The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1905-1908, 1907-11-07
Would Correct State Code.

a JdthSO0 SpCNidi 4 AS A@5
fslative method of procedure in cor
recting the innumerable errors. typo
graphical and otherwise, in the ammo
tated code of 1906. is a subject Of
much discussion among mem bers-
elect, and it has been suggested that
one of the first actions that ought to
be taken at the January session
should be the appointment of joint
committee OF the two houses to go
carefully over the volume, ascertain
where the errors exist, and report on
same, with corrections framed in
proper form.
1t is the firm belief Of the leading
members of the Mississippi bar that
the legislature should arrange for
printing a revised edition OF the an
notated code, to include the neces-
sary typographical corrections. inser-
tion of missing sections, and such
passed at the approaching session.
| This suggestion is ventured with full
/ knowledge of the fact that the work
would cost at least $4,000. The
composition and printing of the code
now in use cost $4,000, according
to the vouchers on file in the Office
of the secretary of State. This in
cluded the salary of the commissioner
who edited the chapters after the leg
islature had adjourned, the salary of
the expert indexer, all the printing
charges, and the cost of distribution.
1t cannot be denied that the code,
in its present shape, is not the law
of Mississippi, regardless of the fact
that it was adopted as such by both
branches of the legislature. In fact,
it is so replete with errors and alb
surdities that it is hard to tell just
what is the law, and members of the
bar realize that if the code of 1906
is used as a basis, with changes and
amendments made biennially by the
legislature, the statutes of the COM
monwealth will soon be in a hopeless
tangle For this reason they urge
the publication of a thoroughly re
vised volume, and would like the leg
islature to see to it that the work is
carefully performed.
Perhaps no man in Mississippi
more fully realizes the Importance
of the proposition than Gov.-Elect
Noel, who ranks among the ablest
lawyers in the State, and during his
long legislative career wrote many of
the most important statutes that now
lieved that he will favor the sugges-
tion that new code be printed, not
withstanding the fact that it will cost
tidy sum to do so.
Attorney General r. V. Fletcher is
now engaged in the painstaking task
of compiling the errors, discrepan-
cies and omissions in the 1906 vol
ume, and this valuable information
with his biennial report Mr.. Fletch-
er knows almost by heart every sec
tion of the statutory law, but the task
he has undertaken is necessarily be-
ing to the fact that he is one of the
busiest men around the capitol build
ing. and just now he is up to his ears
in antitrust prosecutions. He will |
therefore not undertake to say that
he has found all of the errors in the !
volume, but he has unearthed enough |
to justify the legislature in arrang- |
ing for republication of the code |
in such form that the members of |
the bar will have an intelligent un-
There have been numerous COM
plants that the index is inadequate, |
and this could also be corrected while /
the work was in progress. The pub
fishers have doubtless preserved all /
of the plates used in printing. and |
this would not only facilitate the
work, but render it possible to have
it performed more cheaply than the
volume.
Again, it is reasonably certain that
a large number of new laws will be
enacted by the legislature, and that
statutes now in existence will be
For instance. it is a
foregone conclusion that statutory
prohibition law will be passed, in
which event the present dramshop
law will, of course, be rendered use
less.
Mr.. c. r. sherman. who for sew