New-York tribune., 1902-07-02
LAW CO1NMISSION'S WORK,
MIR. WADHAMS STATES ACTION AND
SCOPE OF THE COMMITTEE.

Albany. June 30 (SpeciaD-Frederick E. wad-
hams. the secretary of the State Bar Association
issued the following statement to-day in regard
to the committee appointed examine into the
condluon of the laws and statutes of the State:
In view OF the misapprehension which seems to
mittee to examine into the condifion of the laws
thereon TO the legislature, a complete and au-
thehuc statement as to the origin and purpose Of
ltee anu uie manner IN Whlch II was
appointed would be of interest, and such a state
been subjected to unwarranted criticism by per
sons who did not even attempt to investigate the
motives not only in the selection of the committee.
The following are the facts At the last meeting
or the New-York State Bar Association. held in
Statutory and Code Revision be Abandoned?'' was
Gscusse1 y at at length The discussion grew out of
uon by j. Newton Fiero of Albany; and il was the
action should be taken by the association h 6Oi po
re remedy II possible, the present chaotic condition
It is conceded not only by every lawyer in this
Rnovadge 3Ie Dy every iayman who possesses any
sn0uId De taken by the authorities put
statHtes IN such form as that they should be rea
s2nably complete and the crudities. contradic
@ Ile PteSehI Cohdltlon or our statutes should be
remeded During the discussion it shown that
condition OF both code and statutes was not in any
manner. man cnargeabLe TO the Executive or legisla-
ture out That IT was due the inactivity of the
lawyers of the STATE, who, as was most appropri-
ter In hand and seeing that the work Is done"
At the conclusion of this discussion motion was
adopted, that committee be appointed by the
S!arWan Of the law reform committee Of the
committee on law reform in obtaining legisa-
a committee, known as the committee OF nifty
was thereafter appointed. and consists OF sixty
parts of the State.
This committee met and organized appointing
York together with an executive committee and
other of1cers j. Newton Ftero is chairman Of the
committee on law reform which consists of
ttwentycfGur, members of the association. three
A joint meeting of the committee Of fifty, so
February p in the Of the association in the
Capitol which was attended by members OF the
bar from various parts of the State. The present
condition Of the statutes left by the Statutory
STABILITY Of continuing the work by the %.V vouHtaFv
action on the part of the lawyers throughout the
AS a result of that meeting a Subcommittee was
appointed to present TO the joint committees plan
on March Il joint meeting OF the committees
tee on plan and scope received, and a resolution
i}{ ADOPTED d. which which provided that such necessary
result In the selection of a committee from the
next session Of the egsae %bd vi sG65 al 1hs
he taken with regard to statutory and code re-
Acting upon that resolution and authority. the
and Informed him of the action taken outIined
above. and at the same time presented to the Gov
the following provision which the executive COM
mittee requested should be included in the Supply
For the necessary disbursements Of commit
Governor is hereby authorized and empowered to
appoint. whose duty it shall be report to the
statutes and laws OF this State the sum Of 81 00G
or SO much thereof may be necessary TO be
paid p by me state Treasurer on the audit and
This was included in the Supply bill and when
quested the executive committee who brought this
mater TO his attention. TO name the Committee
OF Fifteen: to whom. by the provision OF the act.
the authority to so report the condition Of the
A meeting of the executive committee OF the
Joint Committee OF Fifty and Law Reform Com
were selected and presented to Governor OdeI who
appointed the members so selected with three ex-
the committee could not serve. and the names sub
stitHted by the Governo- were Samuel T. Maddox
Alonzo Wheeler OF Haverstraw thus leaving the
ng h69 R PaRRe KnooB eb.2e5 2 the
Syracuse; Robert Earl. Herkimer: Ceora z. Mar
lam H Adams. CanandaiGua: Samuel T. Maddox.
Erookyn; John c Davies. Camden: Abraham
s I.ardson. Schenectady: John G. Milburn. Buf-
f3Io; Frank III Piatt, New-York; William B. Horn
straw.
A small appropriation seemed necessary in order
that the members OF the committee might have
some funds to meet printing and other expenses
The New-York STATE Bar Association IS abso-
luteIy and entirely responsible for the personnel
and II and the bar at large are under manT obliSa
tions to him for the prompt and courteous manner
The work IS purely technical and professional
and placed advisedy IN the hands OF the dis
tinguished gentlemen who composed the Commit
after they had been consulted and knew the mi
extent Of the work and It's responsibilities
that these gentlemen have undertaker The pres
ent condition Of our statutes Is shameful and their
mportance to the people Of the state whose rpSts
Of property and person are being daily teopardized
by the existing contradictions and Inaccuracies