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622

jeopard the basic principle of local self

that practically all of the states are now represented in the Conference and that

government.

Business has long since

in a very large proportion of them the

overleaped state lines, and the problems pressing for solution arising from our constitutional limitations are many and

oﬁicers, argues well for the future. The

mize the importance of the states and

complex. The Conference of Commissioners is the only body absolutely non-political, composed of men, as far as possible, without prejudice, to whom the commun

commissioners have the dignity of state embarrassment arising from lack of money for current expenses has been largely met by appropriations from many of the states, and it is conﬁdently

tion of questions that should be solved by agreement among the states in the

expected that all of them will soon make such moderate appropriations for the expenses of their commissioners and of the Conference as will make it possible to enlarge the work which has already

form of uniform statutes.

attained such proportions.

ity can look for dispassionate considera

The fact

Philadelphia, October 31, 1911.

Uniform Commercial Legislation BY FRANCIS B. JAMES, or THE CINCINNATI BAR FOR SEVEN YEARS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCIAL LAW OF THE COMMISSIONERS ON UNIFORM STATE LAWS IN NATIONAL (ZONI7‘EREN'CEl

NDER the Constitution of the

others amounting to commerce and con

body

ﬁned within state lines yet indirectly

(Congress) was organized with limited

affecting national commerce within the meaning of the federal Constitution. Stated more brieﬂy: There are many

United

States,

a

central

jurisdiction upon a few commercial subjects, such as interstate commerce, foreign commerce, admiralty, coinage,

bankruptcy, copyrights, patents, post ofﬁces and post roads. There are many business transactions commercial in nature and national in extent, which, however, do not amount to commerce

within the meaning of the Constitution; lDuring Mr. James‘ chairmanship of the Com mittee on Commercial Law of the Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, the acts to make uniform the law of Sales. Stock Transfer. Warehouse Receipts. and Bills of Lading were formulated. He resigned as chairman of this committee on his appointment as chairman of the Committee on Commercial Law of the American Bar Association, not having time to do justice to both positions.

interstate business transactions which do not amount to interstate commerce; there are instrumentalities of interstate

commerce upon which Congress has not yet legislated. There being no central body which could deal with these prob lems, Commissioners on Uniform State Laws were created with power to recom mend to the various state legislatures

the enactment of laws, national in scope, although politically limited to each state.

These Commissioners meet in national conference and duly organize with ofﬁ