Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-10
THE DISTRICT GETS LEFT.
Another of Its Days in the House Wasted 4,
Debate.

Another of Its Days in the House Wasted In
Debate.
The days devoted to District matters are
wasted by the present House with an alarming
frequency. Yesterday, after The STARS report
closed. the House diligently pursued its usual
tactics of doing nothing in legislation for the
District. The land title bill was considered un-
til dead lock ensued, after which the women's
reformatory bill was taken up for time, only
to be checked by an adjournment.
The debate on both bills was of a mild
character and no new points on either were
brought out. Mr.. Castle wanted the word con-
structive struck out of section 6. while Mr..
Culberson. Mr.. Buchanan of Virginia. Mr..
Bailey and others wanted the entire bill re-
jected.
AMENDMENTS ADOPTED.
considerable number of amendments Of
fered by Mr.. Hemphill were adopted. The
amendments were on the line Of further and
clearer definitions. The course of the opposi-
ton was stated by Mr.. Dalzell as follows:
''Section of the bill depends for its efficacy,
understand, upon sections and 5. Now, in
my judgment. sections and involve an eX-
ceedingly vicious kind of legislation. Under
the provisions of those sections all a man has to
do to get title to a tract of land in the Dis
trict of Columbia is to put on file paper pur-
porting to convey title to him in fee
simple and to pay taxes for ten years. 1t
makes absolutely no difference whether the
deed which he puts on record conveys actually
any title or not, il it purports to convey title.
The result, therefore, is that il party holding
q deed of record which may be utterly worth
less has paid his taxes for ten years, he may by
bill in equity ACQUIRE a fee-simple title against
the &C .ual. bona fide, honest owner of the land.
who may never have had any notice OF this adj
verse claim, because the notice by publication
in a newspaper may amount to nothing"
THE CONSTRUCTIVE POSSESSION FEATURE.
Mr.. Culberson opposed the constructive
possession" feature Of the bill and Mr.. Hemp
hill defended the terms Mr.. Buchanan of
Virginia vigorously opposed the bill, holding
that it would give an utterly unfair advantage
to persons simply getting a constructive right
to property as against the real owners.
Mr.. Hemphill made vigorous defense Of the
measure, citing incidents OF claimants render
ing it impossible for rightful owners to obtain
title to their property. Said Mr.. Hemphll:
The people of the District Of Columbia have
presented this bill to the House Of Representa-
tives for ten years. 1t has been considered by
two committees and unanimously reported to
this House. II the Congressof the United States
does not choose to pass tilt is matter of no con-
sequence to anybody except the people Of the
District, but do say that it is a shame and a
disgrace that people who have no claim on
Gods earth to q single foot Of land in this Dis
trict should be perpetually here levying black
mail upon the people of the District who are
the real owners and il is too bad that such gen.
tlemen as the gentleman from Virginia Mr..
Buchanan), who is a good lawyer, should be
the means, innocently, OF obstructing this legis-
lation."
Finally. after further discussion, the bill was
referred back to the District committee SO shat
the amendments could be printed.
THE woMEN's REFoRNAToRY
The bill providing for the erection Of re-
formatory and house of detention for women
and girls charged with and convicted Of crimes
and misdemeanors was the only other bill con-
sidered- Bill 1855 was substituted for the
original bill, the substitute reducing the ap-
preparation to $500 900 instead Of 500, 900 and
making some minor changes. Mr.. Curtis Of
New York, who introduced the bill, explained
its provisions and answered questions with IN
failing patience.
The opposition conferred on section 5 of the
bill, reading: That the Attorney General shall
be authorized to use said reformatory and house
of detention for the confinement Of women and
United States when suitable places for deten-
ton cannot be obtained in the states where
conviction was had"
Mr.. Culberson held that the institution WAS
as there were seventeen such in
stitutions over ths country. Mr.. Curtis re-
Piled that il was impossible to gain admittance |,
for federal prisoners in these institutions. Last
year, NJ. Curtis stated, there were l,27l girls /,
under twenty-one years Of age arrested and |
detained at the jail.
Mr.. Kyle moved to lay the bin on the table.
and there were So ayes and 81 noes. The usual 7
point OF no quorum was made and Mr.. Hemphiu /
asked unanimous consent that the previous /
question be considered - ordered ON the bin |
and that II lay over until next District day.
Objection, however, vas made and Mr.. Brsckin-
ridge Of Kentucky, who was already equipped
With his hat and cane, moved an sdjournnent,
which was carried