Evening star., 1896-03-23
A DISTRICT DAY
Some Attention Given by the House
to Local Legislation.
BILLS DISCUSSED And PASSED
There Was Not Much Opposition
to the Measures.
OTH II ER LOCAL BILL S

1t has become customary of late for the
great mass of the members of the House to
stay away on District DAY, seizing that op-
portunity to attend to other business or
pleasure.
This custom has often in the past been
found to operate to the great disadvantage
of the capital of the United States, be-
cause the enemies of the national capital
never stay away on that day. They may
absent themselves upon other occasions,
but they will show up on District day. The
Powers, the Talberts, the De Almonds anG
the rest Of them turn out in unanimous
force. The result is, the little handful of
workers on the District committee who put
in their time faithfully and arduously in
committee, preparing the necessary legis-
lation for the national capital, often find
themselves deserted by their colleagues
when the lines of battle are drawn in the
House, and confronted by an :lnbroken
rank of opposition superior in number for
the occasion, but which would he in liti-
full minority if there were a fair attend
ance of the House.
Sales of Real Estate.
When Chairman Babcock secured the
floor today he called up the bill providing
"that in the District of Columbia no bill
of SALE, conditional sale, mortgage, deed Of
trust or any conveyance, In whole or IN
part, of personal property or chattels,
where the property has not been delivered,
through OF by which title is claimed to, or
lien or claim is retained or created in
srch personal property or chattels, shall be
good or valid against subsequent inno-
cent purchaser for value and without no.
tice, unless such bill of sale. conditional
sale. mortgage deed of trust or other writ
"A hoan dIllU 4
tie office of the recorder of deeds in said
District prior to the sale to such innocent
purchaser; and all such instruments shall
take effect and be valid from the time when
such instrume mt shall have been delivered
to the recorder for record. and the re-
corder shall note On each instrument afore-
said the day and hour of delivery of the
same to him to be recorded"
The effect of the bill, as explained by the
report, lis to protect persons in their lien
upon chGttels who hold in good faith and
for valuable consideration bill of sale,
mortgage, deed of trust. or any conveyance
of personal property where the possession
thereof dc eS not pass to the lien holder,
ard especially to protect subsequent inno-
cent purchasers for value and without no.
tiCe- When possession of property is re-
t&ired by the vendor in conditional sales
there is afforded opportunity for fraudu-
lent prSctice-"
The bill was passed without debate.
To Relieve Mr.. Linskey.
MT. BdDcOck tleN cdleQ up tne OIL 10 re-
Heve James Linskey from the operations of
). the law prohibiting alien ownership Of land
in the District. Mr.. Linskey has been q
resident of Washington for nearly thirty
years, and a property holder since 1850.
having purchased his house in good faith
ard unconscious of the existence of the
alien law. In 1891 he made application fer
citizenship.
Mr. Hopkins of Illinois raised the point
against Mr.. Linskey that his was not a
good case for congressional action. because
he lived in this country for many years,
ard enjoyed the benefits of citizenship
without trying to avail himself Of the op-
portunity of becoming citizen.
Mr.. Hulick defended the BILL and after
some further explanation the bill was
passed.
Standard Dry Measures.
The next bill was to define the standard
shape and size for dry measures in use In
the District Of Columbia. Its provisions
have already been published m The Star.
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa asked for an
explanation of the bill.
There is at present no law in the Dis
trict of Columbia by which the shape and
size of dry measures are regulated or de-
fned,'' said Mr.. Curtis of Iowa. THE
measures conform to no standard, and
frauds are of daily occurrence in the mar
kets, amounting in the aggregate to a large
sum. The proposed law is for the pro-
lection of buyers against the sharp prac-
tices Of dishonest Dealers
Mr.. Baker moved an amendment pro-
viding that a buShel of potatoes shall
weigh sixty pounds instead of ffty-six. ex-
planning that at present dealers buy pOta-
toes at sixty pounds to the bushel and sell
at ffty-Six- The amendment was adopted
and the bill was then passed.
weights and Measures Bill Passed.
The next bill was to amend section of
the law relating to weights and measures
so as to provide that no person shall use
for buying or selling, or for weighing
freight or express matter, any weights,
measures, scales or other instruments un-
less the same shall have been examined
and approved by the sealer or assistant
: sealer Of weights and measures. The
fact ard the date Of such examination and
approval and the period for which such
examination and approval shall hold good
shall be certified to with the seal of the
sealer of weights and measures. Such
certificates shall be attached in conspicu-
Gus place to the weights, measures, scales
or other Instruments so examined and ap-
proved, and such certificate shall be valid
only for such time as the Commissioners
of the District Of Columbia shall provide
In tine schedule of fees hereinafter provided
for: Provided, that nothing herein con-
tanned shall prevent at any time tine ex-
animation and condemnation of any
ments that may be found defective. The
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
shall prescribe the amount of tolerance to
be allowed by the sealer of weights and
measures, and all weights, measures and
balances that do not conform to the stand
ards for weights and measures in this
act provided for within the limit of toler-
arce so allowed may be seized by the
sealer of weights and measures, and when
so seized shall be destroyed by him. and q
record Of the same shall be duly entered
on the books of his office. Failure to COM
ply with the provisions of this section, or
the use of any weights, measures, scales or
other instruments described in this Sec
ton, before the payment of the fees fixed
by the said Commissioners for examina-
tons, shall render the person so failing
or using liable to a fine of not more than
so and costs of prosecution for each Of
fense, to be recovered in the Police Court
of the District of Columbia, and the said
court may make a further sentence that
the offender be imprisoned In the District
Jail for any period not exceeding six
months until the payment of such fine and
Costs"
Mr Babcock stated to the House that this
kill is designed to cure some Of the defects