The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1907-03-22
UNIFORMITY OF LAWS
BnI Before the New York Legislature
Calling for Action

bly, has introduced a bill, to which the
attention of other states has been
called by the press Of New York, and
which will certainly call for considera-
ton by other states if it shall pass. 1t
provides that three delegates from
each state shall be invited by the state
of New York to a conference to be
held next October under the auspices
of New York and at its expense, the
object of which shall be to frame uni
form laws for the regulation of life and
fire insurance, divorce, labor, public
utilities and interstate commerce. The
sum of 100000 is appropriated for the
purpose.
When Introducing the bill Mr.. Mer-
rift, its author, said with truth that cur
rent discussion OF the regulation OF
public service corporations, corporate
organizations and hours of labor, in par
ticular, seems to be developing in the
direction of federal rather than state
control.
There is apparently an irresistible
tendency towards excessive centraliza-
ton of power in the federal government
which is increasing daily. This con-
tains within itself elements of the great
est danger to the republic, unless the
states take themselves in hand and
perform the duties which devolve up
on them under the constitution OF the
United States, and which they have so
long neglected. Secretary OF State
Root pointed this out in his much dis
Gust and much misunderstood speech
on the subject when he warned the
states that unless they did exercise
their constitutional privileges they
would find them absorbed in the cen
trail authority.
The time is ripe for such conyen-
ton as is intended by the Merritt bill.
More and more the people OF each
state are coming to realize that their
political, financial, commercial and So
cial interests are common; that the
laws for the protection of these inter-
ests should be as nearly as possible
common, and if the passage of such
laws is prevented or neglected by many
of the states, that appeal will be had to
the federal government in order to Sc
cure as much uniformity as possible,
especially in the direction of the legis-
lation asked for under the proposed
New York law.
Successful interstate conferences
have heretofore been held, and GER
tain amount of uniform legislation on
minor matters has already been had,
but today there is general demand
for legislation along the lines suggest
ed, and it both can and should best be
obtained by an interstate agreement
rather than by federal legislation. The
subjects referred to are social and eco
nomic rather than political. They
should be taken out of the domain of
politics, and yet they are rapidly be-
coming partisan. There should be no
partnership in insurance legislation or
divorce, and still less in railroads.
They are all great and delicate sub
iects, which should be approached
from the point of view of the best in
terests of the commonwealth in which
their operation goes on. Another
phase of the matter is that uniformity
in such laws cannot be so well secured
from the federal government as thru the
state government, for the federal power
governs only portion of commerce
that the states can reach in broader
and also in a more satisfactory manner.
Whether the New York state bill
passes at this session or not, it is rap
idly becoming manifest that an inter
state convention should be had. 1t is
indicated by the trend Of public opin-
ion thruout the whole country, an
opinion which appears to have crystal
lized in New York in the bill here out
lined. Dallas, Texas, News.