Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-09
DISCUSSING THE LIEN Law.
The District Comnsittes Hear Views on
all Sidos.

0ASCOSSAN9 THE LIEN LAW
The District Comnsittes Hear Views On
all Sidss.
VIII TIE xx1xfrro law N pxIHKD oSsKcrIox-
Knl1-fn rvo rxxpTxe sslxs 10 Anxxp n
-AxAsoxs uan4p Fos a czAxsx-ru cox
nissloxxns' views
TIE ssrss buasse Of aosume.t which has
aceun1aatea IN ths pigeon holes 81 the House
Dist<ios committee especially devoted 10 she
proposed new msshaaics' iisn Inv vss brought
forward shis nsrntae win rush Mr.. Hemp
hin md Mr.. Burton ~ . subeommittec
give . hearing in tAe committee
rsem 10 parties Interested on
both siAes - H. q~sstioa. TAe hearing WIS q
long one and the matter was thoroughly dis-
cussed h al Id Ssarines. TAs following sp-
psared before The subcommittee and presented
rguments: B. Rsss Parry and Gel Payne, rep
ressnsing the Bar Association; joseph A. Rice,
rsprsssnting board Of real estate brokers;
Thos. Smith, 8. Ross, W. L. 7homas, A. Du-
YAH, representing material men, and s. c.
Neala. rsprssen,ing the labor naiouA
THE TWO nuLA
The I've bills before The eonnitsee are some
Davidsoa and the othsr by Mr.. WILSON. The
relating to this question be amended 70
read: The lien hereby given shail
be preferred 10 all Judgments, mort
cages and deeds Of trust liens and in
cumbrances which attach upon the said build
ing Or ground aforesaid, subsequent TO the
hhng Of the netiss presoribsd By the second
section Of said ACT Of JAY q IsSl
and sh incumbrances and hens fother
than those which attached thereto prior 10 the
dlmg Of said notice. which BY She laws Of tins
District are required TO be recorded shall be
postponed to said liens unles recorded prior
20 the dsse sf ding said notice"
Nh. WILSON'S szlA
amssds the sectios to read:
'-section z That any contractor, subcon-
tractor, material man, mechanic or laborer
furnishing material OF supplies or labor for
the construction or repair Of any build.
ing desiring 10 avail himself Of the
provisions OF this act shall, az the time
of entering intO . contract o. AGrsenent TO per-
form labor or furnish material or sappiies OF
agreement and not later than the completion
OF said contrast Or agreement or the delivery Of
the bnilding to the owner or agent thereof Gle
a notice Of lien In the Office of the clerk of the
Supreme Court OF the District OF Columbia
OF bus intention 10 hold the property, which
which property 10 hereby made liable for any
amount that then u or that may thereafter be-
come due for labor performed or material
aud supplies furnished and used for
building or repairs on said property. The
clerk aforesaid shall fie and record such notice
Of lien in a booS properly ruled and kept for
tbs purpose. 70 arranged - to show clearly
the date Of fling such lien or no
tice, the name Of tho contractor or
claimant, the lot and square. the name q
the osner, the kiad Of labor, material or sup-
plies. and the amount claimed; and on payne nt
or satisfaction Of said claim il shall be the dnsy
OF the party Aling such lien TO sign release in
said book under the proper bead.
Section s. That the lieu hereby given. when
notice thereof has been dnly flied ~ Store
said, shall have prefersace to al Judgments.
mortgages, deeds of trust or other incum-
ORANGES which are scorded and attached npon
the described premises subsequent to the date
OF Ming the said notice Of lien prescribed in
section two of this act'
TEE ARGUMENTS
The arguments presented toda- were from
al sides and gave the committee thorough
idea Of the question
Nh. rAlKHR's RHAscv
Among the documents on file on this ques-
tisn at the committee room is letter from
Mr.. Ayron N. Parfer, IN which he speaks OF
the existing lien law as unjust and pernicious:
that ii is for the benefit Of the laberer he THINKS
il merely sabterfuRe. In has Opinion
the eptlre benefit goes to the material men
The labor men get their pay each Saturday
night, and no person can suffer any material
loss through them The material man
furnishes ell material fer building,
without regard whatsoever a. to
the responsibilit. Of the contractor,
knowing that he has an absolute lien against
the property, thus compelling the builder to
insure his business without any consideration.
As the law stands, says Mr.. Parker the lien
would take precedence over deed of trust
placed on piece Of property during its con-
struetlon-
This should be changed. he tainkx, 90 tAst
the deed of trust would stand good provided il
was recorded prior to the fling of lien. The
law should also be changed 10 that ali liens
should be hled At the time the building ID com
pleted.
THE COMMISSION ERs' VIEW
The Commissioners have already reported on
the question. In their report they cay in re-
gard To the laKs that they find great diver
sity of opinion as to its wisdom among inteiii-
gent men who have had large opportunities
10 observe its working IN the District While
some contend that it is class legislation and
hence wrong In principle IL 10 generally con-
ceded- says the report, that reasonable
provision should be made to insure
and the labor which enter into a structure
the real estate On which it is situated. The
Commissioners think that owners should be
held liable for only thirty days.