Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-06
The Successful Code Campaign.

The final enactment Of a code of laws for
the District accomplished in the closing
hours of the Fifty-sixth Congress, was the
elimination Of labor of six years on the
part Of The Star, the Board of Trade, Judge
Cox the Bar Association, the Commission
ers and various unorganized citizens, aid
ed intelligently and effectively by members
of both Houses OF Congress The task
has been beset with difficulties and success
was achieved with a narrow margin. The
animating spirit OF the enterprise, how
ever, was indomitable 1t had conquered
many obstacles already. 1t had aroused
public interest in what may at first have
seemed to the lay mind an unimportant
abstract proposition. 1t had kept the pro-
teCt alive while even more popularity at
tractive measures were being pigeOnholed.
The work stands as a credit mark to the
industry and perseverance Of It's adyo-
Gates as we'll as a monument to the ability
and public spirit OF Judge Cox, by whom
the original codihcatlon was performed
The necessity for a code was apparent to
the legal minds of the District soon f.fter
Its organization. but a series of efforts. be-
ginning with that of Judge Cranch in the
city's early history. all resulted III failure,
and the process of patching the laws,
adapting those of other states to local con-
ditions and harmonizing inharmonious stat
utes and principles was thus started. to
continue until the recent years of fairly
systematic legislation for the national CAPT
tai All the early endeavors to institute
reform went only to the length Of 4 tardy
compilation. in 1874. of the revised stat
utes" which served to accentuate the alb
surdities of the local legal system. In 1887
The Star repeatedly called pointed atten-
ton to the need for a code, and began an
agitation which for time ELECTED only
feeble popular response Its unremitting
efforts led 10 second compilation Of the
statutes. authorized by Congress in 1889
and published in 1894. which. by it's revela-
ton of the inadequacies of the iocal laws,
afforded an effective stepping stone to the
code.
The organized campaign to secure a code
was begun at a public meeting Of the Board
OF Trade in 1898, when the matter was fully
debated and the necessities exposed. A
committee was appointed to take charge of
the matter, and on It's recommendation
Judge Cox was invited to prepare a code,
with the cooperation OF the Bar Associa-
ton Judge Cox was engaged for three
years on this labor of love, in the leisure
left from his judicial tasks, and finally sub
mitted the code to the Board of Trade in
October, 1898 1t was then thoroughly con-
sdered and revised by the Bar Association.
the District courts taking a prolonged and
unusual recess to permit study of the
subject by both bench and bar. 1t was in
PRODUCED In the Senate at the close of the
session in 1892 and its consideration pro-
ceeded during the summer elapsing before
the Fifty-sixth Congress convened. The
legislative campaign was started immedi-
ately after Congress assembled and the
code was passed by the House last year.
This winter was devoted to its passage
through the Senate. under what difficulties
and with what final success the whole Dis
trict now knows.
Thus thanks to the determined and intel
ligent efforts of the friends of the CODE it
has become law practically in the course of
one Congress. an achievement of first order
In view of the magnitude of the work and
the benefits certain to be derived by the
whole community from its operations. For
the first time in its history the national
capital has a consistent, modern, practical
system Of general laws. 1t has cast aside
at length the statutory clothing described
b. the president of the Board of Trade in a
speech at a reception two years ago, which
with It's yarlegated materials displays
JoSephS coat OF many cOIOrs and in dam
aged condition and antique cut suggests
Rio Van Wrinkles costume just after MS
awakening 1t mas dJnned trim. tasteful
durable suit, capable of giving good service
IN ali weatners ana of being passed I'M
spoiled 10 the next generation, with prob
aoly Jew alterations demanded by the
changing Of styIes. the capital is now de-
Gently eau IN statutory clothing for the first
time since It's DIrIn.