The Washington times., 1894-07-31
NO CODE OF DISTRICT LAWS
Representative Richardson Tells Why
No Progress Is Made.
DISTRACTIONS PUT IN THE WAY
He Claims that There Are Members Of the
Bar Here to Whose Interest It Is Not
to Have Technicalities Removed or the
Present Tangle Strengthened Out.

Mr.. Richardson, of Tennessee. chairman ol
the subcommittee OF the House District Com.
mittee on the preparation Of a code for the
District OF Columbia, said yesterday, when
asked by TIMES representative what progress
has been made during the present session in
the matter:
II am verv glad to be asked that question
| for it gives me an opportunity to make some
statements on the subject which / have
wished to make before the session closed.
Il am sorry to have to say that the project,
which seems to me to be an exceedingly de-
sirable one, has been practically obstructed
| by people who either took no interest in the
matter at all, or else whose interest lay in
preventing any codiacation of the laws be-
cause they were skilled in the technicali-
| ties OF procedure and practice which pre-
vail here. At least 1t is charged that that was
at the bottom OF a considerable part Of the
opposition.
"When our committee first got to work and
had held several sessions we communicated
our plans to quite a number of prominent
lawyers in the city, but in most cases there
was pronounced apathy in the matter among
the members OF the bar OF the District Ii
had been sufficient to discourage us from
making any more efforts this session."
''What are some of the chief advantages in
the securing of u code such as you suggest"
was asked.
DISTRICT LAW VERY BADLY MIXED.
"They are very many" replied Mr.. Rich
ardson. I'm the first place. the general law
Of the District is in a more uncertain and in
tangible form than that of any other iuris-
dicIion know Of. Between the common
law, as modified by the English statutes. and
then the Maryland statutes up to the time the
District came under Federal jurisdiction and
the United States statutes passed since then,
and those applying especially 10 the District
there is an amount OF work involved in de-
termining some comparatively simple ques-
tion OF law that consumes good deal of un-
necessary time OF counsel and as result
proves unnecessarily expensive to clients.
Then the present tangle gives great ad
vantage to peculiar class of lawyers. un-
known in most other jurisdictions. which have
made specially of the technalIties of prac-
tice in the District of courts. This is all well
enough il its way and no one objects to the
extra fees for expert counsel in an important
case where a knowledge Of such technicalities
Is important. But you will admit think,
that there is no reason why the law should be
kept in such way that these experts in tech
nicalities should reap Il harvest out of it.
There is scarcely any branch Of practice.
even down to the simplest questions OF real
estate law, in which, by the way, the residents
OF the District are especially interested from
the prevalence OF that form OF investment for
small savings in this city, where the benefits
OF a code would not be Immediately apparent.
CoDIFIcATIoN LIVE ISSUE.
"It seems to me that the reasons In favor of
a code greatly outnumber those against it.
and it seems to be the fact that codiflcation of
the laws is getting to be a live issue in almost
citizen should not be able to refer TO such
code to see just what the laws under which
he lives are. The lawyers ought not in rea-
son to object because the Interpretation Of the
law. the conflict of law, and general argu-
ments on cases in court would occupy them
as heretofore.
81 would have such volume embrace nor
only general law but the ordinances of the
Commissioners, board of health requirements
ETC., as well. The matter could easily be con-
ianed in volume of comparatively small
compass and could be sold at reasonable
price"
DO you contemplate further action on the
natter was asked.
Nothing at this session." replied Mr..
Richardson. 'The Subcommittee was very
enthusiastic early in the year. but the rather
chilling response TO our inquiries made it evil
dent that the time was not ripe for it.
II believe. however it is a real need and
that it will ultimately be secured TO the great
gain Of the people pf the District"