Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-09
Report Submitted to Gov
ernor and Council.
prpposed Acts Have Failed
| To Pass Legislature.
|I.aort Favors Measures Recon-.
nended by National Conference.

The report of the Maine commission
~ the uniformity of laws has been
admitted to the Governor and
c,rncu The members of this COM
nisson are Hon. Charles F. Libby of
portand Frank NJ. Higgins of Limeric
nd Hon Hannibal f. Hamlin OF Els
north, In part the commissioners
ay:
seventeen annual National confer
.rces upon Uniformity of laws have
,brs far been held, the last being at
/ seattle Wash. The conference is
oor,nosad of commissioners from the
scynral states and territories and
thirty nine states, two territories and
tbe District of Columbia are now re-
PRESENTED in the conference.
"The work Of the conference has
been. largely devoted to the prepara-
finn of Uniform bills on commercial
suhiects. where the necessity of uni
/ formitv of legislation throughout the
country is generally recognized. They
have reported three important bills, the
Uniform negotiable instrument act; the
Uniform sales act and the uniform
warehouse receipts act. The first act
! reported in 1896 has been adopted by
thirty one states and four territories,
inclnding Hawaii and the District of
Columbia.
"The sales act and the warehouse act
were reported in 1906. The sales act
has been adopted by Massachusetts,,
LArjzona. Connecticut, New Jersey,
kobio and Rhode Island The ware
mouse act has been adopted in ten
states, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa,
Louisiana, Massachusetts,, New Jersey,
ohio. New York, Rhode Island and
Virginia.
"All of these acts have been
presented to our Legislature but thus
far have failed of favorable action by
The House and Senate. although they
have all received the approval of the
Maine State Bar association at its an
pual meeting in 1907 The adoption Of
the negotiable instruments act has also
been urged by the State Banking as
ISOLATION, and at one session the bill
was reported favorably by the judici-
EHy N'IliIliitN'Nf wac l''t'''D'e ~ NAAO
House. but failed in the Senate
Since the last report two national
differences have been held, one in
i Port and Me. and the other in Seattle,
"a WASH The time Of these conferences
has been devoted to the consideration
M Of two bills known as the uniform bill
IA Of lading act and the uniform certifi-
cate of stock act Both bills are still
before the conference for further con-
y sderation and amendment.
Among the uniform acts which al
i though drafted by another body, has
i received the approval of the commits
sioners, is the uniform divorce act, re-
commended by the divorce congress.
The divorce rate per 100000 population
Increased from % in 1870 to 50 in 1905.
Some of the leading clcrgymen of our
state appeared before the judiciary
committee and urged the passage of
this bill at the last session of the legis-
n hture, The bill was referred to the
next legislature" and it is hoped it
will receive favorable action.
Referring to the act recommended
BY the commissioners in 1901 to repeal
The act creating the Maine standard
Ire Insurance policy, the commits
sonrrs say:
Il The effect of the passage of this bill
would be to restore the law in this
STATE as it existed from 1861 to 1879,
When the Maine Standard fire inSur-
ahce policy act was passed, which not
only introduced technical dcfcnccs not
before admissible, but deprived the
insured Of the right to a trial by jury
On the important question of the
amount of damage in case Of loss.
n Is difficult to see on what
n ,"ihclple of equity or justice this favor
"aS been accorded to fire insurance
corporations and denied to all others
Inc insured has no choice in the mat
~F' he must take this form of policy
when prohibits him going to the
eouftS or none at all
NO more valuable work by any body
" professional men has ever been per-
"il'ed IN the interest OF the public
s"ee the formation of our government.
s"n mat Of the eminent lawyers ana
.~S'S, who without pay, have devoted
e"SeVes to the promotion of uni
win state legislation, and the bills