The times., 1899-12-29
ALIENS TITLE TO LAND.
A Bin TO Invest Foreigners With
FnII Property Rights.

The Attorney for the District yesterday
submitted to the Commissioners the draft
OF a bill which he has requested them to
present to Congress as soon as possible.
the proposed Legislation being an amend
ment 20 the act relating to the holding
Of property by aliens in the Territories
and the District OF Columbia
The matter was brought to the attention
Of the Attorney several days ago, when his
opinion was requested as TO a bill which
is to be presented to Congress for the re-
lief Of John J. Narjes. an alien who holds
property in the District.
Attorney Duvau advised the Commission
ers to report the bill favorably TO the two
committees Of Congress on the Dis
trict Of Columbia. He took an opportunity
at this time to state that he thought the
present law on the subject should be re-
pealed or amended.
With regard to the necessity Of amend
ment the Attorney states: BY the act to
restrict me ownership Of real estate in
the Territories and the District Of Colum-
bia 10 American citizens, approved March
g. 1887. Congress placed the District OF
Columbia under identically the same in
hibitions in respect to the subject matter
as the Territories.
Thereafter by act approved March 3,
1858. IL amended the act Of 1881 so that II
should not apply or operate in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, so far as 1t relates to
the ownership Of legations, or residences
by representatives Of foreign Governments.
or attaches thereof.
Since the passage Of the frst-named
act. numerous applications for individual
relief from its operation have been made
10 Congress, and special acts have been
passed granting such relief. SO far as my
knowledge extends, no such application
+ has been refused.
In my judgment this has unnecessarily
( consumed much OF the valuable time Of
: Congress.
Il am unable to understand why the
District of Columbia should not be put
upon equally as good footing as the Ter
ritories in respect Of this matter. and
am OF the opinion that you should request
that the provisions Of the act approved
March 2. 1897, TO better define and regu-
late the rights Of aliens TO hold and own
( real estate in the Territories be extended
to the District Of Columbia.
The act OF 1887 affects alien residents
( Of the District while the act OF 1897 eX-
empts aliens who are bona fde residents
from its operation.
Moreover the act Of 1897 does not APP
ply To lots in any Incorporated or plated
CITY, town. or village in the Territories;
being plain manifestation that the mis-
chief TO be remcded was not ownership
. Of small parcels OF land, such as city lots.
The act Of 1887 forfeits to the United
States all property held or owned in VIC
lation OF its provisions, while the act OF
1887 allows aliens TO dispose Of their real
estate before the institution of escheat
proceedings. and even after sale under such
proceedings the proceeds are subject to
the order OF the alien owner for q period of
one year
If. for any reason. Congress should de-
termine that the time has not arrived for
the absolute repeal Of the act OF 1887, so
FAR as the District Of Columbia is con
cerned. 1t seems to me that no good reason
can be assigned for subjectng the Dis
trict to continued loss in investment in or
Improvement of its real estate consequent
upon the stringent provisions of the act of
1887; the condition would be materially
amelioGated by the proposed amendment"
The bin is entitled "A bill TO amend the
act entitled An act to better define and
regulate the rights Of aliens TO hold and
own real estate IN the Territories. ap-
proved March , 1887 Il provides that the
law referred 10 in the title be and the
same is hereby amended so as 10 ex
tend 10 aliens the same privileges con
cerning The acquisition holding, owning.
and disposition Of real estate in the Dis
trict OF Columbia as by that act are con
fcrred upon them in respect Of real estate
in the Territories of the United States
The bin viii be forwarded TO the Con
. EressiCaai committees as soon as possible