National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-10-10
THE WORK OF THE YEAR.
Annual Reports Submitted to the
Commissioners.
Attorney Riddle Recitos the Operations OF
His ONCE for the Past Twelve Months
Treasurer Dodge Tells tho Con-
dition of the District ExchcQ-
ucr-Coroner Patterson
mud his Doings, SC.
Attorney Riddles Annual Report.

AtVOrney hluuleb annual hcpOTNs
The annual report Of Attorney Riddle, sub.
mitted yesterday to the Commissioners states
that at the date of the last annual report there
wero pending in the Supreme Court Of the
United States three important cases, in which
the validity of the special assessment of the late
Board of Public Works was directly involved.
Since then the Mattingly case aud the Seventh
street road case, known as the Shoemaker case,
have been decided, DEGREES having been given
for he District in both cases. The remaining
case, known as the Columbus Alexander case
will be reached and disposed of at the term of
the court now soon to commence. These de-
cisions," Mr.. Riddle says, with the recent leg
islation of Congress must dispose of the
dreary, expensive, profitless and vexatious
mass of litigation 90 burdensome to the Dis
trict The affirmation Of the assessments by
Congress overrides the question of invalidity,
while the power to revise on demand OF prop.
erty owners destroys the excuse of appealing
to the courts" The report notes that thir.
ty-four pending cases in equity have
been settled under this legislation and
those decisions, and the case of "Welch
against the District" to eujoin the
collection of general tax has also boon tried
aud decided in favor Of the District The Dis
trct has now four cases pending in the Su-
premc Court of the United States. The Camp
bell case is now pending in the general term
on tho appeal of the plaintiff. He hopes to
have tho Murtagh case which was appealed
by the District, heard soon in the general
term. Speaking of the Strong cases, the report
says that the abominable verdict in this con-
solidatcd case was set aside in the general
term, and the cases now stand severally for
trial on the original pleadings. This is the
only instance in which aid has been requested
or desired by the attorney, Eugene Carus,
esq, having at his request been associated
with Mr. Miller. The report refers also to the
status of other cases, saying that the case of
the District against the Washington Market
Company, to recover the annual payment to
the District Of $4,000, under the act incor-
porating the company, is now on its highway
to the Supreme Court of the United States
where he is confident the decision of the court
in general term will be reversed.
The case OF Collins, now pending in general
term, will resettle the question of the validity
OF the ordinances ofthe late Board of Health in
favor of their legality, land enable us to deal
with the bone boilers" The report also refers
to the water-rates injunction case, saying that
all parties are seemingly well satisfied with
| Judge Hagner's ruling. The Commissioners
| may congratulate themselves that in this i'm.
portant matter, as in the case of Mr.. Reed and
the pay OF the police, the court has sustained
| them. About the current number of cases
court, ani with very uniform result favora.
| BILE to the District. With the exception of the
Murtagh case no one has received large yer.
| dict, while most Of the plaintiffs have failed
wholly. Number of rivil cases finally disposed
of since last report ~ new civil eases com.
menced, 81; tue District being plaintiff in only
| one case. Cases now pending, 260-law l19
equity, 1il. Criminal cases disposed of, 50
| pending, SO amount of Judgments, 1915
collected, S7s1.26, Cases tried in Police court
| 1924; amount of fines imposed, $22 $50
| Number of opinions-Riddle 81, Miller %
covering 2S3 pages. There were alst
q large number of opinions Endorsed on papers
Number of printed briefs IA, covering about q
pages. Referring to the act Of February %
| 1879, by which the District, in common will
| the persons residing in it, has seemingly los
the right to take case to the Supreme Cour
| of the United States whore the money valu
| involved is less than 81, 500 the report say
| that the act should be so amended as to per
nit the District TO take one of a special cas
| to the Supreme court, whatever may be til
amount involved. The reports of Special As
sistant j. E. PaGgett of the business in TIL
| Police court and + c. Iugersoll, esq, who Ia
charge of the revision of the laws of the Dis
| trict arc submitted. The latter shows o verT
| advanced state of the work. Mr. Riddle re
| news the recommendations Of his last annua
! report as TO the compensation of til
| chief and assistants of this office, saying
Eleven months additional experience show
that we can do nothing else in the profession
but the duties of the office. 1t shows also ths
other business generally does not seek us.
also recommend that an allowance of at leas
$500 be made for rent of this office. / thin
IT is the only public Office in the United State
National, State or municipal not thus provide
for"
Mr.. Ingersoll's report states that Book {
tho work which comprises the substantive la'
Of the proposed code in four divisions, relatin
to persons, is complete. 1t is proposed to en-
brace the adjective law of the proposed law i
Book ii. The major part of this is already i
in print. All the completed work has bee
placed in the hands of the court for instrut
tions and suggestions as to changes.