National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-10-11
DISTRICT LAW MATTERS,
Annual Report of Hon. A. q. Riddle, At
torr,cy for the District.

The annual report of Hon. A. q. Rid
die attorney for the District, was sent to the Com
missioners yesterday. II gives brief review Of
the more important cases acted upon during the
year, beginning with the famous Strong suits,
which he reports as in condition favorable 10 the
District The Young case remains as last reported,
but Is probably substantially disposed OF in favor
OF the District The Morgan case, for work In the
James Creek Canal, was reduced from s3,22i47 to
SOi9.o2. and that amount will have to DO paid.
Browning VS.. Tho District was second time de-
oided In favor of the District and is now pending
before the General Term on appeal. The District
vs. The sureties Of Luboy Is awaiting trial In the
Circuit Court He asks the necessary statement of
account so that the cnsc can be tried. In the case
OF Inc District vs. Johnson, for rent ofwharves the
General Term reversed the judgment below and II
awaits retrial. In the King case sale Of prop
srty was ordered by the court but some legislation
Dy Congress Is needed. The cases OF the District
against certain street railroads on account of paw.
ing done by the late Board Of Public Works are
now pending before the General Term, to which
they were certified by the court below without a
hearing.
As TO LIQUOR LICENSES,
new uiiculties arose out Of an opinion OF his
ONCE concerning the application Of the liquor
license law to the Departments Of the Generate Coy
Srnment furnished to the President at his request
This opinion was submitted to the Attorncy-Gen-
eral. who never overruled It, but by tacit under
standing all the heads Of the Departments except
the Postmaster General disrcgarded It, and this
Office held that in the absence Of legislation by
Congress these Departments might be regarded as
VssS9nI property OF the United States In the case
OF Miller u Jones, under the National Theatre, TO
compel the issuance of license, the Chief Justice
held that they, not being owners proprlctors Of
hiblting licenses to such places. This leaves the
license OF bars In or near theatres within the dis
ecreuon Of the Commissioners, like other places.
~ tne case OF Mrs. Parker suit for Injuries, al
though the Judgment was obtained during the
year II has already been paid, and suit is now
pending against the gas company to recover the
vERDrcrs AGAINST THE DISTRICT
thompson vs.. The District was for mandamus
70 compel the Commissioners to issue drawback
WIN WIZ ~ per cent interest to certificate holder
and was refused by Justice Macarthur. McBlli.
got vs. The District Is suit for injury TO the per-
SON. ana ne has received verdict Of $1,000, and is
now pending in the General Term OH exceptions
~ is one ot those unfortunate cases In which
the plaintiff II the case Is submitted 10 it. Bailey
VS.. The District, verdict $1,000 is another case Of
real merit for the plaintiff, who was rendered
negligence OF gross character on the part OF an
employer having charge Of highway. OF the
nv s GasSs one Is 70 test IN use on
District for alleged faults Of Tber Creek sewer and
sewers connected with It, Ofthe list of Judgments
as whole, he says that whore the claims were lti
gated they were zenlously defended, and are TO be
treated as judicinlly determined liabilities OF the
District In one or two no, legal or equitable de-
Tense existed and In this class of cases defense
is made. This course has always met the approval
able.
THE BUSINESS or THE OFFICE.
Whole number of eases disposed OF, Is; new cases
commenced to which the District is n party, %;
whole number pending In the courts OF record Mt
the end OF the year, 49, law, 1l5; equity, 1873
Many cases have claimed the attention of the as
sstnnts before justices Of the peace and the office
has also looked after cases of condemnation Of
property for roads and highways. The cases APP
pealed from the Police Court to the Criminal Court
are numerous aud perplexing. The whole num-
Der disposed of since the last report Is 49, appealed
and docketed in the same time. Ill cases undis.
posed ofatthe end ofhe year. 108; amount collected
on Judgment, ST63.Gj This branch of the duties of
the Office devolved upon Mr.. Miller OF the strictly
Office hrs'1esS, lAai2lv by Tie hand of the under
signed, seventy one formal opinions have been
rendered, covering two hundred closely written
pages Of the press copy-book.. To this should be
added numerous cases upon the papers of which
opinions are indorss6 and Of which no
rent briefs made up aud printed. Mr.. James L.
Padgett assistant for the Police Court submits n
report which states the total number of cases at
4,isi; convicted, $3.50; dismissed, 3S3; licenses
produced, 81 continued, 81 noe prosequied %
amount of fines imposed, SlDGjl. The report closes
with classification of the otlenscs.