The Washington times., 1902-05-27
Amendment Passed Re-
ducing Number Of JUS
tees of the Peace.
MIR. CANN0N'S SURPRISE
If Adopted by Senate VIII Legislate
Six Out Of ofice-Bill Granting Tele
phone Company Right to Lay Con-
duits Passed.


The House yesterday devoted two and
one-half hours to the consideration OF
the bill to amend the District code. The
reading Of the measure had not been
concluded at O'Clock. and accordingly
q recess was taken until II o'clock this
morning, nhcG the code bill will again
be taken up and passed. SO much time
was consumed yesterday in debate upon
the bill TO remove overhead telephone
wires and authorize the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company to con-
struct conduits that the code bill was
delayed and IT was found impossible TO
conclude with it before the hour for
adjournment.
The House District Committee struck
out all OF the Senate amendments to
the code except the enacting clause, and
substituted its own amendments. and
IL was this measure which was before
the House yesterday. The most impor-
tant action taken in connection with tho
kill was the amendment 10 section 3 Of
the code which provides for. the ap-
pointment of ten justices of the peace
in and for the District of Columbia.
This provision was not changed i'll the
Senate bill or the House bill. but when
section was read yesterday in the
House for the purpose of minor
amendment, Representative Cannon
tRep.. Ill) offered an entirely new sec
tion for section 3, reducing the number
OF justices of the peace to four, and
comforting upon the President the right
TO appoint without the advice and con-
sent OF the Senate. Mr.. Jenkins. who
was in charge of the bill. said that ii
had been his opinion that FIVE justices
were sufficient, but that when the code
was drafted it was insisted that ten
were needed. Mr.. Cannon's amendment
was, however, adopted without di-
vision. This action. if it is ratified by
the Senate, will legislate out of Office six
OF the ten justices of the peace who. un-
der the code, draw each $1,000 a year
and an allowance for office rent and
stationery. This action oceasioned con-
siderable surprise, as it was not ex-
pected that such an amendment would
be presented.
Trials by jury.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Ray
CRep., Y. " was also adopted after
some discussion repeating section {
of the District code. This provision is
not in the Senate amendment or the
House amendment to the code. The
as originally in the House
bill proposed TO abolish trial by jury 1
before justices OF the peace. Mr.. Ray /
declared that to do this would be an
outrage Mr. jenkins declared that the 4
provision was favored by the District I
Commissioners. and that il deprived no
man of any right. as cases where trial |
by jury was desired could be taken into
Police Court.
Have the people no rights ?'' exclaimed |
Mr. Ray SHOULD we abolish trial by
Jury simply because the Commissioners 4
OF the District of Columbia recommend |
it," Mr.. Ray characterized the provi- |
sion as unjust, wholly wrong, inadvisa- |
lie, violation of the principles OF our
government, and violation OF the liber-
ties OF the people OF the District of
Columbia.
Mr.. Clark CDcm., MOI asked what .
the code provided for ten justices OF the !
peace for, II no Jury trials could be |
held before them.
"why that is done in order that they
may draw their $1,000 from the Govern
ment easier: in order that they may be
paid salary without having anything
TO do
Mr.. jenkins said that the provision
vas favored by the entire bar, and that
Il was now a part OF the District code
Mr.. Rays amendment abolishlng sec
tion and restoring trial by jury
vas. however, carried BY a large major
ty.
Register of Wills Salary.
several other minor amendments were
made TO the bin which consumed con-
time.
When the amendments relating 10 the
,fiice OF the Register of Wills were
cached, Mr. Babcock offered an amend
nent fixing the salary OF the Register at
4 600 a year. Mr. Cowherd asked If that
sss the present salary. Mr.. Babcock said
hat ihe Registers present salary is
3 500 and that the purpose OF the
was to equalize the Regis
er's salary with that OF the Recorder
Il Deeds. AS a matter OF right. he said,
he Register By reason OF the fact that
IL duties are more arduGus should re-
eive larger salary than the Recorder. /
Or. Cowherd suggested that then it I
Tould be well 10 equalize from the other
nd and curtail the salary Of the Re
order. Mr.. BabCock's amendment was ,
ost.
The bill was still under consideration
Fhen the House took recess until IL
'clock this morning.
Under the rules yesterday was Dis
rict day In the House, and after
lumber Of private pension bills left over
rom Friday were disposed Of. Chairman
,hbcork called up the bill providing for
be removal Of overhead wires.
The bill provoked lengthy discussion