The Washington herald., 1906-11-30
REVISING THE CODE
Lawyers interested in Work
of Joint Committee.
sHERLEY DISCUSSES SCOPE
Criminal Section Now Being COnsid-
cred and VIII BE Reported First.
Circuit Court of Appeals Is to Be
Abolished and Other Fur-reachfng
Changes Are Contemplated.

Lawyers throughout the country are
manifesting much interest in the work
of the joint committee Of the Senate and
House 10 revise the laws of the United
States Members of the committee are in
receipt Of many letters making inquiries
about the work Of the committee. The
.stupendous task involved Is appreciated
by few laymen
Representative Swagar Sherley, of Ken
tucky. who is member of the commit
tee, yesterday discussed the scope Of the
work. His remarks shed a good deal Of
light on the subject
'The committee" said Mr. Sherley, is
now at work on the criminal code. and
this viii be the first general section to 0e
reported. 1t is probable that this code
viii be submitted soon after Congress
convenes. This title was reported to the
House at the last session. but it failed
Of consideration owing to the congestion
Of legislation at that time
After the penal code, consideration
will be given to the title relating 10 the
judiciary. in which It is proposed to make
some far-reaching changes. For example,
the district courts viii be the only courts
of original jurisdiction. The Circuit Court
Of Appeals Will be abolished and the Cir
cult Court viii sit merely as an appellate
court. The consideration Of this title win
consume much Of the time and attention
Of the committee, and It is not at all i'm
probable that it will cause considerable
discussion il the Senate and the House
after it has been reported 10 these bodies
II is believed, however. that the proposed
changes regarding the district and Cir
cult Court Of appeals meet with lre gen
eraI approval Of the legal fraternity
Others TO Follow.
After the criminal code and the Judi
ciary title are disposed of the committee
viii likely take up the first sections OF the
Revised Statutes relating 10 the organiza-
ton Of the government, followed by the
army and navy. and other titles, until the
entire revision is completed.
The enOTmity Of the task before the
committee and Congress Ill be appre-
ciated when II is known that the statutes
10 be revised and c0difed embrace more
than 900 sections. The penal code alone
consists OF nearly 800 sections, and the
judiciary code embraces more than 200.
In order 70 secure consideration IF
this revision at the coming short session
it Is not unlikely that night sessions viii
be necessary, as proper consideration OF
bills Of such magnitude Will practically
preclude other legislation.
The last revision OF the statutes Of TIE
United States was made in 1873, and the
present revision IS the result Of the act
Of Congress approved June {. 1887. VIII. j.
authorized the President to appoint a
commission TO revise the laws. and Of
subsequent acts of Congress charging
the work Of the commission. The work is
now practically completed and the COM
mission expires December u next.
speedy Action Necessary.
Since the revision Of 1873" concluded
NIr Sherley. there has been a great
mass Of legislation Of a permanent ma
ture. and these enactments are found IN
nearly twenty large volumes II the
statutes at large. and are commingled
with temporary enactments and appro-
priation bills under titles which often
give little OF no indication Of their nature
and import. The necessity, therefore, for
a speedy and thorough revision Of the
statutes is apparent
There is a universal demand on the
part Of the legal profession in particular
and the public in general for ready
and accurate reference TO the statutes
and this affords sufficient justification
for prompt action on the part of Con-
gress.
The revision will attempt 70 bring to-
gether all statutes and parts Of statutes
relating 10 tine same subject, omit re-
dundant and obsolete enactments, supply
omissions and root out inaccuracies, even
making changes In the substantive eX-
isting law where such changes are DEEM
II ......-, - md Irrarara tive |"