Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-25
HOW TO REVISE
THAT WILL BE ONE OF MISSOURI AS
SEMBLY PROBLEMS.
STATUTES ARE IN BAD SHAPE
LAST REVISING SESSION MADE ONLY
A FAIR START.
Work May He Divided Among n Num-
ber of Committees This TING
Opportunity Save the
state Thousands of Dol
lars Annually.
THAT WILL BE ONE OF MISSOURI AS
SEMBLY PROBLEMS.
STATUTES ARE IN BAD SHAPE

JEFFERSON CITY. MO. Dec. 2i-(Spe-
cial) The question of how members of
the revising session of the legislature can
get the most work done during the Consti-
tutioual limit of l20 days of the session is
being discussed quite freely among the
state officials and other citizens OF the
capital. They all agree that the last legis-
lature made a mistake when 1t failed TO
pass the bill providing for y commission to
revise the statutes and report TO this gen.
eral assembly. The matter now being dis
cussed is what plan can be adopted that
VIII provide for revision Of the statues
In the time allowed by law for the work to
be done. The general assembly of 1873 ap-
pointed a joint committee for this work.
consisting OF five senators and five mem
hers of the house, which constituted the re-
vlsing committee. This committee worked
diligently and reported a revision of the
laws at that time from chapter l to chap
ter 16o. but it required so much time Tor
the committee 10 get the work done that
the legislature did not have time to pass
upon all the bills, and only forty-eiglt
chapters or parts Of chapters We're revised.
This left l27 Of the 1I5 chapters of the stat
utes unrevised.
1t is generally conceded that the work
this time should be divided among several
committees. somewhat on the plan outlined
hy MIR. Ruby. of Macon county, recently.
The number Of committees which should be
appointed by the house and senate for this
purpose is the thing which viii cause diff
ferenceS among the lawmakers. Those who
have been here and have spoken of the
matter differ in the number to some extent
Some think ten committees will be suffi-
cient, while others believe with Mr.. Ruby
that II will require twenty-five to do the
work property. Each branch of the pres
ent laws needs amendments and revision,
and there are no few people in the state
who believe that the state has outgrown the
present constitution and that new one
is needed. If proper laws are enacted on
the question of revenue. there may be saw
ings of several thousand dollars to the
people each year. in the opinion of Albert
o. Allen. of the office of State Auditor
Seibert. This work. says Mr.. Allen. should
be done by men acquainted with that class
of work. who would know what to put into
the bill that would bring in the desired
revenue with the least expense to the peo-
pie.
The criminal laws need revision in some
way to stop the immense expenses in
criminal cases. most OF which have to he
borne by the state. This is n great problem.
and the men who constitute the committee
on this important chapter, should be
pecially fitted for that class of work. The
above subjects of legislation are mention
ed to show the Importance of special com
mittees to report bills on each important
chapter to be revised. More chapters can
be assigned to other committees If they
are not so important. In this way, It is be-
| lieved the work can be so classified that all
the chapters of the present statutes. can
| be revised at the coming session OF the
| legislature.
| Attorney General E. c. Crow heartily
indorses the plan of having the work di-
vided up among a large number of COM
mittees. He believes that in that way all
/ the chapters can be revised and besides
! all the representatives of the people will
| have part in the matter instead of a few
men under the plan adopted by the revis-
ing session of 1859.
Judge W. NJ. Williams, of the supreme
court, was asked to-day what he thought
| of the different plans Of revising the stat
Il have not had time to give a maturen
| opinion on the matter. but in my offhand
way, l would say that the plan of having
| the work done by a number of commit
| tees is a good one. provided there is one
general committee to pass upon the work
of each committee before the bills are
| presented to the legislature. There are
| many chapters and statutes which have
some connection with each other and there
| these bills as reported from the different
committees. to see that they do not con-
\ fiict in any matters 1 think one general
committee should close the work Of each
committee before the work Is finally SUBJ
mltted TO the Legislature"