The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-01
THE DISTRICT Code BILL
A Time for It's Consideration by the
House Agreed Upon.
To- BE Taken Up Thursday at n Night
Session Result of Two Years.
work by Former Judge w. :. Cox
History OF the CompiIation-Mod-
ffcntions by the Bar Association.

up in the House yesterday by Mr.. Bah
cock, Chairman OF the District Committee
After brief discussion the CIDER was
made that the bill should be considered
on Thursday night, from to 1890 O'Clock
Mr.. Babcock after explaining the p-o-
visions Of the code. asked unanimous con.
sent that the first reading of the bill
should be dispersed with. Mr.. Mudd Oh
jected, and the first reading OF the Lii
was proceeded with.
Mr., jenkins interrupted the clerk 10 in
form the House that the reading of the
code would require at least two days. He
asked that the gentleman from Maryland
withdraw his objection. Mr.. Mudd &C.
clined to do so, and the reading was re-
sumeG.
Mr. Jenkins again interrupted the clerb
by demanding order. Mr.. Mudi said he
would withdraw the objection if the hi
was not 10 be Immediately considered Mr.
Babcock then asked that Thursday and
Friday evenings. from to 1890, be SET
aside for the consideration of the code
There was objection and Mr.. Babcock
withdrew his request 20 far as Friday was
concerned and the order was made for
Thursday evening.
Some Proposed Amendments.
Several amendments 10 the bill have
been made by the committee. The most
important follow:
That every person charged with an Of
fence triable in the Police Court of the
District of Columbia may give security for
his appearance for trial or for further
hearing either by giving bond to the salts
faction of the court or by depositing money
as collateral security with the appropriate
officer at the Police Court or the station
keeper of the police precinct within which
such person may be apprehended. And
whenever any sum of money shall be de-
posted as collateral security as hereby
provided it shall remain, in contemplation
of law, the property Of the person deposit
ing it until duly forfeited by the court.
and when forfeited il shall be, in contem-
plation of law, the property of the United
States of America or of the Dist .ict of
Columbia. according as the charge against
the person depositing it is instituted on
behalf of the said United States or the said
District; and every person receiving any
sum of money deposited as hereby pro-
yided shall be deemed in law the agent
of the person depositing the same
of the United States or the said
District, as the case may be, for all
purposes OF properly preserving and ac-
counting for such money And all fines
payable and paid under Judgment of the
Police Court shall upon their payment
Immediately become, in contemplation of
law. the property of the United States or
the said District. according 10 the charge
upon which such fine may be adjudged:
and the person receiving any such fine
ha ,rI ~, fa,r.
United States or the said District as afore-
said, as the case may be; and any person.
being an agent as hereinbefore contem-
plated and defined. who shall wrongfully
convert TO his own use any money re-
ceiyed by him as hereinbefore provided
Shall be deemed guilty of embezzlement
and upon conviction thereof be punished
by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or by i'm
prisonment not exceeding five years, or
both; provided. that nothing herein con-
tanned shall affect the ultimate rights I'M
der existing law of the Washington HUI
name Society. or the policemen's fund (by
whatever name the same may be called
or known. or the fremen's relief fund of
the District of Columbia in or to any fines
or forfeitures paid and collected in the
Police Court
Sec. SO. All fines, penalties. costs and
forfeitures imposed or taxed by the Police
Court shall be paid to the clerk of the
Police Court, either with or without pro-
cess or on process ordered by the court.
and by said clerk paid over TO the District
as often as once in each week.
Section 119. line /. strike out all after
the word clerk" and insert in lieu the
following:
The Register of Wills of the District of
Columbia shall be, and hereby is. author
lied. empowered. and directed to act as
clerk OF the probate terms, to keep and
certify its records. and generally, with
respect TO said term, 10 exercise all the
powers and perform all the duties which
might Otherwise be properly exercised or
performed By the CLERK of the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia. He
shall be authorized 10 appoint a deputy,
who may, in his absence. do and perform
any and all acts necessary in the admin
istration of his office and the certification
Of the records Of said court which he
himself is authorized to do: also TO ap-
point and fix the number and the compen-
sation of the employees of said Probate
Court and Office of Register of Wills:
Provided. that any expenditures incurred
by him in so doing shall not be charge
upon the public treasury. but shall. to-
gether with his own compensation be paid
out of the revenues Of the office OF Regis
ter of Wills: Provided. that for any ser
vices required of the Register of Wills as
clerk of the Probate Court, for which 20
fees are specified by statute, he may be
allowed to collect the fees prescribed by
this code to be collected by the clerk of
the Supreme Court Of the District of CO.
ldmbia for similar services.
mo subdivision of land in the District
Of Columbia without the limits of the city
Of Washington shall be recorded in :he
Office of the Surveyor or in the Office Of
the Recorder OF Deeds unless the same
shall have been first approved by The
Commissioners OF the District of Columbia
and be in conformity with the recorded
plans for permanent system of high
ways"
History of the New Code.
During the past sixty years several un.
successful efforts have been made to have
Congress adopt code OF laws for the Dis
triot OF Columbia. The present work was
originally prepared by Hon. Walter S. Cox.
while an associate justice of the Supreme
Court OF the District OF Columbia and at
the joint request Of the Board of Trade of
the District and the Bar Association
Judge Cox was born in the District of
Columbia and has always lived here. He
was in active practice Of the law in the
District from the year 1877 until he went
upon the bench in 1879. He Immediately
entered upon the work and continued ac-
lively essaged on it foT about two years
being assisted by a stenographer whose
compensation was paid jointly by the Board
OF Trade and the Bar Association. When
he had completed his task he submitted il
TO the bar and the people of the District
generally.
The expense of printing was betrayed by
voluntary subscriptions. In the preface to
the work Judge Cox said: