The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-26

Ia reform which I have in my official ca
pacity tried to effect in the legislation !, q !
subject for your consideration
In large degree the faulty construction
of our IS, statutes Is due to the legat
mostly framed by lawyers. But they are
prepared in most instances by attorneys
which being accomplished, little regard is
paid to their relation to kindred laws or
to their effect upon the general body OF
Jurisprudence. The author OF one bill pro-
ceeds to make modification OF the law
which will effect his clients purpose, and
takes no note of any others that may be
striving for the amendment of the same
law IN other respects. So that there is no
concert Of purpose no consideration, no
consistency in style or in the use OF legai
expressions. There is needed a higher
sense Of responsibility among lawyers who
engage in the drafting of bills at private
solicitation; and there ought to be more
censOrious attitude among legislators to-
wards propositions for legislation that
emanate from private sources.
There are some principles of legislative
policy that are SO plain and safe that they
need only to be stated to be approved.
Make sure that the old law is really de-
ticient. Be careful to consider whether
the inconvenience arising from the def
cheney of the old law is of enough inn
portance to deserve an act of the legis-
lature to cure it.
than the disease. Avoid experiments in
law-making, especially if recommended
by men or parties who are void of know
ledge. or wanting in respect for estab-
lished customs.
Do not go on the idea that the world is
out of joint, and you were born to set it
right.
Observe accuracy in the use of Ian
guage. and avoid the use of ambiguous
expressions
1t Is one of the just criticisms of our
Jurisprudence that 1t has not technical
vocabulary by which legal conceptions
can be expressed with as much accuracy
as naturalists distinguish genera and
species.
There is not a topic that will enlist the
enthusiasm of political conventions, or
awaken the energies of popular masses.
1t lacks the elemnts that attract those
who are fond of exciting and spectacular
issues 1t blongs to that class of public
service that requires infinite pains and
infinite patience, 1t is contest against
an easy-going tendency, not an appeal
for some sou1-stirring principle of liberty.
This reform cannot be demanded at the
point of the sword as the barons at
Runnynede compelled the granting of the
Great Charter. There is no Independence
Hail. no Liberty Bell, no Emancipation
Proclamation, no royal sentiment to rally
the people And yet as Madison said,
an irregular and mutable legislation is
not more an evil in itself than it is
cdious to the people.
Let us continue our labors for uniform
ity of law upon proper TOPICS for sim
plicity of procedure, for better legal ed
ucatiOn, for international arbitration, and
at the same time let us strive to in
crease the spirit of careful conservatism
which is the best preservative OF good,
to cry a continual alarm against trlf1Ing
With the deep-laid fundations of our ju-
risprudence, and to preserve for our laws
that sentiment of reverence and respect
which hitherto have SO distinguished the
Anglo-Saxo race. i