ARCHIVIST OF THE HALL OF RECORDS 43

had authority to certify the Code and found that none believed it had. If
the section of the Code which was needed consisted of only one Act or
several Acts easily distinguishable, the Hall of Records would then certify
the originals if they were desired, but in many cases a section of the Code
is built up out of so many Acts and over so long a period of time that we
had no choice but to refuse to do anything.

With the thought in mind that perhaps legislation of some sort might
remedy this awkward situation I wrote to the Attorney General to inquire
whether such legislation was feasible. The reply from the Law Depart-
ment in which a partial solution is suggested is also printed here below:

II
THE STATE LAW DEPARTMENT

1901 Baltimore Trust Building
Baltimore, Maryland

May 11, 1949.

DR. MORRIS L. RADOFF, Archivist
HALL OF RECORDS
Annapolis, Maryland.

Dear Dr. Radoff:

We have your letter of May 10th with which you enclosed a photo-
static copy of the request of Mr. Salvatore M. Lo Monaco for copies of
certain sections of the Code certified by the Secretary of State.

It is quite probable that the laws of New York permit the introduc-
tion into evidence of the laws of another State upon presenting copies
thereof duly certified by the Secretary of that State, and I would suggest,
therefore, that copies of the sections requested by Mr. Lo Monaco be
furnished him.

In your letter to us you state that you receive many requests of this
kind and that you are forced to reply that you cannot certify to the Code
or certify that an Act was in force at a given time. In view of the fact
that the requested papers are to be used in another State, we are inclined
to the view that the sections may be prepared and certified by the Secretary
cf State.

Very truly yours,
J. EDGAR HARVEY,
JEH:mh Deputy Attorney General.