Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-27
With THE GOVERNORS
Conference on Conservation
and Uniform Legislation.
WILL MEET IN WASHINGTON
State Laws to Be Considered by
Delegate Body.
CONGRESS OF 1000 EXPECTED
Scope and Importance of the Move
ment observation-disclosures by
President Seth Low.
CONGRESS OF 1000 EXPECTED

NEW 1oR>, November 2t.LPreSident
Seth Low of the National Civic Fedora
ton announced yesterday that, acting on
the suggestion of President Taft and
Coz. Wilson of Kentucky. chairman of
the committee of governors since the
Roosevelt conference for the conservation
of the national resources was held, it had
been decided to change the date of the
coming conference on uniform legislation
in Washington from early i'm January to
January Il, IS and 10 This was done
President Low said, so that the confer
ence would be coincident with the meet
ing of governors January IS, 10 and 20
and thus insure one of the greatest gath
erings Of representative men in many
years.
Named by the Governors.
The conference called by the Civic Fed
Grafton will consist of about 1000 dele
gates named by state governors from the
most prominent and public-spirited men
of each state. Already thirty-fve such
delegations have been appointed. EX-
Judge Alton b. Parker is chairman of
the program committee, with John Hays
Hammond chairman of the committee
on arrangements. Working with the
Civic Federation for the success of the
state laws. and it was pointed out yes
terday that with at least forty governors
sitting in the conference much progress
in the right direction would certainly be
made.
Describing the scope and Importance of
the conference, President Low said: THE
movement for the conservation of our
natural resources lnaugurated by PreSi-
dent Roosevelt cannot be carried to its
perfect contamination until the states
adopt with considerable uniformity laws
upon the subjects of forestry, water
power and reclamation of land by irri-
CATION. In the effort to propose suitable
amendments to the Sherman antitrust
act our committee was not unmindful of
the fact that if satisfactory amendments
were finally made. their effect would be
nulliiied in many important instances I'M
less the antitrust laws of the various
states were made to substantially con-
form. Probably no better illustration
could be given than that of railway regu-
lation. The interstate commerce commits
sion, of course, can deal only with inter-
state. while the states can deal only with
intrastate traffic. The confusion and
conflict without uniform action can read
lily be imagined.
Origin of National Association.
Each state has its own railway COM
mission. These state commissions slowly
learning 1t was essential to have some
uniform principles of regulation, organ
lied the National Association of State
Railway Commissioners. inviting first the
cooperation of the interstate commerce
commission and afterward that of the
railway managers associations and the
shippers organizations. These four ele-
ments, which may well be taken to rep
resent everybody, have substantially
agreed upon number of important regu-
lations which. to become effective. will re-
uuire action by all the state legislatures.
1.-The National Association of State
Bank Supervisors and the American
Banking Association have come to agree
ment on certain propositions upon which
they desire uniform state legislation. In
he matter of insurance, both life and
ire, national associations have been or
Sanized, and in the latter case are work
ing with the state supervisors of insur-
ance in an effort to secure state uniform
ty. The agricultural organizations. the
wholesale grocers, the wholesale drug
gists and a number of other national Or
CARNATIONS are working for uniform pure
food laws. The labor organizations want
uniform workmens compensation acts,
uniform legislation as to guarding danger
Gus machinery, factory inspection, con-
vict-made products and the regulation of
the employment of women and children.
Preservation of Vital Statistics.
The American Medical Association de-
sires uniformity on registration and pres
ervation of vital statistics. The National
Grange. the American Automobile Associ-
alton and the American Roadmakers' AS
ISOLATION have united in the demand for
uniform state legislation On the regula-
ton of motor vehicles and the building
of good roads throughout the country"
President Low explained that It was not
the purpose of the Civic Federation to
pass on all the problems he referred to,
but to educate public opinion as to the
Importance of uniform action by the
states and to federate the various agen-
cies now striving for uniformity in mat
tiers making for the public veal.
Several groups of states, like the New
England and the southern, were already
holding conferences to agree on laws af-
fecting them, 1t was said, and the Amer
lean Bar Association is doing its best to
bring about uniform divorce law, which,
it was said, was sorely needed, since
under present divorce laws marriage is
legitimate in one state and not recognized
in an adjoining one.