The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-07
NEW LAWS FOR
THE DISTRICT.
Changes Necessary to be
Made in the Code.
NUMEROUS FLAWS IN THE MEASURE
Senator Pritchard Introduces a BIZ
Containing Amendments ReIa-
tive TO Divorce, Justices,
Wills and Jurors.

Senator Pritchard has introduced bill
amending the new code of laws for the
District of Columbia, which goes into
effect on January l, 1902. The code, as
adopted, was incomplete in many ways,
and the new measure is intended TO cover
the omissions It contains at least two
hundred amendments, some Of which are
very important. Several changes in ref
erenee to the laws regulating marriage
and divorce are proposed IN Senator
Pritchard's bill
One amendment prohibits the present
practice Of justices Of the peace being in
terested in firms which bring suits against
others and Of being technically in the en-
p1oy of these firms. One section is amend
ed to read as follows:
mo justice of the peace during his term
Of Office shall engage in the practice Of the
law, subject to the penalty of removal
from his Office
Regulating the Justices.
Another amendment provides: In any
suit brought before a justice of the peace
the defendant. his agent or attorney, may
have the cause removed 10 the next near
est justice, upon fling an AFFIDAVIT with
the justice issuing the writ, on the re-
! turn day or day of trial of the action,
that he does not believe said justice Will
give him fair and impartial trial.
It is also stipulated in an amendment
! that q judgment issued by justice Of the
/ peace in the District OF Columbia can re-
main in force only three years No ac-
/ ton pending before a justice at the time
/ the code goes into effect shall abate. but
such action nay not be proceeded with
! until all parties interested have been
/ given at least two days notice
Committees for Drunkards-
Another amendment provides that
whenever any. person residing in the Dis
trict of Columbia and owning an estate,
| real or personal, shall be declared a
! drunkard, the equity court may, upon
application OF any. creditor or relative OF
! such person, appoint a committee TO
manage and control such property
/ Under the head OF wills, the following
| amendment is offered:
Whoever, during the life OF testator
or after his death. shall, for a fraudulent
purpose. take and carry away viii, cod
icil, or other testamentary instrument,
/ or destroy, mutiIate, or secrete the same,
whether it relates TO personal or real
property, shall suffer Imprisonment for
not more than five years"
Jurors and Juries.
The section dealing with juries is
amended by the following paragraph.
In all trials for capital offences the
accused and the United States shall each
be entitled to twenty peremptory chal-
/ lenges- In trials for offences punishable
by imprisonment in the penitendary The
accused and the United States shall each
be entitled TO ten peremptory challenges
In all other criminal cases. each partJ
shall be entitled to three peremptory
challenges; and if there are several de.
PENDANTS, they shall be treated as ont
person IN the allowance Of such chaI-
IeEges-''
Senator Pritchard expects to have hi.
! bill passed without opposition before tn,
holiday. recess so that the code will e
into effect carrying the amendments tn,
measure is now before the Committee OF
the District OF Columbia.