The Washington times., 1915-10-03

| SlOH mas cHllStcu ltSclI WltH Tic
ment in every proper way.
WHAT HAS BEL
As a result Of recent investigations
by the commission, 1t Is stated that
these specific accomplishments in the
direction Of uniformity in State laws
have been achieveds
Forty-seven States have passed the
uniform negotiable instruments act Of
the American Bar Association.
Thirty-one have adopted the ware
house receipts act.
Three have adopted the uniform d.
vorce act.
Eleven have adopted the sales act
Nine have adopted the stock transfer
Twelve have adopted the bill of lad
Ten have adopted tho execution OF
Eight have adopted the family de-
| sertion act.
Desertion Measure Practical.
| 1t is observed with much interest that
the strictly commercial measures. with
| no backing Of sentiment. have made
much better progress than. for in
|
has been a strong movement Of the
moral forces. The family desertion
measure is strictly practical. based on
| economics rather than sentiment; and
II has been adopted In eight states.
while the divorce law can count only
three thus far.
| The American Bar Association has
given leadership and direction to these
efforts for uniform State laws: and the
| estimate that in Ave or six years more
1 - 30 ral Inp Inn n
a uniform State law concerning eorpor..
atoms in interstate business Is based
\ on past experience.
Every state that enacts one Of these
standardized measures adds that much
weight in favor of getting others to pass
tn same law. 1t was slow and difficult
work at first. especially In sections OF
the country where the idea of sectional
diversity Of interest was strong. West
ern States were dubious about the nego-
table paper act. for instance. which
was a pioneer In this campaign. because
many rural legislators were sure they
could see tokers by which the money
power was putting something over
on the debtor States.
Saving People Money.
But. as more and more States adopted
the statute. It proved itself Such laws
are now saving business people a great
deal Of money. litigation and trouble
every year: and what not long ago
seemed like a hopeless complexity OF
conditions is now gradually resolving
itself into a cheerful prospect for an
end Of the old chaotic situation. The
whole effort Is handled by a commission
Of three from each state. working with
the American Bar Association, though
the members are appointed by the gov
ernors. It has demonstrated the possi-
bility of overcoming old preJudices ana
avoiding the narrowness and sectional
ism that once made real progress I'M
possible.
The Bureau Of Corporations Of the
Federal Trade Commission has just
published Report on State Laws
Concerning Foreign Corporations"
which is expected to be OF great value
to business interests and also to legis-
lators interested in further progress
toward uniformity. 1t has been col
lated with great care. and even the
most experienced lawyers have been
astonished to realize the obstacles that
have been obtruded In the way Of easy
transaction of business that must cross
J State lines. II honesty were not more
popular than legalism: II people were
not, on the whole, sincerely desirous Of
being square" 1t would be quite pos
sible for q large proportion OF inter-
state dealings to be vitiated. and obli-
cations brushed aside. by reason OF the
impossible conflicts of laws.
i Works q Hardship.
For instance, in Wisconsin foreign
corporation-that is. one organized
under another State-must file its ar
ticles with the Wisconsin authorities
in order to cntitlc it to do business in
the State. A contractor from out
side the state secured an important
municipal contract. Three days later,
he compiled with this requirement OF
the state laws in all good good tanr,. taith, det de
MED all right to enforce his contra CT
on the ground that he had complied
with the State law after, rather than
before, he submitted his bid. II ne
| recovers at all. 1t will have to be In a
Federal suit on the ground OF diverse
citizenship. Such conditions are mani
testify impossible.
Pennsylvania has some laws that are
just as hard on the foreign corpora
ton. II 1t has not complied with the
STATES requirements. accounts owing
to 1t within the state are prlma facie
. invalid In Montana no contract made
by foreign corporation or Its agents,
before 1t shall have compiled with
the requirements for doing business
In the State, Is enforceable. on the
other hand Maine. Massachusetts. and
quirements for doing business. specih-
, caily provide that failure to comply
shall not inyalidate the contract In
Ohio contract by or In behait OF a
foreign corporation. Affecting Its la
Dility or property within the State. be-
fore 1t shall have procured certificates
, of authority, shall be void on behalf
of the corporation or Its assigns. but
shall be enforceable against them. In
, Idaho non-complying corporation
cannot take or hold real estate.
: The amazing tangle of these various
and constantly conflicting statutes Is
elicidated In the report on State laws
fnraiun CnrnnrattOna.
has been prepared In the hope that II
Prakks Poultry Regulator