Evening journal., 1914-09-24
Three Additions Suggested
by Code Commissioners


work of the commission at needless
expense. No one doubts the capacity
or integrity OF the commissioners and
certainly no one can question the
thoroughness of the examination by
the Legislative Committee. II would |
seem, therefore. that since no public
examination is possible, and inasmuch /
as the Legislative Committees exam
ination has been thorough, nothing |
further could be gained in the way OF /
examination by delaying the con-
sideration Of this proposed Code until |
the regular session.
Furthermore. II would be neces- |
sary in order TO have this Code pass |
ed at the regular session, to make II |
a special order of business to be TAX
en- up prior to any other business by
the regular session, and to be passed
before any other law was enacted,
for the reason that the Code, as pass
ed, Is intended TO be a coditlcatiOn Of
all the statute laws Of this State, as
of the date of its passage. To pass
any other law before the passage OF
the Code would necessitate refer
ence OF the draft back to the commits
sion, for the purpose Of re-arranglng
and codifying the sections of the law
as changed by the new enactment.
Further objection to its consideration
at the regular session is, that if it were
made the special order of business, as
above suggested, and passed before any
other business was considered by the
Legislature, there would not be oppor-
tunity on the part of the legislators to
have placed before them the exact con-
! dition of the law as embodied in the
code. All of the prior acts of the Leg
J islature covered by the code would be
REPEALED, and any attempt to amend or
add to laws by reference to the origi-
nal enactment. would be ineffective, in
asmuch as the law 20 which reference
was made would have been covered by
the code and repealed. This would nee
essarily product a condition of uncer.
tainty which would prevent intelligent
consideration Of any suggested legisla'
tion.
sion was to consider and pass the code
in definite form, the code could and
would be, under the plan Of the commits
sioners, printed without index anC
placed IN the hands of the Legislators
for their information at the regular ses
sion in 1915 This would enable th'
legislators to have before them in con
crete form the exact state of our stat
ute law. and they could intelligent,
pass upon the necessity for amendment
and additions thereto. This would pro
duce a fortunate condition of general in
formation upon our statute law, such
has not existed since the code of S52
Furthermore. il must he recognized b'
an persons familiar with our Legislative
bodies. that the present Legislature
fully organized and equipped to imme
diately consider the passage OF the pro
posed code. would. with the experienc
of one session, be in much better shap
10 effectuallv dispose Of the business be
fore them. than new General Assem-
blv. unorganizcd and to a great degre
without experience in legislative mat
ters.
In the ordinary case Of legislation
SO long as the average legislator /
= satisfied with the substance of tn
: Bill, he is willing to leave the forr
:, to the particular committee to whic
= 1t is referred aud to the attorney fo
q the body. Assuming the capacity an
I, integrity OF the commission and OF th
! legislative committee, the substanC
= of this law is, except in the designate
!, cases, exactly our statute law OF L
= day. The form Is the product Of tn
a skill and industry Of capable me
y working with a devotion to duty Sc
!. dom eQualled in this State.
Under these circumstances. theT
y seems little chance Of danger in tn
:, consideration and passage of the pro
posed Code by the special session
and there is the decided advantae
. ,of having Immediately available I'll
knowledge Of what our statute law j
u We have in addition the advantaG
u to the next regular session, in ha'
, ing before them this Code, and N
a freedom of that regular session fro
It the difficulties and uncertainti'
IS which would be attendant upon u
)f consideration and passage of Il
Code at any regular session.
is It is true that the special sessic
n will be an expense. but the adval
E. tage to be gained. IL would seem,
N so great as to overweight this sing
le objection which remains. This
" one Of the most importent publ
he works which have been performed
le this State for many years. and the
Of should be a willingness to carry
e. through. so as to bring IT to such
)r degree of perfection as to be a cree
as to the State. This Code will
o. widely distributed throughout 4
ne States of the Union, and to a We
n marked degree our State will
w judged by its scope and character.