Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-17
PRESIDENT TALKS
OF STATE DUTIES
Addresses Conference Called
by the National Civic
Federation. "A
CASES NOT TOUCHED BY
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Refers to Marriage and Divorce,
Conservation and Judicial
Procedure.
SETH LOW OUTLINES WORK
An Agreement Is Reached on Mat
| ters in Which Uniformity in Leg
islation by the States
| Is Desired.
SETH Low OUTLINES WORK

Advocating the adoption in this coun
try OF the simplicity OF the English pro.
cedure in law and equity as a model for
the state legislatures: uniform marriage
and divorce laws in the various states
and uniform state laws for the conse'va
lion OF natural resources We're the princi
pal features of President Taft's openins
first session of the conference called by
the National Civic Federation for obtain
ing uniformity in state laws. held al the
Belasco Theater. The President caused
much applause and amusement by defin-
ing a constitutional lawyer as gentle
man who had left the practice of law and
gone into politics. In referring TO the
growth OF bureaus in the organization of
the executive department. he said that
just before writing his last message he
had been urged to advocate a bureau on
earthquakes.
Beasco Theater was crowded with
delegates and others who attended the
initial session of the three-day confer
ence. About 500 delegates were present.
representing almost every state in the
Union. and also many commercial. civic
and other organizations. About 10 O'Clock
the delegates began to arrive at the
theater. and for more than half an hour
there was an almost continuous process
sion into the building OF distinguished
persons from all parts OF the country,
who were met at the entrance by
score OF photographers representing the
press of the country
Arrival of the President.
As soon as the President arrived, ac-
eompanied by Capt. Archibald Butt. the
conference was called to order by Seth
Low, former mayor OF New York, and
president OF the National Civic Fedora
ton. After applauding the President
taken his seat. On either side of the
President sat Mr. Low. Judge Alton b.
Parker. Associate Justice Brown, retired.
Samuel Gompers. president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, and John Hays
Hammond.
In addition to those named there were
upon the stage ex-senator Dryden OF
New Jersey. Senator Root OF New York
Commissioned Mcfarland, District OF
Columbia; Gov. Wilson of Kentucky.
John Mitchell and William r. Wilcox
The theater was decorated with the
stars and Stripes draped about the stage
and hung from the balconies
In his opening address President Low
expressed the pleasure OF the assembled
delegates at the presence OF President
TAFT. and then outlined the purposes of
the conference.
Seth Lows Address.
"On behalf of the National Civic Fed
Grafton It gives me the utmost pleas sure
to welcome you to this conference" said
Seth Low. We appi eoiate the action or
the governors of so many of the states
in appointing delegates. and also the
action of the many commercial and other
influential bodies which are here repre-
sented
Uniform legislation is the equivalent
in legislation OF standa rdization in me-
chanical construction.
IF the states can be induced 10 stan
dardize their laws by making them uni.
form as TO matters that affect the in
terest of all the people i'm common, NJ
one can overestimate the advantages
that will accrue to the people of each
state and OF every state. This Standard
ization OF statutes will make intercourse
and business transactions ca sier in Il
great many fields, and will increase such
relations Indefinitely: an all these ad-
vantages can be had. il the states please.
without haZarding a single attribute of
sovereignty or limiting in any way the
right and duty and opportunity of each
state to leg1slate from its own point OF
view alone upon subjects that are purely
local.
Movement for Standardization.
Happily. the instrumentalities are at
hand for securing uniformity OF legisla-
ton by the states on as great a scale as
public opinion will support. Twenty
years ago. more or less.~ the American
Bar Association called attention To this
subject: and as a result OF the action
taken by-it many of the states have
already appointed commissioners on uni
form laws. This movement has, i'm fact,
proceeded SO far that commissioners on
uniform laws have been appointed b.
fOrty-four states, by two territories by
the District of Columbia. and by the gov
ernment of the Philippines. These COM
missfoners organized themselves into
national conference on uniform legisla-
tion a number OF years ago. and last
autumn they held their nineteenth annual
conference In these nineteen years this
conference has perfected five laws. which .
it has recommended to all the states for
adoption. These laws are:
Il. The negotiable instruments act.
.'2. The warehouse receipts act.
IS The sales act.
II. The bill of ladng act.
IS. The stock certificates act
Conference of Governors.
Fortunately, during this same week
the conference Of governors which was
initiated in 1908 BY the invitation OF
President Roosevelt to the governors OF
all the states to meet In the White House
to consider the conservation OF our nat
ural resources. is also to meet in Wash
ington. BY the courtesy Of Gov. Wilson
of Kentucky. who Is chairman OF that
and of the committee on pro-
gram, of which Gov Hughes OF New
York is chairman. an hour has been re-
served on the afternoons of the flrst and
second days Of the governort CONFER