Evening star., 1901-12-17
OF LOCAL INTEREST
Measures introduced Of Benefit to
the District
FOR REGISTERING LAND TITLES
Amendments to the Code as to
the Juries.
ASSESSMENT OF BENEFITS

A bill was introduced in the Senate today
by Mr.. Mcmillan to provide for registering
and confirming titles to lands in the Dis
trict of Columbia. This bill provides for
the Introduction of the Australian or Tor
rens system Of land transfers in the Dis
trict. 1t provides that there be established
court of registration to have exclusive
original jurisdiction Of all applications for
the registration of titles to land within the
District, with power to hear and determine
all questions arising upon such applica-
tions. and also shall have Jurisdiction over
other questions that may come before it
under the act creating the court, reserving,
however. right Of appeal which is espe-
cially provided for in the bill.
This bill was drawn up by Mr. Thomas
P. Woodward of this city. In drafting the
bill Mr.. Woodward attempted to adopt the
law recently enacted in Massachusetts, with
such changes as to make it fit the condi-
t1ons existing in the District of Columbia.
IN the formulation of the Massachusetts,
law an effort was made to correct mis-
takes In land registration acts enforced in
other places.
Juries to Serve Out Their Terms.
The Senate today passed an amendment
to the District Of Columbia code of laws
which goes into effect on the 1st Of Janu-
airy. This amendment provides that all
grand and petit juries in the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia and all petit
juries in the Police Court of the District Of
Columbia which shall have been organized
or drawn under existing laws at the time
this code goes into effect shall serve out
their respective terms, and vacancies in
them shall be filled under existing laws
The Potomac Flats
Mr. Martin of Virginia has introduced In
the Senate bill relating to the suit insti-
tuted for the protection of the interests of
the United States in the Potomac river
flats. 1t provides that in the case Of the
United States against NJ. F. Morris and 9TH
ers, recently remanded by the Supreme
Court of the United States to the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia the lat
ter court is authorized and directed in as
certaining the values of the wharf struc-
lures and other improvements made by or
belonging to the defendants in that case
Wnlch are In or over the waters of the Po-
tomac river south of Water street, in which
the defendants claim riparian rights, to
also IN the same manner ascertain and de-
termine the values of the portions of such
wharf structures and other improvements
which are, upon the adjoining land of the
United States, but not in or over the waters
of the Potomac, and they are to determine
determined
justly payable.
Mr.. Martin has also introduced in the
Senate bill to authorize the Supreme
Court of the District Of Columbia to de-
cree the sale or lease Of real estate in GER
tain cases. 1t relates to life estates and
their management.
For a Convention Building.
bill to provide for the construction of a
building for exhibition and assembly pur-
poses in the District was introduced in the
Senate today by Mr.. Mcmillan, chairman of
the Senate committee on the District of
Columbia This bill is in response to an ur-
gent appeal that has frequently been made
for building in which exhibitions may be
held and IN which assemblies Of a semi
public nature may be convened.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Mcmillan to-
day provides for an appropriation of $780,
600 to carry it out. This amount is for the
purchase of a site and the construction of
a building suitable for conventions exhibit
tions, assemblies. and concerts. 1t is pro-
Vided that this money is to be expended un-
der the direction of the President Of the
United States. The bill was referred to the
Senate committee on public buildings and
grounds.
To Extend 18th Street.
Mr.. Mcmillan today introduced in the
Senate a bill to extend 18th street to it's
junction with the north line of the Saul
estate or in the judgment of the Commits
sioners TO the northern terminus Of that
street.
Street Extension Assessments.
Mr.. Platt of New York today. introduced
in the Senate a bill to relieve property
owners from the assessments laid for bene-
fits for the extension of Rhode Island ave-
nue., New Hampshire and Sherman avenues,
S and 11th streets. The bill makes all the
assessments for benefits of these avenues
and streets chargeable to the District OF
Columbia instead of one-half as provided
for In the acts under which they were
made.
To Regulate the Gas Works.
Representative Jenkins today introduced
a bill in the House amending in a minor
matter the regulation of the gas works in
the District of Columbia. The bill is the
same as one introduced In the last Con-