The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-01-12
CODE COMMISSION
FLAYED BY SENATORS
Committee Sharply Rebukes
Members for Lack of Inter
est in Work

The expected criticism of the COM
mission appointed to revise and codify
the general laws of the state of Min
nesota made it's appearance before the
senate yesterday. 1t appeared in the
report of the special committee, COM
prising Senators Wilson, Thompson
and Horton, appointed to investigate
and report the present status of the
work being done by the code revision
commission appointed in 1901.
The report, which was adopted by
the senate, censures the commission
for lack of interest and diligence, and
declares that but for lack of applfca-
ton the work would have been finished
on Dec. 1, 1904, and suggests that it is
up to the senate to ask the revision
commissioners to resign or pass res
olution abolishing their offices and ap-
point a committee to act with a similar
house committee, with power to make
contract with some one else to com-
plete the work.
The report also intimates that one
of the code revision commissioners
misrepresented the facts as to the
present status of the work. The report,
which is exhaustive, thus arraigns the
revision commission:
SoIHHilSSfOH
After reciting the law of 1901 pro-
viding for the revision and codification=
of MinneSotaS statutes, the delivery of
500 bound copies by Dec. I, 1902, and
the appropriation of $1,000, and also
the law sof 1903 extending the time Of
delivery to Dec. 1, 1904, and further
appropriating $4,000, making a total
of $4,000 for the work, the report
says:
Your committee was advised that
the West Publishing company, of ST..
Paul, had in scrapbook form general
revision of the State-laws which it was!
about to publish, but on the passage Of.
the law of 1901 it abandoned the same
q and rendered its vast amount. of infor-
nation to the revision commission to
help and expedite its work, and con-
tracted with it for printing the report
and index, the revision committee to
submit the report about Sept. 1902
This contract was continued after the
law of 1908.
"on the 9Th day Of January, 1906.
about l0 a. m, your committee visited
the office of the West Publishing COM
pany and was advised that at that time
no portion of the proof sheets of said
report had been handed:to it by the
revision commissioners, but later in the
day it was advised by telephone that
twelve chapters of corrected proof
sent to its office to be printed. At that
time your committee was advised that
matter embraced in two final chapters
of said report had not been prepared
or submitted by the revision commit
tee.s
Your committee then visited the re-
vision committee and elected from one
OF the members the opinion that the
report would reach the printers Mon
day, Jan. 3, but that it would not. in
clude the annotations or index REQUIRED
by law. The commissioners were I'M
able TO advise your committee as to the
Tune 1t would take to submit to the
legislature a report embracing the an
notations and index.
Work Day and Night
Your committee was advised by the
printer that by operating the plant day
and night, which it would willingly do.
IL could print the matter by Jan 20.
provided the same degree of diligence
= In reading the proof sheets should be
exercised by the revision commission
erS.
We were also Informed that the in
dex cannot be prepared within three
days after printing and paging the
work. This index, we are informed. has
been practically prepared by the pub
hshers. Barring unexpected emergen-
cies, the report, without index or an
body by Jan. 20
Scores Code Commission
Your committee also feels con-
strained to report that there has been
a great lack of interest and diligence
on the part of some of the commission
ers or this work would have been fin
1shed by Dec. l. 1904
me members of the committee re-
member quite distinctly the assurances
Icc SION - ~
asked Tor an extension of time and an
addltlonal large appropriation to COM
plete the work, that the revision of the
laws would be completed in a most
thorough and excellent manner, equal
to that of any other, state in the Union
ana that the report would be placed in
the hands of the secretary of state nv
Sept. L, 1904, SO that senators. state
ofnceTs, the general public and repre-
sentatlyes- elect could have plenty OF
time 30 secure and examine the same.
1t seems to your committee proper
to cali attention to these facts in order
that the people of the state can be n
prised: of the failure of the revision
commissioners to complete and file
their report as required by law. and
may place the blame for this and fol
the expense caused by delay where il
properly belongs.
Suggests AhoIishing Commission
In view of the aforesaid facts and
circumstances your committee does moi
feel warranted in assuming the re-
sponsibility of making any specific rec
ommendation to the senate in this mat
ter and feels that the question Of
whether or not it would be expedien1
and proper to ask said revision com
n1isSioners to. tender their resigna tions
or to pass a resolution abolishing theil
said offices, and in view of the faci
that said printed matter, that is the
work of said commissioners during the
past four years, is now all in the hands
OF the printer, appoint joint legisla-
tive committee, with power to make 8
contract with some one else. to com.
plete- said work, in compliance with the
intention of the legislature in passine
the act of 1S99-are all matters which
your committee respectfully report.
and refers back to this senate for such
action as it may deem wise to take''
In conclusion, the report cites the
procedure of 1866, when the Minnesota
legislature adopted code, prepared b,
commission and passed upon by
Joint committee of seven from tn,
house and five from the senate. and rec.
omnends the appointment Of a join
legislative committee to consider thu
revision whaa IL &c c,,hr,sf+oJ