OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE REVISION AND REFORM OF THE LAW, To his Excellency JAMES H. BUDD, Governor of the State of California: SIR: The undersigned herewith present the report of the Commissioners for the Revision and Reform of the Law, as required by the Act of the Legislature under which they were appointed. Owing to the unavoidable absence of Hon. Frank T. Baldwin, one of the Commissioners, during the preparation of the report, it contains those recommendations which have been agreed upon by the two other Commissioners. The general scope of the recommendations made is to embody in the Codes, as far as practicable, the many statutes in force, in their appropriate places therein. The mass and divergent character of such statutes is, however, so great, that the work of their codification is not complete. We have attempted to harmonize the many conflicting sections of the Codes, and to place all provisions appropriately therein. Many changes in the numbering of sections have been recommended, to afford numbers in proper chapters for duplicate-numbered sections, and for provisions of statutes in force which have in this revision been placed in the Codes. No disturbance has, however, been made in the numbering of those important and leading sections which have been made the subject of judicial decision. The enumeration of statutes in force has been reserved for a subsequent report. Proposed changes in the management of public institutions have been considered, and recommendations in that regard will be made to the Legislature at its coming session. The Commissioners are under obligations to the bench and bar of this State for many valuable suggestions. The report is submitted with the hope that it will be carefully examined by those interested, and especially by the legal profession, whose comments thereon will enable us to correct it where erroneous, and supply its deficiencies where incomplete. Respectfully submitted. RYLAND B. WALLACE, Commissioners for the Revision and Reform of the Law. |