Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-04
The Attorney Generals Report.
CHANGE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DISTRICT
JAZZ. SUGGESTED-THR NECESSITY FOR CODE OF
DISTRICT LAwS-oTHER POINTS FROM THE REPORT.

CHANGE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DISTRICT
JAH. sUGGEsrED-THB NECESSITY FOR CODE OF
DISTRICT LAws-oTHER POINTS FROM THE REPORT.
The annual report OF the Attorney General, OF
which the portion relating to District 1urles was
published in Saturdays STAR, contains other inter-
est1ng passages concerning District matters
THE DISTRICT JAZZ.
The management OF this jail at present the At
torney General says. is unsatisfactory to this de-
partment This is due to the fact that no one per-
son is responsible for its entire management 1t is
believed that it could be conducted with greater
economy to the United States, and greater benefit
to the community, II it should be placed directly
under the management OF the Attorney General
VINO IS responsible for, without having any author
lily To control, Its expenses He is called upon TO
pay expenses which he thinks ought not to be in
CURED. TO remedy this matter IL is necessary that
the Whoie management-the warden. the guards
and every labOrer connected with it-Shouid be
under the control OF the department which bears
rs eSMnses 10 whom they ought to be personally
In reference to the reform school OF the District it
is stated that upon favorable reports OF officers OF
the department OF Justice as to its management
during the past year it has been designated as the
place OF confinement FOR all juvenile conyicts from
convenient states
CODE OF DISTRICT LAWS NEEDED.
Referring to the necessity for a code OF laws for
the District Of Columbia, the report saws that
where Congress has failed to define or provide a
punishment for what SHOULD be a crime In the Dis
tict, recourse Is mainly had to the laws OF Mary
land, and as most OF the laws OF Maryland that
existed prior To February q. 1901, have since been
repeated altered or amended the former laws have
long ceased To be known or considered by the pres
emu generation Of lawyers The consequence
arising from the confusion now existing is that
what laws are Ia force ia the District OF Columbia
Is a matter involved in such obscurity and doubt
That III remains legal puzzle. upon the solution OF
which 10 TWO lawyers can agree. After referring
20 the recent attempts To enact CODE the Attor-
ney General states That there seems be an i'm
peratlve necessity for the prompt adoption of
civil and criminal code for the District OF Column
bia.
In relation TO claims against the District OF Col
umb1a before the Court of Claims II is stated that
OF these cases 70 suits. claiming ss5I.5S9 I6 were
Drought To trial IL OF Them claiming S1Ol $40 "a
Judgment was for the defendant In 90 suits claim
ing sl32 1865 judgment was for claimants for
s4o..ol.S fifty-nlne suits, claiming 1921 ,5333 b.
were dismissed under the rules or by consent
In one case Judgment was recovered on counter
claim LII favor or the District for S39S050
OTHER POINTS FROM THE REPORT.
Attention Is called to needed deficiency appro-
pratfons to pay the claims OF district attorneys
and their assistants, the claims OF clerks OF the
courts and the United States commissioners. The
Attorney General recommends, as q measure OF
economy, the re-enactment OF section IL OF the act
approved August 10th, 1856, which provides that
United states attorneys may appoint substitute
1t is suggested also that fourth tudpe should ha
appointed In each OF the territories to avoid hay-
ing the judge below sit in review of his own case
revision OF the fee hill In marShalS Offices and
the establishment OF fixed salaries for marshals
and attorneys.
1t is urged that section $500 OF the Revised Stat
uoeS De so amended as to make persons swearing
falsely to af1idavtS filed In the DEPARTMENTS of the
government guilty Of perjury.