Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 22.pdf/291

 The Uniﬁcation of American Law

271

subjects of common interest, through its standing committee upon "Uniform State Laws." In order to render that

legislatures. The Uniform Bills of Lad ing Act was adopted at the conference in 1909, after the most careful criticism by the large interests affected. The Conference still has under consideration the draft of a Uniform Partnership Act and also the draft of a Uniform Incor poration Act. All of these acts have been prepared in response to the press ing need of the business world to remove as far as possible the uncertainty and vexation arising from the widely diﬁer ing laws of the states and territories on

branch of its work more effective, an afﬁliated association was created in 1890 by the New York Legislature by an act

matters of daily importance. So far as it has progressed the work of this organi zation is admirable, and it is growing in

authorizing the appointment of “Com missioners for the Promotion of Uni

importance.

formity of Legislation in the United

the statement that “The subject of uni

outcry from many interests which, dur

ing the last twenty years, has set in motion four great agencies which are now working together with perfect har

mony and efficiency in the effort to unify American law. First among these agencies stands the American Bar Association, which for

years has been doing its utmost to bring about unity in state legislation upon

Its president, Mr. Amasa

M. Eaton, opened a recent address with

States,” whose by-laws provide that

form state legislation has become of

“The members of the Committee on Uniform State Laws of the American

greater importance than ever during the last year and is in the air all over the United States." While the work of unifying state

Bar Association shall be privileged to

attend the Annual Conference of Com missioners and participate in the dis cussion of the Conference, but without the right to vote." These afﬁliated asso

ciations thus yoked together have already

legislation was thus advancing under

the direction of the American Bar Asso ciation and its worthy yokefellow, a new force appeared in the person of the

accomplished very great things. Nine teen national conferences of Commis

National Civic Federation, headed by

sioners from different states and terri

Samuel Gompers as vice-president. Very

tories have been held, there being now

recently that body has held a national conference at Washington, “after con

forty-eight states and territories, includ ing the District of Columbia and the Philippine Islands, represented in the

conference.

The Uniform Negotiable In

struments Act (approved by the Confer

ence in 1896) has been adopted in thirty eight states and territories. The Uniform Warehouse Receipts Act (approved by the Conference in 1906) has been adopted

in eighteen states. The Uniform Sales Act (approved by the Conference in 1906) has been adopted in six states.

The

Uniform Stock Transfer Act, ap

Mr. Seth Low as president and Mr.

sultation with other bodies interested in promoting uniform legislation by the states of the Union." In its last pro gram a quotation is made from a speech of the Hon. Elihu Root, who has said: “Under the conditions which now exist, no state can live unto itself alone and regulate its affairs with sole reference to its own treasury, its own convenience, its own special interests. Every state is bound to frame its legislation and its

proved at the conference of 1909, is now

administration with reference not only to its own social aﬁairs but with reference

being presented to the several state

to the eﬁect upon all its sister states"; and