The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-09-19
THE MOVEMENT ron MORE UNI-
FORM STATE LEGISLATION.
Fro~ ~. vano-ar c,,,e F,s,,a,,o. E,r.v


The Constitution can he amended II the
people - will and q bill was Introduced
nv Congressman Madden Of chicago ~ The
last session OF Congress authorizing the
admission Of an amendment 10 the ton %
siitution which would confer upon Congress
thu power to leRislate upon almost every
conceivable N 10 which ha.h IL heir no.
litical, economic and sociological. physical
and metaphy seal but II 10 not proba BILE
that u viii he treated seriously. There U.s.
however. much sentiment In commercial
and industrial circles to-day that impa-
tient Of the conflicting restraints imposed
upon business by the various state Laws
ts naturally turning 20 the Federal Govern
msnt for relief All Of Witch means that
unless the states sre aroused to do their
full duty there IL danger Of this impotence
resulting In an enlargement Of Federal
powers that will ultimately break down the
central Government This he - well aaid
hy senator Root IN AnswerinE q demand
thAt insurance he taken from the control
~ 'hs forty-siN states and placed under
Federal control that We quote from his
reply
You cannot conane the proposal to Insurance
alone The framework ~ our Government aimed
20 preserve a. once the strength and protec ton
~ great national power and the blessing and
he freedom hTd ne personal Independence 70
Local self government n aimed Ia do that by
rNing Ia the tonst'ution the sovereign pow
~ the separate states Are Ia reform
the 'onSu'uuon' N We do u - - Insurance Ne
must 10 u as Ia hundred and thoussnd Other
uhiEss The iutrrl~p-rdrnce ~ NE. wiplng uut
state lines. the ia ss!ng to aud fro % men aud
chan iis- tue lntrrn,aEnEE of the people ~ all
sections - our country without regard to Siats
Urrs. aye creating situation IN which from
every quarter ~ the horizon come cries f"r "a
srai control of b. sln~ss which T. no longer ron
nR~d within the limits ~ separate states are
= % TTfuTul a, Il Ia
put In Federal hands me rOntro. % all the buI
ness that passes over stat" lines 10 Ne do
Vher" Il our local srf governments N We do
hoW IL the central Gu"rrnmenI at Washington
going 10 BE- able io discharge the duties that will
he imposed upon r. Already hcsN'lministrA ton
already the 'Vdlcia' POWER already the legislative
hranrhsS ot orr Government Arre!riven she
limit ~ their power - d~al Intrlilgently With 'the
subiecyS that are before them THIS country 10
ton great Its population too numerous. tts inter
'sts ton vast and complicated already. To say
nothing 81 the enormous Increase, that We can
zee before VI IN the fl'nre. 20 he governed ss TO
the great range % our dAiiy GTaIss from one cen
trail power Ia Washington
but admitting that there ara important
subisc which all veil Wt-h"rS Of society
agree can he dealt srth better ~ the states
than by the Fedora! Government. there has
always been the popular complaint that u
- practically impossible" 20 set thirty or
forty states to Agr". upon Anv proposition,
however pTais"voithy, and that to over
come the natural inertia ~ the people.
organtye the neces-arv machinery 10 dral,
- bin confoTmiuG 20 the pro, visions Of The
Z constitutions and supreme court deciSions
81 the various states. and 'hen secure i's
passage In all the Legislatures. would be n
task too liercu~an 20 contemplate
NH the national conference was hold /
under 'hN auspices ~ the National civic !
, ederation IN Washington 'As, January |
~" general public vas not aware that The T,
OF overcoming thi- idsntical /
inertia has been clear'y demonstrated. on |
certain commercial matters ~ last bv an !
0~7ciai body % LAWYERS reprs-entfnI forty .
SIX states and Terriforics Vhich thanks 20 /
he American Bar Association vas created +
Dy tho Legislatures for ms express pur-
pose This BODY II known a. the National !
onferenCe ~ ,ommissioners on inform .
s'lt" Laws and has already placed on rhe .
-fltg'es 81 thir' eight States uniform
n.ll on negotiable notes srd On the statutes
- fifteen states . uniform pul on ware
house reoeir's
Furthermore ~ Tho 'ir1A re federation
vas holding i'a conference N Washington #
mother movement was heins lAunchc which
vii have n great moral fore" In helping 20
'rins order ou' ~ This legislative chaos
hts u the organization known a. the Con.
"renC~ Of Governors. which ORGANIZED per.
and arranged for annual meetings
y consider questions OF state reform and
o lsni IT. powerful voice In favor OF har.
non pGS action h" ween the states
~ the request OF President Tar, a clo44
cooperation was arranged between the
Governors Conference and that Of the fed.
ration. tho action taken ~ the latter being
epored TO the Governors Conference for
- consideration
\ close cooperation has sl.o been es,ah.
shed between the federation and ~. ,
difference Of Commissioners on Uniform
avs nearly all OF their members as IN.
iViduals being members Of the National
,vic Federation
To supplement and popularize the work Of
he Commissioners on Uniform State IaNAto
with the Conference ~ Governor. =
nd 20 provide . forum for the discussion Of
tate and national problems the National
tvic Federation 10 Organizing council IN ,
very State IN the Jnion The federation . .
lovement. - far As its legislative work IL ,
will not Re confined 20 state If
uertlons tho State councils as such will ,
dvoCate uniform state measures At their r
esp"ctive stat" Legislatures but a. a n
ational body composed ~ reprssrn'srivea =
each State they will consider and urge r
coordination between the Federal Govern 4
1eni and the State Governments on matter. a
4 which thcre IL now conflict. and urge Fed. .
raj legislation on matters which are en-.
rely interstate lite machinery can also '
q utilized 10 aid In securing Amendments '
D the Constitutions 81 the State. and the
n