312
The Green Bag
It is to be hoped that the issue raised by Dr. Hannis Taylor will not be con fused with that involved in the main
project. Legislative codificaton is an entirely different matter from "tacit”
most useful text-books and digests, and perhaps also encyclopedias.
Not only is there danger of Dr. Andrews’
project foundering on the
rocks
anti-codification
of
sentiment,
codification, and presents a far more controversial question than that offered
but there is also the obstacle of public
by the simple unassailable proposition of Messrs. Alexander, Kirchwey and An drews. The Green Bag entertains posi tive convictions on the subject of legislative codification, but it may
stumbling-block, one recognized as seri
not be necessary to express them at this time, and it would certainly
be well to refrain from saying any thing which might tend to prejudice
the discussion of an entirely different proposal. It is unnecessary to consider whether
Dr. Taylor's plan is feasible or not;
financing.
The latter is a formidable
ous by many authorities, and probably insuperable, as Mr. Alexander has de clared
This
(see 22
hindrance,
Green Bag 80 supra).
likewise,
would
not
interfere with the working out of Mr. Alexander's scheme. It has perhaps been made clear, by a method of contrast, how trivial the objections to Mr. Andrews’ plan are,
if indeed any are serious enough to be considered at all. We can confidently say that were some broad-minded,
it is sufficient to point out that the
progressive benefactor to see the wisdom
difliculties blocking the way to its
of a liberal endowment for the purposes
realization are much greater than they
set forth, no opposition would be offered
would he were the object merely the accomplishment of "tacit" codification.
by the American bench and bar to the consummation of a plan which would everywhere be recognized as beneficent.
In the first place, the achievement of the plan depends wholly upon the success with which the states can gradually be converted to a new propaganda
which however meritorious will not make its way easily. ' The adoption of the proposed code could come about only after long and earnest debate. In
On the contrary, Dr. Taylor’s plan would have to fight its way over hotly contested ground, with no possibility of victory except after a long continued
struggle, the outcome of which would be dubious.
the case of the American Corpus jun's project, on the contrary, the objections which many members of the bar enter tain toward legislative codification could not stand in the way, and there is
nothing in the proposition likely to
provoke strong or determined antago nism. Nothing radical or revolutionary is proposed; on the contrary, the pro jected statement of American law would be merely a broader and more systematic application, on a larger scale, of methods
which have hitherto been followed by law writers in the preparation of the
SOME NEW LAW MAXIMS T the annual dinner of the Queens County Bar Association, at the Hotel Astor,
New York, Jan. 15, Abraham Gruber coined the following epigrams :— "A client in Manhattan is worth two in Bushwick." "Do your client as you would have your client do unto you. But make him pay
for it." "Every client has a silver lining." "Some judges are born famous; some acquire fame, and some appoint condemna~ tion commissioners." "It is a wise client that knows his own lawyer."
