Evening star., 1901-03-06

! every word in which the same were eX-
| pressed. In addition, this joint committee
| of the bench and bar had before it sugges
| tfonS from many members of the Board of
Trade. from members Of the bar, from JUS
| tices of the peace and from citizens gener-
| ally. touching various provisions of the
code. All of these were carefully consid-
| cred by the said joint committee. The
| final result of these labors, the present pro-
posed code, was submitted to the Bar As
| sociation Of the District on Saturday,
| March 10. 1900 and was unanimously ap-
proved. 1t was recommended to the Board
of Trade on Marc h IA, at one of the largest
| meetings ever held, and after an able re-
port and explanation made by the special
| committee on codification was unanimous
ly approved. 1t was introduced into the
House of Representatives, and after one or
| two amendments was passed, and is now
| before the Senate.
Taking advantage of the recess of Com
gress, the Bar Association, exercising
abundant precaution, appointed a special
committee to further examine the bill and
report any objection found or amendment
needed to perfect it, so the Bar Associa-
| tion may again be unanimous in its re-
port.
Although many attempts have been
made from time to time since 1916 toward
the preparation and enactment of a code
of laws for the District of Columbia, prob
ably there never has been so much ability,
labor and self-sacrifice bestowed upon all
of them upon the present bill now be-
fore Congress. The community Is deeply
indebted to the bench for adjourning court
| and for time and ability freely given. and
to the eminent members of the bar on the
legislative committee for their public spirit
in suSpending business to give sheir Valu
able time to work upon the code, seeking
no other reward than the approval of their
fellow citizens in their efforts in making
1t as complete and perfect as possible.
In view of the vast subject which the
! proposed code covers and the diversified in
/ terests to which it relates, 1t is safe to
say that no other could be presented more
acceptable than the present one. Should
this now fail it may be con 5dered a great
misfortune to the community. There is no
part of the Union that has not a modern or
intelligent system of laws, and if this code
fails at this time it is doubtful whether
another so well prepared viii, in this gen
Grafton, if ever, be presented for the con-
sideration of Congress. 1t IS therefore
hoped that as few additional amendments
or criticisms will be made as possible that
would endanger favorable action Icy Con-
gresS. All should unite in the endeavor to
obtain the enactment of the code at the
coming session"
Fight for Code In Congress.
When the local forces had contributed all
that could reasonably be expected of them,
then came the congressional opportunity
For while the opportunity seemed to lie
avoided, but the persistent man who had
borne the burden and the heat of the day"
would not permit anything like legislative
lukewarmness Chairman Babcock of the
House District committee and Representa-
tive jenkins of Wisconsin became interest
ed in the proposition. Mr. Jenkins was
thoroughly qualified to take up the task
imposed upon him by the chairman and Ey
his own disposition to assist in placing such
necessary measure on the statute books
A capable and broad-minded LAWYER he
proceeded to study the code and planned to
push it through. He became the focal uoint
w q nOnt hnr oil e
intent on suggesting amendments which
would foster or protect selfish interests
His time was therefore devoted to informal
hearings of those who were for and against
the bill and to careful examination of every
essential detail in all the thousands of sec
tlons. 1t was gigantic undertaking for
one upon whom there were many other
legislative burdens, but the work was done
well and automatically done. Through
all the sinuosities common to all measures
of Importance the code was iudiciouslv
guided. Time for its consideration was Sc
cured. Opposition was .suavely silencnd
The bill passed the House.
There was welcome for it in the Senate
Chairman Mcmillan of the Senate District
committee was waiting for it and was
ready to render all the assistance he could
give. In committee the troubles were few
SO favorable report was easily secured
Then Senator Pritchard took charge of the
measure resolved to push it whenever there
was opportunity. In this he had the active
assistance of Senator McComas whose in
terest in the code was necessarily stimu-
lated by the knowledge of local legal con-
dftions acquired while he was on the su-
preme bench of the District. An invaluable
aid was Mr.. Charles Moore, the clerk to
the Senate District committee. Deeply con-
cerned in all matters pertaining to the
national capital, Mr.. Moore took a special
interest in the code. Whenever there was
a chance to advance the bill-and some
times when there seemed to be no chance
Mr.. Moore was active and effective in his
endeavors to assist Senators Mcmillan and
Prltchard.
AS the end Of the session approached
there was probability that the code might
fail All active opposition to the bill had
ceased and there was general recognition
of the desrabiity of such codif1cation as
had been patiently constructed by unset
fish effort. but time was short, and power
ful interests were pressing legislation
which, for political reasons, overshadowed
any and all local propositions AS the
hours and days slipped by. so hope dimin-
ished, but the endeavor did not cease until.
without noise friction, the bill went
through the Senate and was practically
law. few details were adjusted and then
came the presidential signature The work
to which so many Washingtonians and so
many true friends of Washington had de-
voted themselves without stint was over
The protracted fight for rational codifica-
ton Of District laws was won.