Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-07
HEARING ON THE CODE BILL
ARGUMENT BEFORE THE SENATE
DISTRICT COMMITTEE.
General Opinion of the Members Fa-
vorable to the Passage of
the Measure.

The first meeting of the Senate committee
on the District of Columbia was held today.
The committee first gave a hearing on the
subject OF the code bill for the District.
which has passed the House.
The members of the committee present
were Senators Mcmillan, chairman: CALM
ger. Mallory, Martin, Stewart. Kenney
Hansbrough, Pritchard and Dillingham;
There were also present to speak on the
code bill Messrs. Worthington. chairman.
and Hamilton of the legislative committee
of the Bar Association of the District of
Columbia, and Mr.. John Joy Edison and
Mr.. John B. Larner. representing the board
of trade. All the representatives Of both
he Bar Association and the board Of trade
favored the reporting Of the code bill by
the committee to the Senate in the form in
which it had passed the House of Repre-
sentatives They argued that the work of
preparing the bill had been done with the
utmost care. and had been gone over by
the men most competent to frame it, and
that any defects that mightzbes developed in
the bill could be cured by legislation after
1t had become law. They favored having
the law go into effect on the 1st of July
next.
Abolition of Justices OF the Peace.
Mr. Jeffords acting attorney for real
estate men and others, stated his objections
to some features of the bin. He opposed
abolishing the Justices of the peace courts,
on the ground that these courts are con-
venient Tor settling numerous minor diff
cultics. Mr. Jeffords also said the bill
should contain provisions for a change of
venue. as such change was often desired
by attorneys and their clients in cases tried
before the District courts.
MIR. Worthfngton stated that the aboli-
ton of the justice of the peace courts was
desired, and that that matter had been
fl,lly cGpSidere6 40 bnl;eyad no bo
interest of justice that such courts should
no longer exist. In regard to the plea that
provision be made for a change of venue
in the District courts. he said that the act
ual practice meets that objection as judges,
when proper reason exists, decline to try
a case, but that q general provision for Il
change of venue would result in much de-
lay in litiga ton and confusion In the work
of the court. He said that the reasons
which exist in states for a change of venue
do not hold in a small community like that
of the District of Columbia.
Views of the Coxpmiatee. ?
Senator Mcmillan, in a discussion among
members Of the committee. said he thought
the bill ought to be passed in its present
form; allowing any minor imperfections to
be cured hereafter.
Senator Stewart said it would take the
committee two years in order to fully satls-
fy themselves as to every detail of the
"
carefully prepared and should be passed In
its present form.
Senator Pritchard creed with the view
of Senator Stewart that the bin was reads
for passage it had pass~d the House or
REPRESENTATIVES, The general r. opinion
among members of the committee was an
approval of the passage of the Dill.
Mr. Jeffords was asked to submit state
ment of his objections to the code bill in
writing ard the matter will be taken up
and decided definitely at later date.
To Relieve Census Employees.
The committee also decided to report IA
vorably bill appropriating $4,000 to pave
LIST street between b and c streets. ID
str ct between B and G streets and B street
between 1st and ID streets with asphalt, to
take the place of the Belgian block and
vitritied brick pavement now laid on those
thoroughfares. This action was taken in
compliance with an urgent request by Mr..
Merriam. director of the census, who stated
that the work of his office has been much
mterfered with account. of the noise
from passing teams on these streets.
The committee also decided to report ia
yOrably a bill authorizing the Commission
to employ an assistant for, the attorney
for the District of Columbia, with COM
pensalion at the rate of 81 600 per annum.