The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-18
For Uniform, Laws
Among The STATES
From the Philadelphia Ledger.

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
The complex form of the American gov
ernment affords favorable conditions for
the progress and development of law. our
forty-fve state legislatures are so many
separate experiment stations, where va
ilous forms of legislation may be SUBJ
jected to the test of actual experience.
The independence of the states within
their proper sphere, and the large number
of important matters which are left TO
their control secure sincerity and earn
estuess in the business of legislation. The
state legislatures are not merely playing
at law-making They are invested with
true authority over a wide sphere, includ-
ing varied and most important interests.
They are not subject to any imperial or
autocratic veto which may arbitrarily
nulify their best endeavors Their work
stands unless in conflict with the consti-
tuition of the United states, and approves
itself or is dsapproved in the light of its
actual results The large number of the
states gives room for great variety In
these legislative experiments. And the un-
ity of the nation, the strength of the
forces which in every nation strive to-
ward uniformity the diffusion of intol.i-
gence. the facilities for travel, the clear
consciousness that corrupt or imperfect
laws In any state are an injury and
disCredit to the whole nation, may be re-
sonably uniform system of laws for the
whole nation. Divergence and even con-
lict, within certain limits between the
Jaws of the several states are not there
fore unmiXed evils. They are indispens-
able conditions of that progress toward
better things which, amid all our pollti-
cal discouragements, we are glad to be-
lcve characterizes the American peo-
pie.
o.
1t is only within the last few years that
the states have seriously attempted to
avail themselves of the results of these
various experiments in legislation. The
state of New York was the first to ap-
point commissioners who might meet with
similar commissioners from other states,
and after study of the laws on all our
statute books, recommend such changes
as would tend to secure uniformity.
Thirty states and one territory have now
appointed commissioners and they have
met annually for the past seven years, in
connection with the annual meetings of
the American Bar association. Some of
their recommendations, such as the abol-
itiCn of days of grace on commercial pa
per, have already been adopted in Penn
sylvana and other states. Many will be
surprised to know that the legal standard
of weights and measures has been differ
ent in differCDt states, and that it is
through the labors of these commissioners
that the number 81 pounds in a bushel
of oats. potatoes and other products is
about TO become uniform throughout the
nation.
o
BY far the most important subject to
which these commissioners have turned
| their attention is that of our marriage
and divorce Jaws. On no other subject
has American legislation diverged so wide
| ly from any common standard. No other
affects so vitaly the character and the
welfare of the people. The whole body
of our laws relating to the family, in
| Guiding the degrees of relationship within
which marriage may be contracted, the
forms or ceremony necessary to make it
valid, the regulations concerning license
and registration, and the causes for which
divorce may he obtained, is now before
| these commissioners for study and inves-
itgation, with a view to the preparation of
a uniform code which may be recon-
| mended for adoption to all the states. The
| vast mass of legislation which must be
| examined, the statistics recently gathered
| to illustrate the effects and tendencies of
| these various laws, the consideration
| which must be given to other social
| forces, such as the Christian church, and
| to the claims Of the Christian law of
| mordis, combine to make this one of the
| most complicated subjects ever submitted
| to any body of jurists or lawmakers. Tne
| commissioners are wisely resolved to
make no crude or premature report to
the legislatures which have intrusted this
| grave task to their hands. AS they all
serve without salary and most of them
defray their own expenses, it will not be
| thought that they are necd.essly prolong-
ing their deliberations Besides, every
year renders the situation more auspiC-
ious for the successful completion of their
work. Public opinion is steadily rising
| n a n II ards htc gttli
The facts ascertained by the congression-
al investigation of 1889 have caused a
great revulsion of feeling against our
loose and conflicting divorce laws. Nine
teen states have, within two years,
amended their laws in more or less i'm
portant particulars. Every such change,
as 1t brings our laws nearer to the stand
ard of right, lessons the difficulties to be
overcome by the commissioners, and rem
dcrs more probable the adoption of their
report by all the states.
From these considerations it is plain
that mere uniformity of laws is not the
goal toward which the aspirations of
thoughtful and cultured minds are striv-
ing. Where moral questions are involved,
there is an unchanging standard of right
| and wrong, and the effort must be to
bring our laws into harmony with that
standard. 1t is better to have diverse and
lNpllllltllllS laws IMAM 10 nave the Jaw
uniformly vicious Gnd corrupt. The bet
ter marriage laws of few conservative
states have been a standing rebuke and
protest against the loose and demoraliz-
ing statutes enacted elsewhere. Uniform
ity would not necessarily be reform. 1t
might easily be a backward step, increas-
ing greatly the difficulty of any ultimate
reformation. In this as in other depart
ments of our nations life we are striving,
often with halting and uncertain steps
but yet with constant and noticeable pro-
Sress, toward better social state, in
which the laws and the administration OF
the laws shall be purged of all injustice
and all impurity, and shall be as nearly
perfect as the imperfections of human
nature in this world will permit. 1t is to
be hoped that the commissioners engaged
I'm this work will take ample time tc
frame a code of laws which viii! be a Ions
step toward this desirable consumma.
tion.
POLITICS AND PROFITS.