Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-03
r. VENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

luo bOlc ana emclent cOtluOAs wv
passed at the second session OF the last Con-
cress, and for the enactment Of which the
people of this District are SO much indebted
to the IaudabIe exertiOns Of the Hon. Henry
MAY. who st that time was q Representative
from the city of Baltimore. 1t contains
great many matters of interest to the COM
munity, and we publish a summary Of its con-
tents. or important changes, taken from the
Intelligsncer, with additions made by our
selves going more into detail.
The Disfr1ct COde.-The gentlemen EN-
plOyed on the codi6cation Of the laws OF the
District of Columbia have completed the sec,
ond part of their important work and printed
it for public inspection.
The second part treats " otths acquisition,
the enjoyment, and fraRsmtssioRl0f property
real and personal TIE dOn1Sstic rrf6tt0ns ana
Ofkrr matters coHnscfsd tC,th pirate Rights"
This part was prepared by VIM. b. B. Cross,
ESQ; the first part, treating of various miscel-
Ianeous matters under the title 90 Of the in
ternal administration Of the Government"
having been prepared and submitted some
time since by Robert Ould, ESQ Part third,
treating Of matters of remedy and procedure,
as also part fourth. confined to criminal law,
will be prepared jointly by the cOdifsrs, and
be published, we understand, within the time
indicated by law.
Part second carries out, in connexioa with
part first, the objects of the act Of Congress in
simplifying the laws of the District, and bring
ing them, as far as possible, within the COM
pass Of one volume for convenient reference.
1t also proposes various important amend
ments, to some Of which we direct the stten-
ton Of the public matters Of interest.
l. Chapter AZ simplifes conveysncing. gives
plain and brief forms Of covenants and deeds,
enabling parties in ordinary cases to avoid,
and with safety, the expense of ScOnveyancer.
The changes in this chapter are analogous
IN many respects to those already introduced
into England and our States where legal re-
forms have taken place By making short and
plain expressions equivalent TO those long rec
Ognised as the best forGs Of covenants, SIM
Plicity and brevity is attained, without losing
any OF the precision that now prevails. Par
ties are also enabled to convey by attorney, a
great convenience, which in practice they are
now denied end Acknowledgements Of deeds
msy be taken by che Justice of the Peace, IL
stead Of two as at present. The privy exsmi-
nation Of married women, conveying their
estates Or releasing dOwers, is retained as only
proper security against fraud.
2. Chapter a, treating Of the relation Of
Landlord and tenant, prescribes a shorter Pc
riod Of notice, TO wit, three months, FOR the
determination of tenancy from year to year;
also more certain and convenient rules for the
determination Of tenancies generally; among
others, that, if rent be not paid when due and
demanded, the tenancy may be determined by
twenty days notice TO quit, unless the rent be
paid within that period. Part third, We IN
derstand, will contain provisions for evicting
o tenant holding over.
Chapter 40 requires the same formalities
Of execution for wills of personal real es-
tate, and cOnferS on the Orphans Court power
90 admit TO probate wills Of real estate.
This chapter also restraints the making of
nuncupative or unwritten wills, and so pre-
vents fraud. 1t proposes to allow such wills
hereafter, only in the case of soldier in
actual military service, or a mariner at sea,
and these TO a limited amount, to wit: $500.
1t provides, too, that will may operate upon
real estate acquired subsequent TO its execu-
ton; and, what is Of great Importance, states
what condition Of things will operate as an
implied revocation Of a will. Its provisions
10 the prObating Of wills Of real estate will
20 far towards rendering surer than at present
the examination Of titles to real estate in this
District.
4. Chapter 81, and subsequent ones, treat
ing of administration, and embracing most Of
the testamentary law of the District, enlarge
IN some respects the powers Of the Orphans
Court. They shorten the period within which
the estate of a deceased person must be set
tied up. and reduce the exOrbitant commits
siOns often allowed 70 administrators and ex-
eeutors.
5 Chapter So extends the operation of the
ordinary execution, ard provides a new and
important feature in Homestead exemp
ton clause.
This is a most valuable provision in favor of
the poor debtor The enlightened spirit of
our laws long ago relieved his person from
imprisonment, and il is now proposed to secure
TO him, beyond the chances Of trade OF other
loss, = small piece Of property which will at
least provide his family with home, and keep
them from absolute want The house and lot
IN ~ he m ha Of u,
value, is exempt from execution for debt, as
also is a small quantity Of personal property,
consisting of indispensable articles for family
use. The exemption extends beyond his own
life, and secures the property TO his wife and
infant children 50 long as they or either Of
them shall occupy il as homestead. When
the marshal levying an execution shall think
the property exceeds in value 500, he she'll
have it appraised, and the excess, if any, shall
be paid 5y the debtor, else the property will
. be sold. When sale is made, 500 Of the
proceeds is to be paid to the debtor, and the
!. same is to be exempt, for the space Of one
year, from execution, so that it may be rein
vested in another homestead.
3. Chapter 81 lays down some equitable rules
relative to allowances for Improvements made
By parties who hold under a title believed TO
be good, or who have held for the period of
six years or more.
Z. Title y, treating Of the domestic relations,
makes, in chapter I'll, much needed amend
ment Of our laws in authorizing the Circuit
Court, in certain cases to grant divorces. This
is entirely new power, having resided here
tofore in Congress, body, like all other leg
islstive OIes, nanifestly unit TO deal with
questions in their nature Judicial. Chapter 81
enables also the Circuit Court 20 confer certain
rights and privileges on the wife when she is
abandoned by her husband
These are few Of the changes introduced
others may IL seen by reference 10 the print
ed matter-a copy of which may be had by
calling on the cOdi6ers, st their rooms, in the
Attorney General department, under whose
supervision the worn, by Law, is done.
This part has still 10 be passed on by the
Board Of ReVisOrs, and may undergo some
alteration before il is reprinted and submitted
finally for the action Of the people Of tie Dis
trict.
OFFICERS ELECTED AT 2 meeting of the
Columbia Fire Company, held January 2,
1891, the following persons were elected off,
Iaa t.