The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-05-03

lue uSSlISu TSSulI.
New York First To Act.
The New York Legislature of 1890,
following the suggestion, passed an
act authorizing the Governor of the
state to appoint three Commissioners
for the promotion of Uniformity of Leg
islation in the United States"
Responding to this action of the New
York legislature, the American Bar
Association adopted a resolution rec
ommending the passage of a similar
law by each state and by Congress for
the District OF Columbia and the terri
tories.
Many of the states responded to the
and there was accordingly
the Conference of Commits
sioners on Uniform State Laws"
The Commission has existed for
twenty years, constantly increasing in
membership and usefulness 1t now
consists of representatives from forty
eight states and territories.
Perhaps the most representative of
all the meetings in furtherance of the
movement was that held at Washing
ton in January of last year, before
referred to in conjunction with the
Commissioners, consisting of some
$50 delegates representing forty-four
states.
Uniform Laws Would be Natural.
1t is impossible here to give in de-
tail the work of that Conference 1t
was a representative body. The de-
liberations and proceedings were free
of friction, free of politics, free of sec
tionalism. 1t impressed one with the
thoughts that the people of this coun-
try, in the main, are of common origin
closely related either by blood or
national ties, and that they need but
to have a more comprehensive knowl-
edge of each other to recognize these
ties of kinship, to recognize that this
is a common country, inhabited by
common people, with a common inter-
est. The harmony, patriotism and
loftiness of purpose pervading the
conference were inspiring; and, if the
same spirit could be infused into the
people at large, uniform laws would
be the natural outgrowth.
The result of the work of the Con-
ference is expressed in a series of res
olutions, adopted after careful con-
sideration and discussion, suggesting
certain subjects for uniform legisla-
ton, some of which have been adopted
by several states.
American Uniform Commercial Acts.
The Negotiable Instrument Act has
been adopted by 3S states, the Ware
house Receipts Act by 20. the Sales
Act by seven, and the Bills of Lading
Act by two. These, with the Uniform
Stock Transfer Act, constitute what
are termed American Uniform Com
mercial Acts"
You need not to be reminded that
Mississippi has adopted none of these
acts, nor any of the uniform legisla-
ton recommended by the Commission
ers. This is not the occasion for spec
ulation as to why this is true, suffice
it to say, our people are not generally
informed as to the scope and purpose
of the movement.
Inspiration teaches that no man liv.
eth or dieth unto himself. Does not
the same principle apply to the State
and to the Nation? The state Of Mis-
sissippi is perhaps more favorably sit
uated than other state in the union
to erect a Chinese wall along her Dor
ders, and live and die unto herself
Her pursuits, industries and products
are varied, and her population coult
doubtless increase, and her business
grow and flourish with an impossible
wall along her every boundary; but
does she wish to assume the role o
hermit" among the states? Is {
course of selfshness and isolation bes
for her and her people? Is she to gail
nothing by an exchange of ideas, al
exchange of products, and exchange
of comities with her neighbors?
It may be noted, in this connection
that the work for uniformity has beef
one of unselfsh patriotism and philar
thropy. No sinister motives can b
attributed to those in charge of tn
movement. Our own state has not S
d much as authorized the appointment
of commissioners. Our commissioner
have attended the conferences, at tn
request of the Governor, without NOR
ey, and without price," In my hun
BILE opinion, the subject is Of stuff
cient Importance to justify this Asst
citation in taking some definite actio