The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-02-27
Tho rorens System.

The Torrens system of perfecting or
transferring land titles received clear
exposition at the hands of Professor
James H. Brewster, of the University of
Michigan, at the Roundup "Wednesday
night Prof Brewster spent portion
of his time in pointing out the defects
in the present system of transferring
titles to real estate in Michigan as well
as defects in titles as now held. Nearly
every person can recall cases where law
suits have been necessary to determine
the title to real estate, but few persons
in the audience ever realized the num-
Der of loopholes with which the system
as now prevailing is filed. The Tor
rens system has been in operation for
more than twenty years in Australia,
where first introduced by Sir Robert Tor
rens and in some parts of Europe prac-
tically the same system has been in
operation in certain sections for more
than hundred years Briefly summed
up, the system effectually does away
with all danger of litigation over the
title to any piece of real estate which is
registered in the new way. 1t is not ex-
pensive for the owner of the land, but it
insures him in his title. Besides its
cheapness and the security which it
brings, however, another point OF which
Prof. Brewster regards as of even great
er importance and convenience in the
practical working of the law in the va
rious states where it is now in operation,
is the ease with which the owner of a
piece of real estate may use the same for
collateral in securing loans Instead
of being compelled to announce to the
: world by mortgage that he has Dor
rowed money with his real estate as Sc
curity, he can deposit his duplicate copy
of the certificate of title with the friend
or banker who is willing to accommodate
him. and both he and the money lender
are perfectly secured without any pub
hcity in the matter. The land cannot
be sold by the owner without the know.
ledge of the man who has loaned him
the money and on the other hand the
man who holds the owners duplicate
certificate can do absolutely nothing
with it to jeopardize the title OF the
owner-it is valueless. to him except as
security but it is absolutely good for
that purpose. In this respect it is better
than a government bond. The system
is q good one Better than this there is
a chance that Michigan may test its
operations. At the last legislature,
Senator Helme introduced bill for the
adoption of this system and Senator
Cook of this county has re-introduced
the bill in the present Legislature. Sena-
tor Cook is rightly enthusiastic over the
advantages which the entire state will
derive from the passage of the measure
and it is sincerely to be hoped that he
may succeed in bringing the measure
through. 1t is also to be hoped that he
NAV be assisted in this by the meeting
of Wednesday night. All who heard Prof.
Brewster, who is professor of the sub
ject of conveyancing in the law depart
ment of the University of Michigan, an
authority on the subject, are perfectly
decided as to the ACCESSIBILITY of the
passage of the measure and it will not
be strange if many of those present will
take an active interest in calling the at
tention of senators and representatives
10 their conclusions in regard to the
matter. Prof. Brewsters opinion as
careful student. of the laws relating to
real estate is that the Torrens System
should by all means be adopted.
Indeterminate Sentence.