Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-07
ALAWLEsy DISTRICT.

Ia the report of Attorney General Brew
ster published in the GLOBE on the 4th
inst. reference is made to subject which
affects the well being of the District OF
| Columbia to degree that might we'll chal-
lenge the prompt attention of Congress-
In general way it would be a natural pre-
sumption, that, in that fountain head of
laws, the machinery of Justice would be
maintained at as high a degree of perfec-
| ton as the combined wisdom of our ma
tional Legislators could impart to it. As a
matter of fact it is of the lowest possible
character, often uncertain in
its scope, and generally uncertain
in lis mode of application. The
causes Of this anomalous condition of af-
fairs are numerous, and arise from the Pc
culiar position which the District of Co.
lumbia occupies in the federal system. The
laws for the prosecution and punishment
Of crimes, and for regulating civil matters
in the district are supplied from different
sources. All the general laws of congrass
not otherwise inapplicable, are in force
there, and congress has, from time to
time, passed special laws for its benefit.
While it possessed territorial organize
ton its legislature also contributed some
LAVE. But the basis of the criminal and
civil systems of the district is the statute
book of the state of Maryland, as it stood
in 1901, except as since
modified or repealed by congress-.
tits manifest that such a disjointed sys-
tom of law making musl affect the com
munity almost as 1njuriously as though no
laws existed. Congress in passing general
laws has depended upon local state legis-
ton to supply all deficiencies. Accord
ingly in passing special laws for the Dis
trict of Columbia much dependence has
been placed on the laws of Maryland, but
what the latter we're as long ago as 1901
has passed out of tina knowledge of man
kind. In SO great confusion is the subject
involved that what laws are in force in the
District Of Columbia is g matter of such
obscurity and doubt that it remains legal
puzzle upon the solution of which no two
lawyers can agree.
The jury system in the district is also
aWkwardly regulated. -Four years ago con-
gress provided mode of selecting and
drawing jurors which was intended to ap-
ply to all the courts in the United States.
But it has been decided that this does not
apply to the District of Columbia, and the
latter is relegated in that particular to
series of acts passed at intervals during
the last forty five years. board of com
missioners selects the jurors, but as there
Is in the District no list of voters
or assessors lists of taxable citizens the
commissioners ere compelled to depend
upon their own knowledge for getting at
the names. This haphazard method, as
may be supposed, operates very imper-
fectly in the accomplishment of its pur-
pose, but it is only one of half dozen in
congruities connected with the subject
which combine to impede The smooth ad-
of Justice in The District of
Columbia. One of its marked effects has
been 10 give rise to large class OF pro-
fessicnal jurymen, who live, support their
families and even grow rich in the infa-
nous business of hiring out their services
in the jury box.
That some remedy should be DEVISED to
promptly and effectively remedy the de-
fects we have thus briefly alluded
to is not open to discussion.
Congress has not been all this time ignor.
ant of their existence, but it does not seem
to have ever given the subject the atten-
ton its importance demands. A number
of attempts have been made TO secure the
adoption by congress of general code of
laws for the District of Columbia, but
they have all failed. The subject was re-
ferred to the Senate committee of the
District in 1879 and was dropped there.
In 1881 the house tried its hand at pro-
viding a remedy, and that too fell still.
born. Last year bill to establish civil
and criminal code for the District was &C.
tually passed by the house, but it disap-
peared on reaching the senate. 1t is high
time, however, that conclusive action was
reached in the matter, and it is to be hoped
the present congress will give it due atttn-
ton.