Evening star., 1901-10-17
THE NEW CODE OF LAWS
A SUMMARY OF THE IMPORTANT
CHANGES TT INVOLVES.
Ten Justices Of the Peace, More Severe
Penalties for Crime, Differences NJ
to Wills, Divorces, SC.
Written for The Evening Star.

March 3, 1901, will then go into effect This
code Is not simply a compilation. 1t con-
tafns a great deal OF new law. In this
article will be found a brief reference to
some of the most important changes in the
law. I have referred especially to those
which are Of interest to the general pub
lie There are many other important
changes which are technical and of interest
chiefly to lawyers.
One Of the most important changes will
be in the office of justice of the peace.
There will be ten justices to be appointed
by the President for term of four years.
They will be compensated by salary instead
Of by fees, as at present. Each Justice will
receive a salary of 5000 and further al
lowance of $3.50 year for rent, stationery
and other expenses. The Supreme Court OF
the District will divide the District of Co
lumbia into ten subdistricts, with a justice
of the peace In each subdistrtct
Section of the code contains this impor-
tant provision: mo resident of the District
shall be sued In any subdistrict other than
the one in which he resides"
Therefore, 1t seems apparent that the
convenience of litigants will make it neces-
sary to have the justices of the peace scat
tered over the District instead of locating
most Of them near the court house and the
business centers, as at present.
As there are now just ten police precincts
1t might be as well to have the ten subd1s-
police precincts.
Section TT Of the code makes this provi-
sion as to court costs incurred by the Dis
trict government: 1.-The District Of Column
Bit shall not be required to pay fees to the
clerk of the Court Of Appeals of the District
or to the marshal Of the District, and shall
be entitled to the services of said marshal
in the service Of all civil process
The clerk Of the Supreme Court of the
District will be allowed to retain for his
own compensation fees to the amount OF
$1,000 per annum instead of So 800 as at
present. In section 81 Of chapter 80, Com
piled Statutes of the District Of Columbia,
there is an erroneous statement to the ef-
feet that said clerk is allowed to retain fees
to the amount Of 5000. The figures should
be s.. 500, which has been the maximum al
lowed since 1888. See act of March 3, 1888,
% Statutes, 631, which seems to have been
overlooked.
The district attorney and his assistants
are authorized to administer oaths.
Section 100 provides that there shall con-
tinue to be a coroner of said District, who
shall be appointed by the President"
Sections 373 to 1874 provide for the dfstrf-
button of the personal estate of persons
dying intestate, or, in other words, without
will. The code provides for the case OF
an intestate leaving widow; but 1 find no
provision for the case OF a woman dying
without will and leaving a widower. In
such case 1t Is presumable that the common
law is to govern. Was this omission inten-
ttonal?
Section SAT contains q provision which
may reyolutionize the installment business
In the District. As the law now stands
when chattels such as pianos, books, fur
niture, &C., are delivered to a purchaser
on condition that the title Is not to pass
until fully paid for the goods can be taken
back, even from an innocent third party,
II the terms are not complied with. I'm
der the new law the person selling the
goods will not be protected unless there Is
a chattel mortgage duly executed and re-
corded.
The new code authorizes short and sim
pie forms for conveyancing. 1t renders
unnecessary the ancient and senseless
jargon now used In deeds The code pro,
directly to his wife by one deed instead of
by two deeds and through a third party
as at present.
Corporations.
A department of insurance is provided
for. The District Commissioners are au-
thorfzed to appoint superintendent Of in
surance at $500 a year. Every insurance
company doing business in the District
must make reports, file copy Of its char
ter and obtain license. The superinten-
dent Of insurance will also have supervision
Of the business Of fraternal beneficial as
sociaitons to a limited extent These laws
are intended for the protection Of policy
holders.
Building associations also are regulated
vision as to building associations: Such
corporation shall not invest its funds in
any real estate except what Is necessary
for the conduct OF its business, but may
purchase such property at sales made upon
foreclosure Of mortgages or in satisfaction
Of judgments or other liens held by it.
Provided, that such property SO purchased
be sold within reasonable time there
after"
Free transfers on street railways are
provided for in the discretion of the Dis
trict Commissioners under certain condi-
tions.
Safe deposit, trust, 1oan title Insurance
and other similar corporations are required
to advertise in two newspapers their inteu-
ton to apply for charter. Twenty-Five or
more persons are required to form such a
corporation, and application must be made
to the District Commissioners Stock
holders are made liable for the debts of
the company ito an amount equal to and
In addition to the amount Of stock held by
them Section 735 provides that stock is
to be paid up in money only.
Crimes.
The code classifes murder as in first and
second degrees. Under the present law
there is only one kind Of murder; but a
recent act Of Congress provided that jury
might find the defendant guilty of murder
without capital punishment. The code
makes an Improvement in the cIassif1ca-
ton Of murder and manslaughter For as
sault with intent to kill the code provides
maximum penalty Of Imprisonment for
hhfteen years, and under this head Is in
cluded such an offense as administering
poison OF ''knock-out' drops. At present
the maximum Is only eight years for a first
offense.
Section s1s reads: Whoever wrongfulIy
accuses any woman of unchastity shall be
punished by a fine not exceeding $500, or
by Imprisonment not exceeding one year,
or both, and shall also be liable to civil
action for damages by the party injured"
At present such an onense Is not punisha-
Bile unless the statement Is In writing and
published as a libel
A severe punishment is provided for
blackmail. The maximum penalty provided
for housebreakfng IL imprisonment for
fifteen years. instead of ten years, az at
present Removing from the District mort
gagged property. OF secrettng or selling It,
Is made a felony under the code. Sections
S23 and 848 provide severe penalties for
malicious injury to real or personal prop
erty. Increased penalties are provided for