Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-12
LEGISLATORS SEEK
STATE CODE UNITY
Lawyers and Judges to Meet
This Week IN Inter-
ests of Law.
BIZ FREDHRIC WILLIAM VILE.

a I'll \
Lawyers ana judges OF the nation.
now converging on Denver Tor this
weeks annual meeting OF the Amer
lean Bar Association, will be god
fathers to new national organiza-
ton designed to bring about wide re.
forms in the statutory law. u Will
be called the american Legislators,
Association. and consist, primarily OF
members Of the upper and lower
houses Of the Legislatures or Assem-
blies Of the 4S sovereign States.
The founder and first president or
the association Is State Senator Hen.
ry w: Toll Of Colorado. a brilliant
young Denver lawyer and nephew OF
the late Edward o.. Wolcott, silver.
tongued United States Senator from
the Centennial State.
Uniform State laws are the prtn.
cipal objective Of the American Leg
islators' Association. For "a years the
national conference OF commission
ers on uniform State laws" comprts-
ing about three attorneys from each
State, has been at work on @ scheme
for bringing about statutes OF nation
wide similarity. The American Legis-
lators' Association purposes not only
carrying on the distinguished serv-
ice rendered by the national CONFER
ence, but going comprehensivey INTO
the field Of statutory law. Its pro-
motors assert that State Legislatures,
through lack Of any effort among the
individual Commonwealths OF the
Union to work along identical lines.
have been running wild" for genera
lions. The result has been pronounc-
ed by legal authorities like former
United States Senator Chester Long
of Kansas. now president or the
American Bar Association, "a nation
al menace" Three thousand members
of the Bar Association, are expected
for the Denver session of July II, 10
and 16. and their prospective inoorse-
ment Of the Legislators Association
win launch the latter upon an nm
mediately active career.
state Senator Toll Of Colorado In
discussing the project, says:
eve are working-and It 10 Work
to establish the notion that the
States. which spend more than
81 800, 100000 each year, should de.
velop an increasingly scientific atti.
tude In legislative AFFAIRS. AT present
topsy-turvydom reigns.
THE intent of the American Legts-
lators' Association is to be q useful
clearing house and forum and to
bring about desirable cooperation be
tween the legislators and the Leg
islatures of the various States. Be.
sides facilitating the enactment OF
more uniform State laws, we believe
that it has q special field Of useful
ness with regard to legislation con-
corning tax matters.
.aThe American Law institute,
formed at washington in 1928, is
doing cornmendable work In the field
Of the common law. We are the
law Institutes poor cousin, for It is
not generally known that the Car
negie Corporation has endowed the
institutes labors with q splendid gift
of 81 ,00O, 900. The law institute IL at
tempting to assist the judges Of the
various States by advancing a cOIn-
mon viewpoint among them. The
American Legislators Association
would assist the legislators Of the Va
rious States by advancing q common
viewpoint among them.
ssSince our legislators not only
spend hundreds Of millions OF our
money each year, through authOrtza-
ton OF the budgets OF State govern.
ments, but also make our laws and
AK our taxes, we feel that there t.
urgent need of some such work as
the American Legislators Association
purposes assigning itself.
aE,xecutfve councillors and members
of the general assembly Of the Leg
islators' Association, which win hold
its first annual meeting in Denver
Immediately following the bar as
ISOLATION convention. consist OF q
state Senator and q member Of the
lower house Of each State Legisla.
ture. There are also advisory boards
made up Of the governors OF nine
States, leading university professors.
law school deans, highway commits
sioners, health board officials, insur-
ance and banking commissioners,
college presidents, educationalists.
criminologists, tax experts, justices
of State supreme courts and 8 va
rfety Of representatives Of professions
and calIings concerned with State
legislation.
Among nationally known men who
have. pledged their support to the
American Legislators Association
are Gov. Clifford Pinchot, Clarence
barrow, Dean Roscoe Pound, Gov.
Nellie Tayloe Ross, Richard Wash
burn Child, DIR. James r. Angel. DIR.
Harry a. GARFIELD, Judge Ben b.
Lindsey, DIR. Livingston FarTand, DR..
David Starr Jordan, DR.. John j.
Tigert, Chester II. Rowell, former
Gov. Winfield 4. Durbin, DIR. Richard
r., Ely, DR.. Edwin r. IA. Seligman,
Prof. Michael I. Pupin and Rev. DR..
John Haynes Holmes.
tCopyright. 1880
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