Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-10-01
rHE NEW CODE r0R TIE DISTINCT.
Report or the Comms.~,ouer7

The comm soress who have been en- ,red
since December lest IN rev ny the statutes in
force In the pa ies bf Columbia Yesterday .,e,
the completed draft o. the reI.sion I'm ,he O Hce
OF the Secret -ry OF the ID sIict Il now TO mains
for the les slsive a. emily and the COM, Z,
psss NJ On IRE worx. IL approved by tIe1a Il,
viii become in force here. The code will make
volume about 1000 psg~s of the usual law
book sIze. The cOrnis 5iOners ,ornd about 1875
Englsh statutes, 2c9 Maryland e rs of Assem-
bly,, and eos acts of Cong-C-s, ether Iow in
ioT e here or be ring AZ N the Dist,:ct which
they he'd to consult IA max Dg heir revision
Tney have erdcavor' a ~ combine such o these
a. were proper - be stsired, and add to them
TIE improvements ara advances indica.1d by
modern jul sprudence and adopt ID in England
ard 'he states and territDii-s Of the union, and
then TO weld this into a harmonious
aud consistent system. To do this
they examined the codes and statute
books more or les thoroughly of our own
country sr1 Great Britain, chiefly relying
for suggestions upon those that had been prac-
tcally rested and had been found 10 facilitate
.he e.o"th ana meet the demands of commerce
and m inufactureS. So FIR a. they deemed il
ptGdent and pract icable, they have embodied
tbs PTOgre i've ideas iuto their new = I'm a
bcok. HE result has met the warm approval,
as whole. OF the judges OF The supreme court
OF the District, By whom it has b. en- rev.. Ell,
and Of the bar of The District, both bench and
oar making valuable ,uggestiOns and criticisms
ana b'ih pTtnounc'ng the entire work a great
Improvement upon anything heret fore had IN
THIS District, though OF course there were dir
itTences OF opinion a. TO the particula meas
ures. We understand that among the commits
SicTeTs there WIS harmony and concert of ac-
ton, aud freedom from such iealou.ies and c1u-
troyerSies as frequently occur among similar
bodies.
The code Is divided into four pp-ts. Part srs,
treats OF the organic laws OF the District and ts
internal administration, officers, sc. Part sec
Al A. a .UaAW aN
rights therein. Part thirdof courts and judicial
0fncels, and proceedings in civil cases; and part
iourth OF crimes and punishments and proce-
duTe IN civil cases:
a has been before stated, the commissioners
have retained the distinction between law aud
equity Jurisdiction and procedure, and have en-
deayored to make legal proceedings and papers
quicker and briefer, and more exact and con-
Gle. Among other changes OF general interest
We may mention the following:
1. Making short forms Of deeds, sc.
=. Prov isiOns 10 secure in sales under deeds of
trust and mortgages the full value of property,
snd protect the interests of all concerned
5. Defining degrees of murder.
4 changing the absTpse propositions of the
common law as TO executory deyses and con-
rgent rem finders.
8. Providing that deeds and wills shall have
NE meaning and cors,fuc Ion which a man of
ordinary IN diligence, not a lawye would SUI
pOse them to have.
G. Stringent laws against abortion and adyer-
Elements vi means OF abortion and obscene pub
locations.
=; Revising the scale OF punishments Of crimes
and miSdC meanOrs.
{. Rules 10 protect against abuses in he po-
lice court.
.. Allowing in criminal cases the "Scot,h YER
'tct'-i e, . Guilty" :. Not guilty." or " Nos
proven % the jury shall find.
10. Requiring but two witnesses - will to
pass real property, and allowing will to he
valid without witnesses which is wholly in the
handwriting of the testatOr.
II. RemOdeling the general inCOT porat.On law
o a. 10 make II harmonious and ample u cover
the formation OF companies.
II. Providing that a juror shall not be dis
qualified from serving in criminal C" ses because
lie has formed an opinion TO the prisoners
guilt, unless the opinion be such as the Juror
verify believes would inter feTe with his render
ing true verdict.
-. Legalizing building associations.
II. AbOlishing dover and curtesy, and in lieu
thereOf giving the partner, whether male or fe-
male life estate in One-third OF the real est ate
Iel6 by the deceased partner, whether that real
estate be held by legal or equitable title.
10. Requiring life insurance companies doing
business here to keep on deposit in the treasury
OF his District guarantee capital Of $50 900 in
United States or District securities.