The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-10-04
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1906.
MORE CODIFICATloNs;
NOT FOR BILL FUZZ.

Editor Times:-I note in last even
ing's paper a credited editorial from
the Ellkhart Review in which the Re-
view man says, the coming 1egisla-
ture should appoint a commission for
the revision of our statutes. They
have not been revised since 1881
The last legislature passed the
''codihcation law" which was sup
posed to be revision of our statutes
by powerful bright commission and
1t is the zone best bet that not within
the next century will another commits
sion be appointed to codify the laws of
Indiana.
Bless that Review mans heart, he
should go out among the common
people" and see what they think of an
other codifcation commission.
Why. there isn't in Indiana today
a candidate for the state legislature
who Is not solemnly crossing his heart
and swearing that he will do all in
his power to undo what the codification
commission did two years ago 1t Is
the issue all over the state.
Il promise to repeal" is the popu-
lar topic for stump discussion-and
it's wianer.
People in small towns are bowling
because they must go to the county
seat to pay their. town taxes-as was
their custom prior to the passage or
the codiacation law. In those good old
days, too the incorporated town had
the exhiliarating right 20 elect a mar
shall. but the new law made that an
appointive office and took all the
a. >f..F, y .sAa 10
The town people also had the JOY of
an election every two years-now only
one In four years That's a long time
between drinks.
Any farmer who has had drainage to
do will tell you what he thinks of the
coaification law. He viii, if pressed,
mention some things about automobile
laws, also.
City people will show startingly eX-
tensive knowledge of "condiacaticn"
Jaws, If asked--especially those per
tanning to street pavement. low Mar
shall, the Lafayette bitulithic king lob
bied through street Improvement law
which gives him absolute control of all
Indiana contracts for cement, bitul-
1.-THE and bituminous street pavement
is common knowledge.
n ost typical frost Indiana has ever
had. Eminent attorneys were given a
Eat salary for about six years to codlfy
Indiana statutes. and the result of their
labor was a decided disappointment
to every intelligent attorney In the
Hooaier state. They killed time
drew salaries-and finished with a
rush. There is not high school in
-, fal, 10 Ia q
cannot codify the state laws with more
intelligence than did that commission.
1t was the worst bungled up job con-
eeivable. II any of the attorneys of
the commission would prepare a brief
IS careiessly as the "eodihcation" bill
Vas prepared, he would be the laugh
IN: stocx OF the profession in Indiana.
Tie commissions bungied bill ao-
tus ny gave rise to new expression
IN the supreme court. and it Is this;
".2epea'e1 by implication"
For instance: The acts of 1903 gave
judicial powers TO town clerks making
each an officer similar to a Justice.
However the codidcation law failed TO
repeal this law or 10 incorporate any
thing in its provisions contrary to 1t
lit merely copied the old law without
the 1903 amendment The supreme
court could only hold that it guessed
the 1905 law intended to repeal" hence
repeal BY intimatiou. The fact seems
to be-as in many other cases-that
tho commission had already. prior to
the passage OF tie 1903 acts. written
the law concerning the duties Of the
town clerk. and were actually too lazy
to re-writc il TO conform. or intelli-
gently refer. to the acts of 1903i
There are numerous laws in the
statutes OF Indiapa-placed there by
the codihCation commission ana hnr-
ricdiy passed in bulk form by the busy
K gislature-wh which tangie the best law
vers OF the state They are all at sea
since 1905. ANY attorney win tell you
OF the muddle caused by this commits
sion
And the Elkhart Review wants
another apei
Back 10 the vicinity of the tomato
caus and ragweedl
1t is a pleasure TO hear that the coun-
oil is eoire after the street car com
pany for respectable service in Ham
mond The company should be made t.
realize that Hammond is not a mill
station The old town Is growing ant
il the street car company cannot keeI
pace with it. it should be forced t,
vacate the streets for more enterprss.
irg and far.seeJng men.
There is talk Of q new company
which may ask for q franchise ovei
Calumet avenue and SIbley street. Tn.
petition for such a franchise may b,
presented 10 the council at any eime
incidentally, why does not some re