Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-05
.MAss|E EXPLAINS PLAN
FOR LAND REGISTRATION
Commissioner From Virginia on
Uniform Laws Draws Up
New Bill.
MEETS MANY OBJECTIONS
Provides Simple Method of Transfer
ring Land. and Makes Ii Available
Asset for Loans Without Cumber-
some, Expensive Examination.

OF the Senators to get action on other
measures that preceded IL on the calcn-
dar In the dying hours OF the session.
VAL be revived next January when the
Legislature is convened Its passage is
reEal d ed a certainty.
The new land registration system Is
known as the Torrcns system. II ia
not, however. the Torrens system. but
cnhodies the principles OF that system.
The Torrens law. effective In Can
ada can not be established in the Unit
ed states because of the written con-
stitutions OF the different States. its adj
vocateS explain.
The measure to be introduced at the
coming session OF the Legislature will
be copy Of the land registration act
adopted last month by the National
Conference of Commissioners on Uni
form Laws, which was held in Salt
Lake City.
MAa>IE SETS FORTH
ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEM
The uniform law on land reEistra-
ton was drawn by committee of
which Colonel Eugene c. Massic, COM
missioner from Virginia. was chairman
IT, essential features of the proposed
Law and the benefits 10 be derived from
1t are set forth by Colonel Massie in an
article prepared by him, which reads
as follows:
The main point about the land regis
tration act. as 1 prefer TO call it, is
that it will clear titles to land and
keep them clear 1t Will cheapen all
dealings with land and will quicken
such dealings. II adds now feature,
or quality, TO the value of land, maxi
ing it, in a sense. negotiable
NOT TRUE TORRENS
SYSTEM OF CANADA
TIE registration of land titles act is
no, the true Torrens system. W. can
not have the true Torrcns system in
the ''nitcd States because OF the writ
ten constitutions, but il embodIes tho
principles OF the TorrenS system, COW
ering the registration and guarantee
by law of titles to lard.
For long time constitutional uucs-
lions were raised against the land titles
registration act. but it seems now that
there is no danger OF disaster on that
account. The act has been adopted in
twelve states. 1t has been fought
wherever introduced and after It's in
PRODUCTION we'll.
Ihere has been prejudice against
the principles OF the act. chiefly in the
minds OF ti;lc-eXamincrs, and also in
the minds of many conservative law
yeiS, who arc accustomed To old
methods that they fancy no improve
mentS can be made.
PLACES LAND N
POSITION FOR FREE USE
One OF the great benefits OF the act
is that /, will place land in position
Tor rec use. VERY often NOWADAYS
Ne*lments in real estate arc like
Investments in gravcyartl--a place
toi me H"rH ing OF capital. That has
oetn due TO the unnecessary rcstric
lions placed upon the transfer OF land
titles
Under the land registration act the
t!t!e is registered after full and com
Plete notice has been given Ia MI nor
sons who can have any Interest in mo
'ahu' rms is a judicial procedure and
sNes point or absolute certainty con-
Corning the title
tnder the old system il has been i'm
possible ever TO be sure that the title
20 IAhd was absolutely good against ali
tHc world. In TACT there was no meth
&C known under the old law. unless f.
WIS mat OF adverse possession. that
would enable man 10 say that he had
uhquestioncd title TO land
Even an equitable suit 10 Quiet ti,,.
which goes as far as any legal nro.
ceedlnrs can go under The present Law.
on = quiets title asalns, those persons
VINO are actual parties to the suit. and
" YOU once get the title quiet as
tar AS these parties are concerned. !
there is noth!ni. in Tie present law 10
en;ble an owner ia keep the title clear
MANY WAYS IN WHICH
TITLE MAY BE CLoIDED
-! sorts OF things may arise to affect
title. things Of record and things no,
OF record, and III Il snort time title may
nv iaps.n so that II is III The same
condltion that IL vas before the suit,
The great distinction Of Tho Ia,d
registration act i that it clears the
titie and establishes j, AGAINST Tho
whole world, including the state. And
after II has once been rccis,cr.d abyo
lute!y nothing can affect the title ey
cert what is thereafter registered
against the title
Al present no one can transfer title
to land except BY decd. or viii or bv