The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-26
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 90, 1907.
The only way to prevent making
mistakes Is to,sit and do nothins'-
Anon
AN EXPLANATION.

In an editorial in The Times-D DIS
patch Of the 23d instant on the Ger
man system of Land Registration"
I the fact was mentioned that regis
trat,on under the Torrens act Of ILL
nois had not been as rapid as the
friends Of tho measure had hoped.
we take pleasure in giving the fol-
lowing explanation OF that circum-
stance by Mr.. Eugene,C. Massie the
leading advocate Of the Torrens sys--
tenn in Virginia. who slSeeps himself
fully informed on the subject Mr..
Massie says:
.vThe Torrens system has been bit
terly fought in Illinois by one Of the
most powerful monopolistic corpora
tions In the great city of Chicago.
aided by Interested capitalists and able
attorneys employed to promote It's
business. This corporation is the Chi
cago Title and Trust Company which
has stood like a lion in the path Of
every endeavor to change the land
laws aud the methods OF certifying
titles. The great fire destroyed all
the court records IN Chicago. and also
burned the abstracts Of lawyers and
the deeds OF individuals; but the re-
cords and abstracts of the Title and
Trust Company were preserved In their
fireproof vaults. Thus the company
was left in sole possession OF evil
sdences concerning the titles of the
people and was given an absolute
monopoly Of all title business. It's
power may be understood from the
fact that in 1903 1t had an income Of
8$49G.952.5S from the examinations OF
titles alone. in addition to fees paid it
= for guaranteeing or insuring titles
certified bY3-it. This giant corpora
ton has done everything it could to
4 upset and discredit the Torrens sys-
TEN and impede its operation. Litiga-
tion was begun as soon as the first
act was passed in 1895, and that act
was declared unconstitutional. But
the Legislature promptly passed an
other act in 1897. which was like
wise fiercely fought. But this time
the people won out, and the act OF
1897 was finally sustained by the
y courts. Yet. the monopoly that
VII saueezes from the people an annual
Il income of about half million dollars
fs'r examining titles has naturally
continued to exert itself against the
N Torrens act: and one Of its attorneys
Mr.. William c. Niblack, has published
& a book to cast 1t into disrepute. This
\ book was intended to stem tho tide OF
popular and professional favor with
which the Illinois act was being re.
ceived. The result Of the effort may
be learned from the fact that, wher
Il an amendment adding certain compul
sorry features to the act was submit
tedto popular vote in November 1904
d the voters OF Chicago and Cook coun
Y ty declared themselves In favor OF /
& by a popular majority OF 211,SS3. TIL
total vote was 24l,s26, and the com
SIS bined efforts of the giant title com
pany and all opponents OF the Torrei,
system only succeeded III musterin
3o.o4S persons against 1t. This ties
II shows conclusively that the people ar
& in favor OF the Torrens system. But tn
u giant title company continues Its figh
New litigation was begun and til
courts have recently held that til
amendment just mentioned was vol
because OF technical Irregularities !
Its passage. It IL expected that III
next Legislature will correct these de
fects. and thus carry out the will {
the people"
The Torrens system has never ha
a fair trial. but It seems to The Time
Dispatch to be great improvement
certainly on the Anticipated system
land registration now in vogue
virginia eFl
EXTREMES,
Ono great trouble with the Americ;
people Is that they often run to e
3sb frames. If This NAV nnt5t ,,a ,,.,,,,,z