The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-18

of any municipal ordinance or regulation.
except in so far as the same may be IN
consistent with, or is replaced by, some
provision OF this code
"A marked change in the law Is that
relating to justices of the peace Inc
new law reduces the number from ntteen
to ten. and provides for Il salary OF S,25H
in lieu Of fees. and that the District snail
be divided into ten sections and the JUS
tice shall hold court at a place therein
designated by the Supreme Court OF the
District 1t also provides that deienu-
ant shall be sued only in the Sectioh or
district where he resides. and that the
Justice shall render monthly accounts OF
the fees he receives and turn the same
over with the account to the Tax Oollec-
tor.
Jury trials are abolished before
Justices OF peace. and in all cases inFoiE-
ing over $50 the defendant may reno ms
case into the Supreme Court OF IN, blS-
trict The law as to fuTCihle entry as 4
civil matter IS plain and practicable hut
no provision is made about the same as Il
criminal matter, and We are ieit WITH II, 1de
English statute Of King Richard, OF lyol'
on this subject, still in force The once
Of ConstabloS is abolished ana all Wits
Of justices OF the peace VIII be served
by United States marshals. The ponce
court procedure is changed by GehNinS
Jury trial to any defendant, unless the
penalty be $50 or more, or thirty days i'm
prisonment, or more
A special term Of probate court IS pro-
vided. and in that connection. the Regis,
ter of Wills is made the clerk Of said
court. and is authorized TO do such things
as the clerks of other courts do, as q mat
ter of course.
divorces cannot be granted for any
cause save adultery, and I'm all cases the
United States Attorney for the District
of Columbia VIII become attorney OF rec
ora, stated in the law, in order 10
prevent collusion and to protect public
morals; the law also provides that the
person with whom the adultery is SAID TO
have been committed shall be made de-
fendsnt and brought into court by per
Sonal service or publication Any decree
OF divorce granting alimOny and proVid-
ing for the care and custody Of children
leaves the case always thereafter pending
and opened for future orders in these re-
spccts.
The Clerk of Court United States
Marshal, and Collector of Taxes are made
a jury commission to select jurors and
put their names in the box. The term OF
jury service in the Supreme Court OF the
District is extended from one month to
I Two months.
Absence from the domicile for seven
! years without being heard from shall be
/ presumption that persons so absent are
! dead. though the language of the law con-
tains nothing that would cOntine its pro-
/ visions 10 the District of Columbia. The
law provides that if any person so pre-
sumed to be dead and found thereafter to
he living. and the presumption OF death
has injured any other person he or she
shall he restored to the rights of which
/ he shall he deprived by reason of such
presumption.
The chapter of the new law on insol-
vency viii repeal the general bankruptcy
law i'm 50 far as that law relates to the
, District of Columbia.
TRANSFER OF REAL ESTATE.
y deed of real estate can be made in
few lines and the law provides that
7 these few lines shall mean all the things
that are usually written or printed in
long deeds \ new office. called Depart
ment of Insurance. and a new officer,
| called Insurance Commissioner. are Gre
ated 10y this act, the officer 10 be ap-
pointed by the District Commissioners
and to have S2.5e9 annual salary
Murder is divided into first degree and
second degree. punishment for murder of
the first degree is hanging and for the
second degree not less than twenty years
Imprisonment. The maximum penalty for
rand larceny is raised from three years
to ten Years. and the maximum penalty
for petty larceny is raised from six
months To one Year If the jury COnVictS
( a defendant OF rape the death penalty
may bc added 10 the verdict OF guilty.
The chapter on offences against moral
! ity practically supersedes the Edmunds
I law IN the District. and changes the place
5 Of imprisonment for adultery from the
peHitenUary TO the jail. 1t also makes Sc
! duction misdemcanor The law also
provides for punishment for attempts to
commit crime and for second cOnvic-
/ tiou of criminal offences. II also provides
l that during any trial of two or more de-
! PENDANTS Jointly indicted any one may be
/ discharged 10y he trial judge at any time
| during the trial before he has gone into
! his defence. and become witness for the
United States; that whenever bail is re-
| quired money may be deposited in lieu
/ thereof
Husband and wife in all cases both
/ civil and criminal are made competent.
/ but not compellabIe witnesses to testify
/ for or against each other and the hus-
bauI may deed real estate directly to his
wife. Married women have nearly all the
rights Of women unmarried, but the law
/ soys that no married wom1u shall have
power 10 make any contract as surety
/ OF 5Uaiuntor. acceptor, maker, or en-
dOrseT.
''As 90 USury and interest the legal rate
/ OF interest il fixed IT q per cent. and the
/ law provides shat $40 person being party
/ 10 "a contract Tor uSury shall be liable to
any penalty or forfeiture or criminal
! prosecution ia consequence thereof.
For negligence causing death in cases
! iu which the deceased would have been
! entitled 10 recover If not killed his repre-
I SentatiEtS may recover even though the
! death shall have been caused under cir
/ cumsiauces which constitute a felony, but
/ the recovery Is limited 10 Sagno.
The office oI the City Surveyor is made
p ruur-ycar term unless sooner removed
for cause.