Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-15
TO WORK FOR REFORMS
Purpose and Scope of National
Movement Explained by Speakers.
UNIFORM LAWS ONE OF AIMS
DR.. Wiley Declares "Unholy Lee
gions" Are Fighting Correc-
ton of Food Laws.

speaker at a meeting yesterday after
noon at the New Willard Hotel called for
the purpose of organizing 1.-THE District
Council of the National Civic Fedora
ton" to Cooperate with the state coun-
ellis OF the federation In the general
movement to secure uniform legislation
on number Of big subjects. and to work
for the coordination OF state with fed
eral LAWS where there is conflict.
THE legions of the unholy," said DR..
Wiley. ARE being drilled and marshaled
to fight against the correction Of that de-
feet in the pure food law recently made
manifest by the recent decision of the
Supreme Court with. reference to mis-
branding. The fight will be strenuous.
1t is the old battle all over again of the
vested interests against the cuonmon
people"
Dr. Wiley euiogized President Taft and
the courts and declared himself as bit
teriy opposed to the recall of the judi
ciary. He described the attitude of the
courts toward the administration of the
pure food law as beyond criticism.
Former District Commissioner Il. 3. F.
Macf ariand presided over. the meeting, at
which committee of twenty-five, with
Mr.. Mcfarland as chairman. was created,
TO take the necessary steps to organize the
District council of the federation. Among
the Speakers, in addition to Dr. Wiley,
were Ralph NJ Easley, chairman of the
executive council OF the federation;
Lanceiot Parker, secretary of the federal
commission on employers liability and
workmons compensation; Charles r.
NELL, federal commiss. oner of labor. and
Frederick L. Siddons, local attorney.
District Should Be Model.
Mr. mcfarland, in calling the meeting
10 order, declared that the National Cap
ital should always march n the front
rank ana should not be behind the states
and cities which have organized branches
of the Natlonal Civic Federation to pro-
mo ,snalioilaI and local OBJECTS Of the
first Importance, He pointed OUT the
p.oDa0iifty Uf the early creation of a
puDllS service comm -SSlon tOT tue District
anu uec.aIeu tnat the District branch of
the National CIVIC Federation can help
brlns this dbou.. THIS and other District
legislation should be model for the
whole country.
Mr. MacfaI land then said that Seth
Low, president Of the National CIVIC Fed
Grafton was unable to be present, but
that he was represented by Ralph NJ.
of he federation.
1.-The purpose of the National Civic
Federation, sad Mr.. Easley in explana-
ton. lis to aid In solving some Of the
dustrial progress. Its membership is
drawn from practical men of affairs.
whose acknowledged relationship in
thought and action makes them repre-
sentative of the various forces hat strive
together for the general good"
State councils have been organized in
thirx-two states" Mr.. Easley said. the
preliminary meetings having been held in
the statehouses and the governors, in
most Instances, having presided. The
movement is broad and non-political in
character It's purpose is both: educa-
tional and legislative, not in only respect
to matters which are wholly subjects of
state legislation, but also in matters
where it is desirable to coordinate with
federal legislation.
He asserted that the great difficulty in
the solution of problems presented by
our larger corporations lies In the laws
delay. the clashing Of states and federal
government upon the regulation of cor
porations and combinations. the diversity
of state laws upon ordinary commercial
matters such as warehouse receipts, bills
o. lading and negotiable notes. the urgent
need for a uniform bill on compensation
for Industrial accidents, all give empha-
sis to the seriousness Of our present cha
otto legislative situation"
Thirty Important Questions.
There are more than thirty different
important questions said Mr.. Easley,
lin which uniform legislation is absolute
ly essential The purpose Of this meet
ing is to bring the District of Columbia
in line to aid in this work"
Frederick L. Siddons, who is the District
re 9stn. ative o, the commission on uni
form state laws. told of the District
Commissioners and pred.c. ed great things
for the federation ong this line.
1T was necessary, he said, ''for the
Commissioners to undertake broad COM
mercial subjects first. The negotiable
instruments act approved by the Com
and the District of Columbia. Since then
the Commissioners have taken up for
consideration the subject of warehouse
receipts, bills of lading. stock transfers.
partnerships; and vital statistics 1t will
soon lbe necessary for us to consider laws
not eomnercial-for instance, marriage
and divorce and the support of children.
We certainly should have uniform stat
utes on these questions.
Charles p. Neill, the federal commits
soner of labor, was next introduced by
Mr.. Mcfarland He said:
- "An organization of the sort proposed
here in Washington is one of greatest i'm
portance. Here Is where We should have
model laws for the entire country We
are far from that situation now. The
National Civic Federation. in my mind
will be strong force to assist the Dis
triCr Of Columbia in this direction. Uni
form legislation proposals, with the back
ing of the states and the local and ma
tional bodies of the federation, would
help a great deal. This movement, l be-
lieve, can get us model laws here"
Lancelot Packer, secretary Of the United
States federal commission on employers
liability and workmen's compensation,
spoke on the subject of the workmen's
compensation. Since the movement was
started many states have entered 1t, he
said, and now the federal government is
about To report an out-and-out compensa-
~ law and substitute an entirely differ
principle of dealing with accidents OF
l-,.ustry from that which has obtained In
the past
DR.. Wiley's Address.
DIR Harvey w. Wiley was the princi-
pal speake:-. In discussing the movement
FOR uniformity in statutes on various
important subjects, he said: We must
remember that uniformity doesn't nec-
cssariIy mean excellence In the lam
suagc of the poet uniform legislation
might well be punk legislation; it Nigh,
protect the food adulterator. 1 am for the
uniform efficiency of the pure food law
rather than for it's uniformity Of letter
The United States should possess such
perfect laws on great subjects as to
make 1t possible for the states to fol-
low"