Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-29
TWO CENTS.
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS-
A Hearing on the Bill Relating to Land
Title. In the District.

Chairman HemphilI and Representatives. Cobb.
johnson. Meredith and Fellows Of the House
District committee, gave hearing this morn
ing to a number Of attorneys favoring the bill
to amend the laws relating to land titles in the
District.
Among those presen. were Mr.. Mills Dean,
Mr.. Mahlon Ashford. Mr. Joseph A. Rice, Mr.:
Henry Davis. Gen. Mussey. Mr.. Randall Webb.
Mr.. I. G. Henzey, Mr.. John Ridout and Mr..
Tracy L. Jeffords
Judge Thomas. assistant attorney for the
District, also appeared and explained some OBJ
Jections which he held TO the bill.
Representative Cobb explained the objection
which he had made in full committee to this
bill. He feared the bill might have the effect
OF legislating a man into fee simple title
He thought that Congress should not go
further than to say that after possession OF
property had been held by a man for n certain
time no court should listen to any suit to dis
possess him.
SECTION THREE CRITICISED.
No objection was made TO sections and Of
the bill, but Mr.. Thomas criticised section g.
which provides as follows; That the recitals in
any trustees deed, executors deed. guardians
deed or marshals Decd recorded in the proper
office in said District prior TO March s. ls6S
shall. In favor OF the parties in possession,
actual or constructive, claiming hereunder
he prima facie evidence in all courts of law
and equity Of the facts recited, provided.
that the provisions of this section shall not
anect the pending suits, nor the rights, If any,
acquired under existing laws, Of any person
| VINO within twenty years next before the pas
sage OF this act, shall have asserted on the land
records OF the District OF Columbia any title
der such deeds.
Mr. Thomas suggested that "the recitals in
any trustees deed" should be limited to .rus-
&es oeeas OF the Court Of Chancery of the
| Dsuict AS the bill now reads he feared il
mlsnt aueet unfavorably the titles to a valua-
oie tract OF property, possession Of which is
deed.
MIR. johnson Of the committee suggested that
tne committee does not want to discriminate
against any one particular claim, but that it is
oeslred TO clear the title 10 a large amount OF
property now clouded in the District.
Chairman hemphiii asked il the bill, il il be-
came law, would not be beneficial TO the peo-
pie In the main. Mr.. Thomas replied that. as
q whole, he thought it would.
VALUE OF PROPERTY AFFECTED.
Mr. Ashford said there is property in the
northwest section of the city worth $50 goo 600
which this bill will affect favorably by clearing
the title.
Mr.. Hemphill said the question is whether
| the ttiee 70 property and Improvements in the
1
might unfavorably affect some particular case
1t was finally agreed that the COMMITTEES
| would consult Col Totten, who is attorney for
the property owners under the Contee deed
and frame some amendment which will protect
these property owners without depriving the
bill OF its beneficial application to other cases
SECTION FOUR AMENDED.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Henry T. Davis sec
ton Of the bill was amended to read .sTba
1 - L.
hereafter obtained without fraud or col
iusion and held by any person. thos,
under whom he claims either il
person or by tenants, for ten year
prior to the bringing of any action in relation t,
such land 1t is also required that actioi
under this section may be brought within tw,
years after the removal of the disability"
Mr.. Cobb objecteo 20 thst psFs Of soctir,
5 Of the bill which defines the possession in
tended TO be protected by this act He di6ere,
with the view held IN this section 40 to advers
possession. He said the doctrine Of adyerp
possession has long been established, an,
he thought that titles resting upon advers'
possession should be based upon the principle
Of adverse possession which have obtaine,
wherever the common Law is practiced.
Mr.. Davis explained that District courts hay
put their own construction upon adverse pos
session, differing from the construction in som
other jurisdictions, and this bill ia to meet tn
opinions OF the court
Mr.. Hemphill said this bill seems to NEE
with the approval Of large number Of mem
bers OF the District bar. Gen Mussey adde
that in the twenty-five yeArs in which be ha
practiced before this bar this is the only bi
that has met the unanimous appreciation Of th
bar.
The bill, with the amendments as aboy
noted, will be reported to the full committe
at Its next meeting and considered.
|, TO PAY AN ALLEY coNDENNArIos AWARD.
N~ ,.fW
day introduced a bill appropriating "a sur
sufficient to pay with interest at per cent pc
annum from August 6, 1870, the persons en-
titled to the amount awarded by the jury Q
condemnation for the land taken for an allie
through square 493 in the city of Washington.
THE SALE OF A UNITED STATES LOT.
Mr.. Wilson also introduced bill providing
that the act authorizing sale of title of Unite,
States in lot 8. square south Of square $50, b
amended by adding the following:
Provided, That the conveyance authorize
and directed by this act shall be quit CLAIM
and reiinquishment only of any title that tn
United States may have in aud to said 10
and that in no event shall the Unite,
J States be liable for any costs, expenses
damages or taxes in relation to said lot III
Secretary Of the Interior is authorized TO o
United States on the lot 70 Baker 4
Sanborn upon the payment by them o
an amount not exceeding the assessed vslue O
the said lot, the same was valued and az
sessed at the date OF the purchase by Baker
Sanborn from their grantor.
THE wAsHISGros AND WESTERN RAILROAD BuI
Mr.. Rusk and Mr.. johnson az q subcommii
tee of the House District committee gave
hearing today to persons favoring the bi
amending the charte. OF the Washington an
Western Maryland Railroad Company.
The charter is proposed TO be amended b
connect the Metropolitan branch Of the Balti
. more and Ohio railroad with Georgetown
Mr.. Cowan and Mr.. Morris Of the Baltimor
and Ohio road appeared before the suboom
| mittee and advocated the bill.
NAVAL ORDEls-Medicsl Inspector Georg
i n n~~>~h l~.o~ ,~ao~o1 A., xka ~.~v - :