on Uniform State Laws and made an a!' propriation for a contribution to the bud-
CONFERENCE Continued lrom page 23
form of notarial certificates and other
sUbjects; to ascertain the best means to effect an assimilation and uniformity in
the laws of the states, and especially to consider whether it would be wise and
practicable for the State of New York to invite other states of the Union to send representatives to a convention to draft
uniform laws to be submitted tor the approval and adoption of the several states '"
In August, 1889 the American Bar Association adopted a resolution recommending the passage by each state and by Congress for the District of Columbia and the territories of an act similar to the first section of the New York act. It is not known whether the ABA resolution in 1889 furnished the inspiration for the New York act of 1890 but undoubtedly the action of the. Association gave im-
petus to the formation and growth of the conference. By 1891 five states, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Delaware, had followed the example of New York by creating Comm issions on Uniform State Laws. The first meeting of the Conference was held at Saratoga, New York in August, 1892. It was called the "Conference of State Boards of
get of the National Conference and for the expenses of the Arkansas Commissioners. Prior to that time the Commissioners from Arkansas were named by
the Chief Executive relying upon his in-
Rights, Uniformity of Private Interna-
herent appointive power. Commissioners from Arkansas serving prior to 1945 did so at their own expense and the
tional
Disclaimer of Gifts and Bequests. CommiSSioner Edward L Wright in
budget of the Conference came from contributions by other states and by the
Scope and Program and the Executive
American Bar Association. Consequent-
ly, it was only in 1945 that this state began to assume its full responsibility as a member of the National Conference.
Twenty Arkansas lawyers and law professors have represented this State in
the Conference from 1906 to the present time. They are listed below with the year of appointment and the length of service. The records of the Conference reflect sustained activity of the Arkansas Commissioners in the work of the Conference. Commissioner W. H. Arnold was a member of at least five drafting committees considering such SUbjects as War
Legislation, Registration of Land Titles, Prohibition, Child Labor and Interstate Compacts. He also served on committees handling administrative problems of
the Conference.
Uni-
Commissioner Rose in addition to be-
vormity of Law in the United States." Seven states were represented at that
ing a member of the Committee on Scope and Program, served on drafting
meeting. By 1900 some 32 states had named representatives to meet and work with commissioners from other states.
committees considering such SUbjects as Labor Laws, Evidence, Doing Business by Foreign Corporations, Death in
The
Common
Commissioners
name
of
for Promoting
the
organization
was
changed to National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Arkansas was first represented in the Conference in 1906 but it was not until
1945 that the Arkansas legislature formally created the Arkansas Commission
Disasters, Vegetable Seed
Laws, Civil Procedure. Simultaneous Death and Administrative Procedure. Commissioner Barrett, in addition to serving as Chairman of the Executive Committee. as Vice President and President. served on drafting committees
YEAR APPOINTED NAMF LENGTH 4 1906 John Fletcher, Little Rock 7 1909 John Moore, Little Rock 20 1909 Ashley Cockrill, Little Rock 3 1913 Joseph Hill, Fort Smith 1914 Frank Pace, Little Rock 18 1914 Nathan B. Williams, Fayetteville 5 1917 W. H. Arnold, Texarkana ~ 1919 George B. Rose. Little Rock 21 6 1923 J. H. Hamiter, Little Rock 3 1940 Frank Pace. Jr., Little Rock 31 1943 Joe C. Barrett, Jonesboro 29 1945 Robert A. Leflar, Fayetteville 12 1945 Edward L. Wright, Little Rock 4 1957 William Nash, Little Rock 4 1962 Herbert H. McAdams, Jonesboro 1962 Louis Ramsay, Jr,. Pine Bluff 6 3 1967 Robert R. Wright, Fayetteville 7 1967 John C. Deacon, Jonesboro 5 1969 William S. Arnold, Crossett 4 1970 Phillip Carroll, Little Rock 24/January 1975/Arkansas Lawyer
considering such subjects as Civil Procedure, Enforcement of Judgments, Administrative Procedure, Evidence, Uniform Commercial Code, Workmen's Compensation, Water Resources, Exclusive Forum in International Sales, Civil
OF SERVICE years years years years years years years years years years
years years years years
years years years years years
years
Law,
Anti-discrimination
and
addition to serving on the Committee on Committee was a member of drafting committees considering such subjects as the Commercial Code. Social Welfare. Enforcement of Foreign Judgments. Rules for Traffic Court Procedures and Insurance. Commissioner Nash served on drafting committees considering the Validity of Corporate Guaranties. Civil Rights of Convicted Persons and Retail Installment Sales. Commissioner McAdams during his tenure of office was on the drafting committee for the Uniform Probate Code. Commissioner Ramsay was on drafting committees considering Simplifica-
tion of Real Property Transfers, Cost and Expense of Civil Litigation and Supervision of Trustees for Charitable Purposes. Commissioner Robert R. Wright, now
Dean of the College of Law at the University of Oklahoma but at the time a Professor of Law at the University of Arkansas, during his three-year tenure was a valuable member of the drafting committees on the Probate Code and Eminent Domain. Commissioner Deacon, presently a member of the Executive Committee. served on drafting committees for Release on Ball. Marriage and Divorce. and was Chairman of the drafting committee on the Eminent Domain Code. Commissioner William S. Arnold was a member of the drafting committee on Jury Selection. and is now a member of the committees on Rules of Evidence and Residential Condominium Sales. Commissioner Carroll is now serving on the drafting committee of the Newsmen Privilege Act and Rules of Evidence and has been serving as the Arkansas member of the Legislative Committee. Beginning in 1953 Marcus Halbrook. as the Director of the Arkansas Legislative Council. was elected by the Conference as an Associate Commissioner. He was joined in 1970 by Kern L Treat. the Research Director of the Council. Commissioners Barrett and Edward L Wright were for several years members of the Executive Committee at the same
time. This was the only time in the history of the Conference that two Commissioners from the same state" were chosen to serve together on this important committee. Barrett is the only Commissioner from Arkansas to serve as