Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-19

pliment that some one has said. A hack
driver can practice law in Kansas
Mr.. Aliens address was frequently in
terrupted by applause and many were
heard to remark that it was one OF the
best addresses delivered al the confer
ence
Regulation Of Railways.
Regulations of railways and public
utilities was the first subject considered
at the morning session. With other
topics of discussion were commercial
laws, court procedure and interstate ex-
traditions. AS only five minutes were al
lowed each speaker, extracts from the
addresses were read and the papers turn
ed over to the secretary for publication
in the proceedings of the conference.
The program included many speakers
who were not present when their names
were called by Judge Parker. but their
addresses will be printed and appear in
the record of proceedings Of the conven-
ton.
Martin s. Decker. the first speaker. dis
cussing the necessity of uniform railway
regulations said:
LAS to that class of state laws the de-
STABILITY OF uniformity goes beyond the
laws themselves and extends to uniform
ity OF regulations prescribed by the ad-
ministrative bodies. Since in the main
these regulati lions have the force of law.
they come fairly within the purposes of
this conference. We have in the United
States forty-one state railway commits
sions. The laws under which these COM
missions act vary. In no two states are
the laws exactly alike. We have the COM
mission with power to make rates for
railroads In the first instance-that is to
say. no tariff OF rates may be used which
has not been approved by the commission.
We hare the commission whose powers
over rites are limited to rates found un-
reasonable or unjust upon complaint filed
or In cases instituted by the commission
itself. We have the commission which
can deal only with rates on complaint.
We have the commission whose authority
over rates is exhausted by investigation
and recommendation that changes be
same language in statutes, although the
substance of powers conferred may be
the same"
Uniform Commercial Laws.
The advisablity OF uniform commercial
laws throughout the states was the sub
ject discussed by Harvey s. Chase He
urged publicity in all financial affairs.
municipal. state and national. as step
in that direction.
Charles Biggs of the National Associa-
ton Of Credit Men spoke on the rela-
ton of that body 20 the movement for
uniformity OF laws governing commercial
transactions.
Seth Lowe. chairman of the committee
on resolutions. reported seventeen resolu-
lions advocating uniformity of laws on
various subjects. and the resolutions
were passed unanimously. A resolution
of thanks to the President for attending
the conference. TO the governors for their
cooperation and to Secretary Root for
his speech delivered yesterday was
passed.
One of the last speakers was Charles
Macarthur f. Mccarthy of Wisconsin.
He said that the lawyers Of the country
ARE playing the fox and hound game i'm
the United States, and that our legal
system is worn out
The program of the afternoon session
included food and drug legislation. uni
form dairy laws. uniform oil inspection,
q uniform medical practice act and uni
form vital statistics.