Evening star., 1902-02-26
THE SOLICITORS VIEWS
MIR. DUvALL'S OPINION ON PEND
ING LEGISLATION.
Discusses Bill to Provide for Temper
ary Detention Of Insane Persons
Other Matters.

Mr.. A. B. Duvall, the city solicitor, today
rendered three opinions to the District
Commissioners on subjects of varying i'm
portance, principally in connection with
measures pending in Congress. One of the
opinions is in regard to Senate bill 2699, ITO
provide for the temporary detention of per-
sons dangerously insane in the District of
Columbia"
This bill, in my judgment" says the So
licitor, provides appropriate proceedings
for the temporary detention Of the danger
ously insane, and at the same time safe
guards their rights. Some of its provis-
ions as to apprehension detention, etc. are
declaratory Of the course Of proceedings
now adopted without express authority of
law"
The solicitor makes a few suggestions as
regards to wording and adds that the bill
appears to be in good form and should re-
ceive the favorable recommendation of the
Commissioners.
Amendment to Code.
A second opinion was that rendered on
the communication of the recorder of deeds
requesting the District Commissioners to
report on an amendment desired by him to
section 553 Of the code of law for the Dis
trict. The proposed amendment consists OF
striking out the words eighteen hundred
and ninety-one' in the sixteenth line of the
section, and inserting in lieu thereof the
words nineteen hundred and one.
''The object of the amendment, explains
Mr.. Duvall. the solicitor, ''is to restore the
provision for the payment of the Janltor
and the sweeping and cleaning or the
office, which was made by the act Of March
3, 1899. l am not prepared to say whether
the section, If amended as desired. would
not affect the pay of any other clerk or en-
ploye i'm the office of the recorder of deeds;
and fherp fnra in INV il,IpT
better to remedy the matter by providing
specifically therefor, and instead of strik-
ing out the words eighteen hundred and
ninety-one in line 16. to amend 1t by in
serting after those words the following:
Except that there shall be paid to the
jantor three hundred and fifty dollars per
annum and to the charwoman one hundred
and fifty dollars per annum
II think that the office should have the
services Of such employees, and l do not
suppose that the phraseology of section 553
was adopted with the purpose of depriving
the office of such services"
With the exception Of these employees,
the officials and clerks in the office Of
recorder Of deeds are paid from the fees
collected In the office.
An Inquiry Answered.
The third opinion rendered today was in
regard to the communication of H. NJ.
Adams, requesting information as to
whether sections CO., Gil and coo to 632, in
elusive, Of the code Of law for the District,
are applicable to existing corporations
chartered outside of the District, but doing
business and having headquarters in the
District or whether the sections apply only
to corporal tions chartered in the District.
These sections" the solicitor says, "re-
late to the matter of election of officers, an
nual reports, transfer of stock and inspec-
ton of books. They constitute part Of sub
chapter Of chapter 1S relating to corpo-
FOR oI IN Fri rt 0f a.
and apparently have no relation to corpo-
rations chartered outside Of the District
of Columbia but doing business and having
headquarters In the District.