usually three from each state, are appointed under laws of the respective states creating them, usually for five years, with authority to confer with Commissioners of the other states and recommend forms of bills or measures to bring about uniformity of law in the execution and proofs of deeds and wills, in the laws of bills and notes, marriage and divorce and other subjects where such uniformity seems practicable and desirable. The officers of the National Conference consist of a President, VicePresident, Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Secretary, elected annually. Seventeen Conferences have so far been held; the first at Saratoga for three days, beginning August 24, 1892, and the seventeenth at Portland, Maine, August 22, 23, and 24, 1907. A complete list of the Commissioners of the several states with standing committees, will be found in the following pages.

The time of the Seventeenth Conference was largely taken up in the consideration of the Uniform Bills of Lading Act, drafted by Professor Samuel Williston, of the Harvard Law School, and the Uniform Stock Certificates Act, drafted by Professor Williston.

The Committee on Commercial Law was authorized to have the drafts of the Partnership, Bills of Lading and Stock Certificates Acts printed and distributed in order to obtain expert comment and criticisms to facilitate the perfecting of these measures before their final adoption by the Conference.

The Committee on Marriage and Divorce was authorized to take up actively the consideration of the question of (1) Family Desertion and Non-support Law; and (2) A Law Regulating Marriage and Licenses to Marry; and to report to the Conference a tentative form of Uniform Law on each of those subjects for the consideration of the Conference.

In accordance with the Constitution and By-laws adopted at this Conference, the Commissioners will please advise the Secretary of the date of their appointment, specifying the law or authority under which the appointment was made and the duration of their term of office; also of any changes in the personnel of the respective State Commissions.

FEB 26 1908

The Conference earnestly urges upon the legislatures of the several states, as well as upon their Commissioners, the importance of introducing at the next session all of the bills recommended which have not passed, and the Secretary would ask members to communicate with him whenever such bills are introduced.

In case the list of commissioners as printed in this report is not correct, or any changes are made subsequently, the Secretary should be notified at once.

Extra copies of this report and such previous reports as are extant may be obtained on application to the President or the Secretary.

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SECTION 1. This Conference or Association of Commissioners shall be known as Commissioners on Uniform State Laws."

SEC. 2. Its object shall be to promote uniformity of state laws by affording the Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, appointed in the different states of the United States of America, an opportunity of meeting in Annual Conference for the better accomplishment of the work for which they were appointed.

ARTICLE II.
Membership.

SECTION 1. Its members shall consist of the Commissioners appointed under the laws or by the authority of the respective states of the United States of America to bring about uniformity of state laws, whose commissions give them authority to confer with Commissioners of the other states of said United States.

SEC. 2. Each Commissioner, upon his first attendance at an Annual National Conference of Commissioners and on his reappointment, shall file with the Secretary of the Conference the date of his commission, a statement of the term for which he is appointed and a reference to the Act of Assembly or other authority under which he has been appointed a Commissioner.

ARTICLE III.

Officers and Committees.

SECTION 1. The following officers shall be elected at each Annual Conference for the year ensuing:

A President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, and an Executive Committee shall be constituted. which shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, all of whom shall be ex-officio members, together with four other members to be appointed by the President.

Sec. 2. The following committees shall be annually appointed by the President, for the year ensuing, and shall consist of seven members each:

1. Executive.

2. Commercial Law.

3. Wills, Descent and Distribution.

4. Marriage and Divorce.

5. Conveyances.

6. Depositions and Proof of Statutes of Other States.

7. Insurance.

8. Congressional Action.

9. Appointment of New Commissioners.

10. Purity of Articles of Commerce.

11. Uniform Incorporation Law.

12. The Torrens System and Registration of Title to Land. 13. Banks and Banking.'

A majority of those members of any committee who may be present at any Annual Conference shall constitute a quorum of such committee for the purposes of such Conference.

ARTICLE IV.

Duties of Members.

SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners from each state, at least thirty days before each Annual Conference, 1 Amendment adopted in 1906.

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to report to the Chairman of the Executive Committee the enactment of any laws or the filing of any judicial decisions in the state from which they are appointed, upon the subject of uniform legislation in the United States.

SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners from each state to attend the Annual Conference of the Commissioners from the various states, or to arrange before each Annual Conference for the attendance of at least one Commissioner from their state at such Annual Conference.

SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners from each state to report to the President of the National Conference the death or resignation of any Commissioner from their state.

SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners from each state to endeavor to secure from the legislature of their state an appropriation toward defraying the annual expenses of the National Conference of Commissioners.

Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners from each State to file with the President, Secretary and members of the Executive Committee a copy of their reports to the governor or legislature of their respective states.

ARTICLE V.
By-Laws.

By-Laws may be adopted, repealed or amended at any Annual Conference of Commissioners by a majority of the Commissioners present.

ARTICLE VI.

Annual Address.

The President shall open each Annual Conference with an address, in which he shall communicate such changes in the statute laws of each state as tend to promote uniformity of legislation in the United States, and also any matters of interest concerning subjects of legislation, as to which uniformity may seem practicable and desirable, as well as any matters of general