The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-22
TORREN5 SYSTEM
IN COOK COUNTY
Registrar of Titles Talks of
Operation of Law in
Illinois.


House will be considered by the Com
mittec for Courts of Justice Thursday
morning at 10 o'clock.
Hon. Abel Davis. former member of
the Legislature of Illinois. and ut pres
ent register of titles for Cook county
and Chicago, was here few days ago
and, and gave out the following state
naent as to the working of the systems
in his State:
II have heen greatly Interested in the
progress that the State of Virginia has
been making in the preparation for pre-
sentation to the Legislature n land reg
istration bill AS registrar Of titles I'M
der the Torrens system at Chicago Ill,
/ have been in correspondence with Mr..
Massie during the last year. answering
his numerous Inquiries in regard to the"'
operation Of the law in Illinois. Though
having occupied the Office OF registrar
for only one year l had taken a great
interest in Torrens Legislation. / WAS
member of the Illinois Legislature which
amended the original Torrens act by
adding a compulsory feature compelling
administrators and executors of the State
TO register the titles to such real estate
as may come under their jurisdiction.
The law. which Incorporated this COM
pulsory feature, did not go into effect
untllit was submitted to the people for
their vote OF approval The Torrens law
had then been in operation and its pro-
visions We're so satisfactory that the
amendment was carried by vote of
seven "a to one Cd In its favor, OBJ
tanning popular majority OF 2il,sSS'
The reading of the b!ii, which has been
l,,.N M
an understanding OF its provisions, and
in place OF discussing its TEXTURES j can
do 4 greater service to the cause of this
reform by telling you how simple and
satisfactory the Tcrrcns law is to the
people OF my city ard county
Gives Great Satisfaction.
"i,rom the information gathered by me
since ! was elected 10 the Office of reg
iet,ar OF titles about Il year ago. am
shlo TO state in most positive terms that
since the establishment OF the Torrens
Office there has not been a single case
OF any property owner, lawyer or real
estate man, who WAS Wiling TO go back
10 the old system after having tried the
new and modern TorTens system. Prac-
tlctlly il works this way:
~ wns' greatly surprised to learn that
there was some opposition TO the passage
of Mr. Nlasyic's bill can not understand
now my opposition Gun be offered AT
this time after the law has been tried,
not only in many oil the foreign countries,
but IN my owu state, Massachusetts. ana
Minnesota, us well as other States In the
Union.
Has Worked Well.
at may be of interest to note that in
tho entire time during which the law
has been operative in our State not a
single claim has been made against the
indemnity OF assurance fund, and that
NOT a single action has been brought
attacking the validity ot any OF the GER
tlhcates OF title In issue; and IT rs not
to he wondered Mt. The provisions of the
1orrens law are plain and simple If prop
erly conducted No title will be register
any one VINO. rnsn;,have any claims to the
propertJ'ab5i TO be registered will prop
nrly he brought before the court. The
artul operation of the law is much
be from, the reading of the act. We
Seem to have come TO thc conclusion in
our State that it Y radical change,
but a very good ole, and in the right
direction.
Could Well Afford 1t.
"rhe State q Virginia in its great,
in a measure OF this kind, 10 say the
least, without hesitatine to follow other
-
tnn for a number OF years. After the
passage OF the Torrens act the abstract
and title guarantee companies, which are
wealthy and powerful rs Chicago, and to
whom he new system meant a loss OF
business, opposed u at every step a
nnmher of suits were iustigated In which
the cnnstitutionaliy and the r.ovlsions
Of the law were attacked. The Supreme
Court of orr State has sustaped.< he law
IN all It's provisions. All the Questions that
nave been raised--and there have been
lutte a nuinher--have been met and an
lSered In a manner entirely satisfactory
70 the advocates OF the system, both legal
and practical | regret exceedingly that
find y impossible 10 comply with Mr.
MaSsie's request to appear before ina
committee to whom the Torrens bill was
referred. and will lie glad to do so if
ma sufficient time on my return from
New Orleans
Would Not Abandon 1t.
There IS no douht about the success
OF the Torrens system in Illinois feel
certaln mat, the people Of Chlcago and
Look county could not be induced to
abandon H. y
am Torrens law enthusiast, not
solely because Of its theories. but he
cause of the knowledge of it's nrt,ct,c,l
application. We have found it Ia be Of
great help 10 the poorer class OF property
owners Mortgages and sales, are regis
ttieo ~ minimum cost and with no
loss o. time The whole business can
genefa4iS pc concluded with us in an
honr. Under the forrens system II is
possible 70 procure loans for much short.
er Petlnus ihan under the old system,
ana ana we people are encouraged 10 become
the oWnets Of thelr homesN
HALF OF BIG FAcoRY