Evening star., 1901-03-21
Finish the COdificatiOn.

Progressive Washingtonians are highly
eratified that the bill codifying the general
laws in force in the District was enacted
into law at the recent session of Congress
They feel that long step forward has
been taken by the community in thus plac-
ing it's statutes upon a systematic basis.
after many years of uncertainty, intricacy
and inconsistency. If the proposed code
had been rejected by Congress on this oc-
casion there would probably have been no
codification of the District laws for an in
definite period.
But these reflections over the success ac-
cOmplished do not negative the fact that
the work of codification, far from being
finished, was only begun by the passage
Of the pending bill There yet remains a
large and important task to be performed
in the codification of the municipal laws
which were not included in the enactment
Of the other day. 1t will be remembered
that Judge Cox compiled the proposed code
in two parts, one embracing the general
laws in force In the District, the other re-
lating to the municipal government of the
District. When the matter was taken un-
der advisement by the Bar Association it
was found that the proposed codification
Of the municipal laws involved So many
points in dispute that 1t would be unwise
10 press it for legislation along with the
1irst part, regarded as more important than
the second. Consequently the code was
divided and the first part alone was put
into the form of a bill before Congress-
leaving the second part for later consider
alton.
1t was, therefore the first part which be-
came law recently. Part two remains to
he enacted in the same manner and this
work must be finished before the capital
viii enjoy a thoroughly comprehensive
harmonious system of laws and regula-
tions. As to the second part, Judge Cox
III his preface to the code, said:
My task as to this was confined almost
entirely to the mere compilation of existing
laws great many laws have been passed
"n the subjects embraced in this part
Some We're difficult to understand, some
repetItionS of previous laws, some difficult
TO reconcile and many of them full of the
most uninteresting details. 1t has in
NolVed much labor to give them the form
oi systematic code"
This municipal code, thus prepared. will
furnish the foundation for a persistent re-
NfTal of the subject next winter Its scope
Is clearly indicated by Judge Cox's remark.
II affects the organization of the munich
PAL government, the powers of the Com
miSsloners, the regulation of streets har-
h"rs. institutions, certain business enter
IrlSeS, trades affecting the public health
professions, police and fire departments
buildings and the manifold items of local
public business Since these laws were
lhds codified many suggestions have been
made by those specially versed in District
administration, and before the municipal
code Is presented bill it will doubtless
undergo many changes. In this process
as IN that of perfecting the general code
the policy should be adopted of yielding
here and there on the small items of differ
ence TO insure the enactment of the gem
erai proposition. A full and reliable index
at the code already enacted is also essen
tai. The time has not arrived for the
c"de committees of the Board of Trade
and Bar Association to disband