Evening star., 1901-03-06
BENCH AND BAR PLEASED
PASSAGE OF THE CODE DISCUSSED
AT THE COURT HOUSE.
Mr. Perry's Explanation of How the
Process of Securing the Codinca-
tiOn Was Started.

| Mr.. R. Ross Perry of the local bar in
| conversation with Star reporter this
afternoon, expressed himself as being very
| much gratified by reason of the enactment
| OF the code law. Mr.. Perry, in his ca
| pacfty as the chairman of the special COM
| mittee of the Board of Trade appointed 10
urge the passage of the code bill, as a
member of the legislative committee of the
bar Association and as member of the
| special joint committee of the local bench
and bar that examined and recommended
changes in the code as originally presented,
performed yeoman service in the work of
securing the passage of the bill.
The code movement began in this way"
explained Mr.. Perry. 1T was understood
by the Bar Association, by the Board of
| Trade and by the bench that Justice Cox
If requested to do so. would prepare code
of law. Both the Bar Association and the
Board OF Trade recognized this as an op-
pUrtunity that might never again be nre-
sented Justice Cox was born in the Dis
trict of Columbia, practiced law here for
more than quarter of century was pro-
moted to the bench and sat thereon with
distinction for a number of years. He thus
realized all the qualifications necessary for
the preparation of a competent code
Upon request, continued Mr.. Perry,
Justice Cox began his labors. The COM
pilation he had made after great and pains
taking labor was presented to the courts of
the District Of Columbia, to the Bar Assoc
citation and to the Board of Trade. There
nation might be made, the courts adjourn
ed for several weeks and committee of
the court and Of the Bar Association went
over the entire work. When this had been
done the result was introduced In Congress
as a bill. In order that there might be the
minutest examination into this result the
Dill was distributed widely among the bar
and again committees were appointed by
the court and bar to go over the work and
amend the code which had been introduced
AS a consequence of this work on the
part OF the bench the bar and the COM
munity, a second bill was introduced which
contained the original code as amended and
reamerded. 1t was hoped that this result
would be enacted without further change.
Indeed, but little change was made by
either the House of Representatives or the
Senate. The most important change was
that caused by the acceptance of Senator
Weilingtons amendment in respect of the
divorce laws. This amendment had to be
accepted under penalty of the failure of the
code. 1t may be a serious question whether
or not the amendment constitutes a step
backward.
the 1st of January, 1902 a period of nine
| months will elapse during which amend
| ments can be prepared. When the code
does go into effect it can be so amended as
should be in effect at the beginning of a
new century and at the capital of the ma
ton.
1T is very much to be desired" concluded
MT Perry, that our enterprising law pub
fishers prepare an annotated copy of the
code as passed. This would materially aid
In the work of necessary amendment"
Improvement and Reform.
1.-The code is an improvement and a re-
form all along the line" declared Justice
Cole of the Supreme Court of the Dist .ict
os Columbia to a Star reporter Every
boz no helped to secure the enactment Of
the law. from Justice Cox down. has done
magnificent work. The community is to he
congratulated. OF course, the code Is by
no means perfect, but it is q long stride in
the right direction. 1t Is, at least, q .irm
Ioundation and can be built up until it is
made what it should be-"