for the abstract ma
hobs to make out long abstracts and
many other yexatious, costly annoy
ances. Under this system now In oper-
ton In Australia and other countries
where soulless lawyers have to take
back seat no examination OF records Is
necessary, more than In transferring
bond or certificate Of railroad stock. 1t
IA a. shame and disgrace that the cita-
zens OF this great state quietly submit TO
the continuation of system that is 80
far behind the age; that Expresses all
classes and compels every person buy
Ing or selling or mortgaging land to pay
heavy tribute to a set OF scheming.
tricky, INSCRIPTIONS vampires, costing
the state ct least $4,000, 600 yearly. II
the people desire reform and relief
from this unnecessary grievance let
them call on their members Of the legis-
lature to vote right on Feig's bill.
HECTOR M'LEAN.
Anoka, Minn.-Benjam x. Ballow.