Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-14

ported in 10 D. c., Appeals III in which 1t
was decided that under the authority of
said joint resolution the Commissioners had
the power TO make regulations governing
the movement of railroad trains in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
I'm the case of Moore against ID. c.. l.
Appeals D. c. $40, the court, speaking by
Mr.. Chief Justice Alvey, said: The limita-
lions or restrictions imposed by the acts of
Congress upon the exercise of the power
are only that the regulations made in pur-
suance thereof shall be both reasonable
and usual in their character and manner
of enforcement If it be shown and de-
termined that the regulations or any ma
terial part thereof are unusual and unreal
sonable, they would be imperative and void
to the extent that they so unreason-
able or unusual
Question Referred to the People.
Il have presented as carefully as was
within my power the origin nature and ex-
tent of the power of police regulation vest
ed in the Commissioners of this District. AS
to the wisdom of Congress in the delegation
of such reaching authority. have moth
ing to say. 1t is for the citizens of the
District to determine whether by further
legislation Congress should not renvest it
self with the general power of police reSu-
lation and limit the exercise of this power
to specific subjects and within well-de-
fined limited and particular jurisdiction.
AT the present time our only source of
relief from the arbitrary, ill-conSidered or
oppressive exercise of these powers by the
Commissioners is in the courts. But this
relief is at best uncertain and expensive
and the long delay works many hardShipS'
Brief speeches on the report were made
by Messrs. George E. Emmons, w. j. Lam
bert. DIR. d. Percy Tickling, DIR. Robert
Reyburn, Thomas G.. Hensey. l.. NJ Saun-
derS and others. Each speaker expressed
his approval of the document, but DR.. Hick-
ling thought more space should have been
devoted to telling how careful the Commits
sloners are TO give due notice of any con-
templated change in existing regulations or
their intention to make new regulations.
Report by MIR. johnson.
The reading of Mr.. V. Baldwin John
sons report on the proposed new code was
followed by a lengthy discussion, none of
which was in opposition to it. but after an
explanation by Justice Taylor of the pres
ent system, under which the fifteen justices
in the District administer the affairs of
their offices, a resolution was adopted re-
questing Congress to eliminate that section
of the proposed new code relating to JUS
tices of the peace; ITO make some minor
amendments to the present law and enact
the remainder of the code now before the
Senate committee on the District of Column
bia. A committee composed of Messrs. V.
Baldwin johnson, chairman Wilbur J.
Lambert, DR.. d. p Hickling and c. H.
as may be necessary to carry the wishes
OF the association into effect.
Senate Bill 1859.
DR.. Robert Reyburn asked the association
to indorse Senate bill 1889 ITO establish a
representative form of government for the
citizens of the District of Columbia" The
bill was referred to the appropriate com
mittee.
The chair announced the following as the
executive committee for 1901, one place re
manning TO be filled: w. S. Knox chair
man; V. Baldwin Johnson, w. G. GUIDE, ST.
mon Wolf, Rufus H. Thayer DR.. II. l.. E
johnson and William Hahn.
A resolution offered by Mr.. w. ]. Lam
bert adopted to the effect that the Dis
trict Commissioners be requested 10 make
some changes in the present mode of col
lecting ashes and garbage