The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-13
DISTRICT CODE CHANGES
Several Amendments Proposed by
Auditor ]. 7. Petty.
A New Arrangement for the Compen-
satiOn of Police Court Jurors The
Manner of Collecting Fines-HOw
Accounts Should BE Audited
Judge I. C. KimhnIIs Contribution.

The District Commissioners yesterday
received from the Aud.tor, ]. T. Petty,
the amendments to the proposed District
Code, which that officer has had under
consideration for the past few days. In
his report accompanying the list OF amend
ments. Mr.. Petty urges the Importance OF
the clauses submitted. and requests tat
the Commissioners shall add their endorse
ment and transmit them to Congress with
recommendation for their insertion in
the code, which is now under considera-
tion in the District Committee CT the
House.
The first amendment relates to section
As Of the code, and provides that Jurors in
the Police Court shall receive the same
compensation as is provided in the Su-
preme Court Of the District.
Section 90, relating to bailiffs in the Fo-
lice Court, should have its caption rec5st,
Mr.. Petty suggests. as to read: "Bailiis
and other officers and that the folio win z
be added to this section:
THE said court may also appoint door,
keeper at a salary OF $40 per annum, an
engineer at salary of $500 per annum,
and a jantor at salary ofs450 per annum."
The following is recommended as a sub
stitute for section Sc:
Section Sc, salaries. how paid-Tie
salaries OF the judges. clerk deputy clerks,
bailifis, depty marshal. doorkeeper, en-
gineer. and janitor of the said court shall
be paid as other salaries of the District of
Columbia, from appropriations E,ade by
Congress, as provided in the act CT June
II, 1875
Section IS. relating to fines collected in
the Police Court. should be stricken out.
Mr.. Petty believes, and the following sub
stituted therefor:
Section IS. fines to be paid to the clerk
of Police Court-All fines penalties costs
and forfeitures imposed or taxed by the
Police Court shall be paid to the clerk of
said court, either with or without process
or on process ordered by the court. The
clerk of the Police Court shall, on the first
secular day of each week. deposit with the
collector OF taxes the total amount OF all
fines, penalties, costs and forfeitures col
lected by him during the week next pre-
ceding the date of such deposit, to be COW
cred into the Treasury to the credit of the
District Of Columbia, subject to the re-
quirements of the provision of the act OF
June II. 1896, to meet any deficiency in
the police fund or the fremen's relief
fund The said clerk shall render an
itemized statement of each deposit afore-
said upon such forms and in such manner
as shall be prescribed by the auditor Of
the District of Columbia"
A new section. SO, is recommended, read
ing as follows:
Section 80, accounts. how audited-It
shall be the duty of the Auditor OF the
District of Columbia, and he is hereby re-
quired, to audit the accounts OF the clerk
OF the Police Court at the end of every
quarter. and TO make prompt report
thereof in writing to the Commissioners OF
the District of Columbia. In order to en-
able the Auditor of the District to perform
the duty hereby imposed upon him. he
shall have free access to all books, papers,
and records OF the said court"
Mr. Petty further recommends that all
fines collected in the Police Court shall be-
In contemplation of law. the property of
the District and that the person receiv-
ing them shall be deemed to be the agent
of the person depositing or OF the District,
as the case may be.
The following amendment, proposed by
Judge Kimball of the Police Court. is also
included to strike out section A. relating
to information in that court, and insert
in lieu thereof the following:
THAT prosecutions in the Police Court
shall be on information by the proper
prosecuting officer. In all prosecutions
within the jurisdiction of said court in
which, according to the Constitution Of
the United States, the accused would be
entitled to a jury trial the trial shall be
by jury, unless the accused shall in open
court expressly waive such trial by jury
and request 10 be tried by the judge. in
which case the trial shall be by such
judge, AID the Judgment and sentence
shall have the same force and effect in all
respects as If the same had been entered
and pronounced upon the verdict Of jury.
In all cases where the accused would not
by force of the Constitution Of the United