Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-19
The Question That Was Raised.

The remaining amendment namely the
amendment to section 1889, raises the oues-
ton which was referred to me Said sec
ton as 1t stood was in the following words:
When Negotiable Instrument is Pava
Delivery negotiable instrument is paw
able at the time fixed therein, without
grace When the day of maturity falls on
Sunday or holiday the instrument is pay
able on the next succeeding business day
instruments falling due on Saturday are TO
De presented for payment on the next sue
ceeding business day except that instru-
ments payable on demand may at the op-
ton of the holder, be presented for pay
ment before II o'clock noon on Saturday
when that entire day is not holiday. The
toiiowing days in each year. namely. the
lst day OF January. commonly called New
Year day; the 22d day of February known
as Washington's birthday; the 4th of July;
the 3Oth day of May commonly called
DECORATION day; the first Monday In Sep
tember, known as labor's holiday; the 25th
day OF December. commonly called Christ
mas day; every Saturday after - o'clock
noon; any day appointed or recommended
by the President of the United States as
day Of public fasting or thanksgiving and
the day of the Inauguration of the Presi-
dent, In every fourth year, shall be holt
days In the District within the meaning Of
this section. Whenever any day set apart
as legal holiday shall fall on Sunday then
shall be a holiday. and in such cases and
In all cases In which a Sunday and holi-
day Shall fall on successive days all COM
mercial paper falling due on any of said
days SHALL for all purposes of presenting
for payment or acceptance, be deemed to
mature and be presentable for payment or
acceptance on the next secular or business
day succeeding"
By the amendment the words within the
meaning of this section were stricken out
ha r.
poses" were inserted at the end of the
fourth paragraph SO that the fourth para
graph now reads, 1.-The following days in
each year, namely. the LIST day of Janu,
ary," etc. every Saturday after II
o'clock noon shall be holidays in the Dis
trict for all purposes
The first and second paragraphs of said
section 1889 were a reproduction OF section
S5 of said act Of Congress relating to nego-
table instruments.
The two remaining paragraphs are new
matter-that is to say, the said act OF Con
gress referred generally to holidays, while
the code specifically enumerated the holl-
days.
History Of Congressional Legislation.
The history Of congressional legislation
upon the subject Of holidays In the Dis
trict of Columbia is as follows:
On June %, 1870 06 Stat, 1883, an act
was passed making certain days holidays
within the District; the provisions Of said
act were carried into the Revised Statutes
of the United States relating to the Dis
trict of Columbia and constituted sectlon
993, which reads: an. } --
The following days. namely: the lst Gay
Of January, commonly called New Year
day; the Fourth day Of Iyiy; the 25th day OF
December, commonly called Christmas day,
and any day appointed orr recommended by
the President Of the United States as a day
OF public fast or Thanksgiving, snail pc
holidays within the DISTRICT and shall, for
all purposes Of presentipg for payment or
acceptance. for the maturity and protest,
and giving notice of the dishonor OF bills or
exchange, bank checks and promissory
notes, or other negotiable commercial pa
day OF the week. commonly falled Sunday;
and all notes, drafts checks, or other COM
merclaf or negotiable paper falling due or
maturing on either Of said holidays shall
be deemed as having 1hatunad on the day
previous"
On January 81. 1870 co Stat. 277), said
section 1913, r. S. D. c., was amended by
adoing to the days therein declared to be
holidays within the District of Columbia
the I'd day of February, and such day shall
said section"
On December 20, 1881 CO Stat, u, said
section 1913 was amended by providing:
Ihat whenever any day set apart as a
regal holiday within the District Of Column
ola snail fall on the first day of the week,
event the day next succeeding shall be .
monday within the District of Columbia,
anu snail Tor all purposes of presenting Tor
psyment or acceptance, for the maturity
anu anu protest and giving notice OF the DIS
non"r OF bills of exchange, bank checks
and promissory notes or other negotiable or
commercial paper, be treated and consid-
ecu as is the first day Of the week, COM