The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-17
at cross purposes with every principle
of organized government.
A Suggestion for Our Lawmakers

M.
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"A Suggestion for Our Lawmakers
Yesterday we referred to a letter from
Herald on the Torrens System. TOWARDS
the conclusion OF the letter Mr.. Caldwell
said: "But IL the people OF Hanover and
the people of Virginia want to establish
the Torrens System they should SEQ that
the statute Is drawn by the ablest and
most conservative legal talent we have
and after careful study and delibera-
! ton"
we agree with Mr. Caldwell In this.
but we should like to know exactly
what he means by careful study and
deliboration We cali his attention TO
the fact that this subject has been pend.
ing before the Virginia State Bar Assoc
citation since 1899. THAT association first
appointed committee, consisting of Mr..
Eugene c Massie, Of Richmond; Prof.
| Charles A, Graves, OF the University of
| Virginia, and Mr.. w w. Old, of Nor
folk, to consider the subject and report
thereon. This committee rendered fa-s
vorable report In 1900. Then on Feb
ruary is, 1901, the General Assembly
PASSED joint resolution reciting the I'M
portance Of the subject and constituting
Messrs Massc. Graves and Old com
mittee to draft a bill for presentation 10
the Assembly On August 6, 1902, the
state Bar Association took further ac-
ton BY appointing N1essrs. Eugene G.
Massic ana Frank w. Christian, of Rich
mond. Prof. w. NJ. Lille of the Unver-
sity. and Major Thomas @. Elder, Of
stanton, a special committee to draft
bill OH the subject. During the same
wear the Constitutional Convention OF
Virginia added specinl section to the
constitution to enable the General AS.
scnbly TO establish such court or courts
of land registration rs 1t may deem
nroper for the administration of any
| law It may adopt for the purpose Of the
settlement, registration, transfer or as
surance of titles to land .in6the State or
any part thereof" tConst., section 1901
The proposed Torrens bill was completed
| In January, 1908. and was at once m
| troduced into the House Of Delegates
/ In February, 1908, the same bill was m
| Produced in the Senate by Hon. w. 81
McIlwainc, of Petersburg. Again on
| April 3, 1905 the same bill was intro
auced in the House of Delegates by ioh.
Bla ckburn Smith. Of Berryville; and the
same bill, with some amendments was
finally introduced in tho Senate IN lso4
nv Hon. George Wayne Anderson, Of
Richmond
1t seems to us that this record shows
That some OF i"the ablcst and most con-
seryatiye legal talent we have has been
called INTO requisition and been spe-
ciaily charged with solemn duties IN re-
lationEto this bill, and that ample time
has been afforded for careful study
and delibcraton' Upon this point We
quote from an address delivered by HON.,
eugene C. Massle last August before the
Virginia state Bar Association. Some
LEGISLATION is demanded for the relief OF
the people, and it Is the duty OF inc
association as we'll as OF each individual
member Of the bench and bar to see that
Virginia gets none but the best. rms
has been the ambition OF the speaker.
The bill presented to the last Legislature
was drawn after years of study; after
comparison of the Australian, English ,rlg
Canadian and American acts; after PEI
sonal investigation OF the practical ope-
ration of the land registration act OF
assachusetts; after correspondence
with prominent authorities on the sun
iect at home and Abroad, after inter-
views with such experts as could be
reached in this country, and after con-
sul,,tion with such members OF THIS as
ISOLATION as could be induced to give
any time to the subject. It has been
grac;ously commended by those VINO nave
considered 1t, and it lis now your pr'V'-
lcre to correct such defects Us may nave
escaped the author and Its, previous
crl,ics. You are earnestly solicited to
rive the Common wealth the benefit of
your studious criticism. Let this APP
peal be needed