The Washington times., 1901-12-09
TRYING TO AMEND
NEW DISTRICT CODE.
THB DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY.
Embnrrassment May Ensue Both to
LitiEarts and oGicchoidcrs IL
the Measure Is Adopted in
Its Present FERN.

In tie event that the new code o. laws
formulated for ;he government OF th,
District Of Columbia becomes operative
on January ! next, without the incorpora-
tlon Of certain amendments. it is believed
that the result viii be embarrassing to
utlgants as well as to a number of Office
holders.
According to the opinion OF many Of the
leading members of the local bar, the
tenure OF Office OF the two Judges who
preside in the branches of the Police
Court win be affected, so as 10 eause va
cancies in those positions. Other officers
in the District holding their positions
rader the old code viii also be affected.
Il is contended.
Code Amendments Prepared.
The embarrassment which this condition
OF affairs would produce has caused the
matter to be given great deal of sori-
Gus attention by the committee Of the
Washington Bar Association, which has
had charge Of the formulation Of the new
code. With a view o, obviating the Diff
culties suggested, numerous amendments
March last have been prepared and will
be submitted 70 the National Legislature
al it's present session. difficulty which,
however confronts the committee is the
possibility that Congress Will not take
any action in the premises before the
close OF the year. Only a few more work
ing DAYS remain before the Christmas
holidays viii begin, and serious doubt is
expressed if the matter VIII be taken up
for consideration.
In the event that It is found TO be i'm
possible to have the proposed amendments
Incorporated in the new code before Con-
greas edjourns for the holidays, IT is said
that a bill Will be offered proposing TO
postpone the time of the code going into
effect until January /, 1903. This, il is be-
lieyed by many. would be the best way out
OF the embarrassing position.
Jury TrinIs Affected.
One thing is certain. that, unless there
is special legislation on the matter. there
will be no trials by jury in either the
Circuit or Criminal branches Of the Su-
preme Court OF the District during the
month OF January, 1902; that is, unless the
time OF the code going into effect is post
poned.
This status will be brought about by
In relation to the drawing Of jurors The
present system by the terms Of the new
code has been abolished. and the com
mission empowered TO draw the juTies
will not come into existence until after
January ] next The law however, pro-
vides that the names Of the jurors shall
be drawn at least ten days before the
beginning OF the term. This provision
precludes the possibility OF an act being
Gone BY commission ten days before ii
comes into existence. An effort VIII be
made through special legislation, how
ever. authorizing that the jurors drawn
for the month OF December shall serve
also during the month Of January next.
In supreme nnd Criminal Courts.
The business before the several
branches OF tho Supreme Court OF the
pistrict viii. however. be so managed as
not TO allow any complications resulting
from n change OF the present mode Of pro-
cedurc Tc avoid such n contingency is
one Of the reasons for the postponemcnt
OF the trial before . jury OF the Issue in
the Utermehle contested will case. which
was set for hearing during the early part
Of the present month before Justice Bar
nard. There are other matters the con-
sideration OF which will take Up consid-
cradle time. and for like reasons have
been postponed.
In Criminal Court No. the only i'm
portRnt matter which will be taken up
for consideration before the Christmas
holidays is the trial OF William sn0wden.
Altar William johnson, colored. who is
charged with the murder OF Florence
Marshall colored. This case was set for
hearing today. but was postponed until