Evening star., 1898-02-03

prepared and perfected was recommended
ior adoption in the several states.
The author and some Of the revi<ers
of the English act have expressed the
highest commendation Of the work of MIR.
Crawford. and is TO way more 50 than in
saying that those features of their act
W hich were recommended by the drafterS
and first revisers. and rejected bv the over
conservative parliament-such as the abOii-
tion Of days of grace-had been adopted
by Mr. Crawford.
The production Of Il single mind. how
ever learned and skilled. may well be
garded with distrust. hut the product Of
scores of lawyers Of Great Britain. best
qualified to know the law on the subject.
tested by fourteen years If successful eN-
pcrience. and revised by commissioners
from thirty states In this country, aided
10y the experts who have written on the
topic may surely inspire the confidence
that the work is thoroughly done. Then,
too. while the bill is simple and intelhgfhle
III its expression, great care is taken 10
preserve the use Of words which have had
repeated legal constructions and become
recognized terms of the law merchant.
''AiI the fundamental principles and es
ssHtial definitions Of he law on commercial
pTpeT-thc law, in short. of some ten
condensed into thrty-siX pages. The dis
puted points ard varient laws. whose dis
cCsSiQn occupies So large II share of two
and three vciuTned tr.atiSeS on the subject.
are decided and harmunizcd. This decision
and harmony is not the dictum or opinion
al one man or one body of men or one
state or one country. The English bill
originally drafted ly Judge Chalmers
passed by the committees Of both houses
Uf Tarlia mcnt. adopted by all of its self
governing colonies, has bad the test of
fifteen years experience. and the testf-
m'ny j. all one way as 70 its worth and
ciiIC ieu'y.
This bill has become law in New York.
Colorado. Florida and connecticut. and
IL Ill
governor OF Massachusetts and the su-
PTcme court OF South Carolina. The act
sp-stks for itself. ii settles IL great number
"f VrNed questions. harmnniEes large
udEIl;er of disCorJant decisions and varient
statutes. and is phrased with such care
and felicity Of expression that 1t makes il
unne, essaTy To refer To the many laudatory
comments upon il By various Iaw journals
of tho country. 1t has been recommended
by tho boards of trade and chambers of
commerce wherever their attention has
been called to ii. 1t was introduced to
yCuT committee by the local council of the
American Bar Association in the District
81 columbia. with their full Endorsement.
The act will undoubtedly be very generally
adopted by the legislatures that hold ses-
sions this year.
The Gcttysbara Railway.
Mr. Curtis of Iowa has introduced bill
in the House authorizing the Washington
ard Gettysburg Railway Company to con-
struct a city and suburban division of the
railway in the District of Columbia with
single or double tracks equip and operate
the same for the carrying of passengers
milk. garden truck and other small freight
with the necessary switches. turnouts.
buildings and necessary mechanical devices
along the following route:
beginning at a point on the northeast
boundary line of the District of Columbia
at or near the intersection of the boundary
ll1e and 18th street east extended. as laid
down in the proposed street extension
plans. thence south on Eth street to Frank
fort street extended, thence west on Frank
fort street to 10th street extended thence
south on said 10th street to Rhode Island
avenue extended, connecting with the
Maryland and Washington Railway Com
pany- If the Maryland and Washington
Railway Company and the lexington and
Soldiers Home Company shall not have in
stalled rapid transit service over its lines
10y July /. 1898, then the Washington and
Gettysburg Railway Company may extend
its railway south on said 10th street east
extended to Delaware avenue extended.
thence south on Delaware avenue to 4th
street east extended, thence south ith
street east extended 10 Fl street north. and
connect its lines with the line of the Column
ba Railway Company.
The motive power shall he cable. electric,
compressed air, or other mechanical power.
other than steam locomotive power; but
nothing in this act shall he construed to al
low. at any time. the construction or string
ing of overhead trolley wires south of Flor
ida avenue.
The bill was referred to the District COM
mittee.
For Overhead Wires.
Mr. Mcmillan today introduced in The
Senate joint resolution authorizing the
District Commissioners to issue permits
To- tha connection of any overhead electric
wires west of Rock creek. outside of the
city Of Washington and outside of the fire
limits and within the District of Columbia