The Washington times., 1902-05-26
Measure May Monopolize
Attention of That
Body Today.
TO CORRECT MANY DEFECTS
No Effort Will Be Made at Present to
Push Forward the Divorce Amend
ment - Present Smoke Law to Be
Considered.

In case the Senate bill to amend the
District code Is called up in the House
today it is probable that the District
of Columbia may monopolize the atten-
tion Of that body for the greater portion
OF the day. Under the rules the Dis
trict has the right of way today ow
ing to the protracted discussion of the
gas consolidation bill two weeks ago.
considerable District business which has
been on the calendar for several weeks
d number of measures TO be disposed of
The code bill is intended TO cover a
number of gross and minor defects in
tho laws of the District Of Columbia
which went into effect on January /.
Even with the long list of amendments
which the measure provides. the code,
In the opinion .. great many persons.
viii be far from perfect instrument.
and will fall short OF meeting the opin-
ions OF many able lawyers.
The District Committee has held a
number of hearings on the bill and
some amendments have been added
to the Senate amendments, and the
measure reported by Mr. Jenkins
the chairman of the subcommittee
of the District Committee. is re-
gsrded as the best thlt can be
gotten through the House al this time.
What it will do, however, its advocates
believe, is 10 correct n number of errors
in the present instrument.
number OF its provisions will doubt
less require explanation and these. to-
H.. of hA
consume considerable time. so that
there is not much prospect OF disposing
OF a great deal of other business by
the House If the bill is taken up. as Mr..
jenkins expects it will be.
The amendment makes no change in
the divorce law. which, under the code
as IL now stands, recognizes but one
cause for severance Of marriage ties.
The original bill to amend the code pro-
posed TO re-enact the old divorce law.
but this section was stricken out in
the Senate committee. II was considered
best not TO endanger the passage OF
other amendments by including this one.
ipon which there would probably be con-
siderable division OF sentiment.
A large number OF leading lawyers .
believe that the old law should be
-e-enacted. hut It was considered best .
o allow the pending amendments TO go .
through. and later have introduced a
separate bill relating to divorce alone.
Next in Importance to the code bill .
IS the one to amend the smoke act.
The present smoke law has resulted in Il
great deal OF annoyance to the owners
If large buildings in that it practically
'eguires them. TO do that which they
ire unable to do.
The amendment proposes that the
'ommi ssioners shall designate the kind
ii a smoke consumer that shall be
lsed. end with this provision the owners
IF buildings are willing to comply.
Among the other bills on The calen-
lar is enc to amend the act to regulate
he height OF buildings in the District;
mother TO tax certain institutions for
-ater mains and special improvements:
ne TO provide for the removal Of Ger
ain overhead wires and the construction
Z coniuits; one relative to the control
# dogs. and an act to authorize the
to refund certain license
axes.