The Pensacola journal., 1913-02-17
A GREAT NEED
FOR REVISION
OF STATUTES
ATTORNEY GENERAL
ANDREWS SAYS THERE ARE
MANY REASONS WHY FLORIDA
LAWS SHOULD Be REVISED.
By c. o. Andrews, assistant attor-
ney general.)


There are many reasons why the
legislature should provide law, and
the means by which the general laws
Of Florida can be revised at the earli-
est possible date. The revision of 1892
served the demands of the people up
to 1908. The legislature of 1908 au-
thorized a commission 10 be appoint
ed TO revise and consolidate our laws,
and they reported to tae legislature Of
1905. Their work was then adopted.
with the acts Of 1906 as A supplement-
A little over fen years elapsed be-
tween the adoption Of the revised stat
utes Of 1892 and the general statues
approved In 1906. II the legislature Of
1918 provides for a revision. 1t could
not be adopted until they convene In
1915.
The present condition of our Florida
laws preciudes any one, other than
persons who make constant use OF
them. knowing when they really find
existing law, or that which is obsolete
Many sections of the general statutes
and acts Of 1905, 1907 and 1909 have
been amended and re-amended until
it taxes the brain of our judges and
best lawyers to ferret out the valid
laws applicable to most any live sub
ject matter. Of the ATS sections Of
the general statutes OF 1905, there are
S6S sections that have been amended
or repealed. Some sections and parts
of sections have been declared uncon-
stitutionaL Many of the acts of 1905,
1907 and 1909 have been amended, or
declared unconstitutional, and it is Of
ten that a person has TO spend an
hour or more trying to find the last
valid law on the subject under con-
sideration. This is especially true
with those not accustomed to the use
of law books. Then, there have been
many laws enacted by the five last
sessions of the legislature, which treat
of entirely new subjects of import.
ance. Our statutes should be in such
form as to be guide to all citizens
desiring information, whether Judge,
lawyer. or layman, for they were in
tended for the guidance of all persons
| to be effected by them.
Something Should Be Done.
| It came forcibly to the writer's
knowledge during last year. that some
thing should be done to relieve the sit
uation. Probably the most perplexing
subjects are those relative to license
and elections. both general and special.
Over one thousand letters and tele-
grams were received here in the at
| torney generals Office from county off,
GERS and citizens over the state and
persons out OF the state asking for
Information as to the general election
laws. the primary laws, the school
laws. road laws. and license laws,
much of which could have been as
certained by the enquirer in less time
than 1t took to write the letter, had
the person asking for such informa-
ton been able to find all the law on
the subject matter consolidated in such
a manner as to be easily found. IL
is not the duty OF the attorney general,
under the constitution and statutes to
answer all these inquiries He is only
required 10 advise the governor and
each OF the officers of the executive de-
partnent. when requested, on laws
touching their official duties. But in
the interest of the better enforcement,
the advice was undertaken, even
though much of the work had to be
done at late hours so as to interfere
as little as possible with those duties
required by law. The present general
statutes OF Florida contains 1s41 pages
and makes somewhat unhandy vol
ume TO handle. To add the many
other general laws that have been
passed subsequent to the last revi-
sion. would still enlarge the present
volume TO POSSIBLY over 225o pages
statute laws that have been repealed
J and declared unconstitutional tina.
would he dropped
More Than One Volume.
All the states east of the Mississippi
river, except one Or two of the small
er New England states and Florida
compile their general laws in more
than one volume. Georgia, also Ala
bama- has three volumes. one contain.
ing the criminal code, one containing
the civil code. and one the poiitica,
code. When the Florida laws are te
be revised and consolidated. they
| should be placed in at least two vol
umes, one containing the civil and
! criminal statutes. the other. the pNiti.
cal code or statutes. There should bs
a unity of subjects treating similar
matters, all under logical headings
and sub-hea dings.
:. The last revision of our genera
Estatutes was an able work, requiring
the services OF three of our best law.
yers for a portion of two years Il
complete and for which they wer,
poorly paid when we consider the tim,
consumed the annoyance of being To-
4 Gated in different parts of the stat.
: and the scope and nature Of the wori
to be performed. They are compelled
under such a condition. to divide CT
the work and. as &. result, when tn,
tparts revised are brought together
{ there is naturally a lack OF unity anG
consistency that could scarcely h,
avoided A commission of able law.
Iyers usually appointed, can I'll aftort
to impare their own business for 1
i work that carries with 1t small pay
? lmuch annoyance and but little glory
Ell Legislature Should Act.
The legislature would do well t,
authorize the governor. at its next ses