The Washington times., 1907-08-23
DISTRICT COUNSEL
SUBMITS REPORT
E. H. Thomas Recommends
That Real Estate Experts
Be Employed.
Tells of Cases in Courts
and Their Out
come.

Corporation Counsel T. H Thomas
TODAY forwarded 10 the Commissioners
the report Of the business of his office
for the hscal year ended June 80, $780,
The report Includes q number Of recon-
mendations intended TO increase the
efficiency of the office.
Tie report follows. in part:
During the last fiscal year twenty
four cases have been tried, settled or
disposed OF in the Supreme Court Of the
District Of Columbia, wherein the Dis
trict of Columbia was sued at law to re-
cover sums aggregating $2S7, Gas. 4. and
where final judgments have been en-
tered in the total sum of S13250, with
judgments not final now pending on
appeal in the Court OF Appeals amount
lug TO S15.S0o.
Twenty-six Cases Against District.
1.-THE pending law cases against the
District of Columbia are twenty-slX IN
number and aggregate in twenty-three
OF them, in the amount involved, Sz05,-
1855
''There have been ten equity cases
disposed Of in said court, all practically
In favor of the District and ten equity
cases are now pending therein.
FIFTEEN cases have been prepared.
argued. and submitted in the Court OF
Appeals, thirteen have been decided
ana two remain under consideration by
that court Four OF these cases ia
volved judgments against the Dlstiicl
10 recover Tor personal injuries one OF
them is undecided, and tnree were ue-
cided in favor Of the District
There were six justice Of the peace
cases brought by the District, ali o.
which resulted in judgments III ITS Ia
y1r. and twelve such cases we're Drougnt
against the District, IN seven OF which
judgment was rendered against L.
Fewer Lunacy Cases.
..Innacv proceedings were had IN S2l
cases as against 336 the preceding year
Bv~ due independent proceedings, Sl,40l
has beer. collected to reimburse the DIS
triet for the care and maintenance OF
the insane. and $500 less poundage OF !
Dcr. centum, proceeds OF a me on 9uus-
ment of contempt in the Equity Cour {
has been collected ana pald 10 li4S COZ
Recommendation Is made by Mr.
Thomas that he be given authority 10
employ real estate experts IN al con
domination proceedings. Commenting on
The need for such testimony 70 Obtain
q fair and impartial valuation OF prop
crty, the corporation counsel SAYS
Real Estate Experts Needed.
Testimony of real estate experts is
needed in behalf of the D4stTlct IN al
condemnation cases. and non-hostile
witnesses Of this character properly
rrerared to testify cannot be obtained
Tor the usual witness fees property
owners do not stand by when MADE par
ties TO such proceedings ana pefiLIL Va
nations or assessments Tor Dehellts %
he made without evidence from Such eN-
merits. Benefits must now be actnahy
shown and not arbitrarily assessed az
cording 20 the rules Of the geIler4l
statutes now in force, ana there Is
pressing need by the District OF Column
bia for the employment OF real estate
experts. -,
fhe corDoraticn counsel TO employ then
at rate not less than s. per day roi
each days service
A Recommendation is made that legis
Iation be enacted making a temporary
commitment sufficient to detain patients
from the District at the Government
Hospital for the Insane, where couF
proceedings have not been completed
during the first thirty days.
Asks Additional Force.
The Corporation Counsel has giver
more than 500 written opinions durini
the last year, and many consultation
with the Commissioners and heads o.
departments have been held. Manl
drafts Of bills were prepared by direc
ton Of the Commissioners. and a mum
Der OF bills were drawn up by direction
Of members of Congress. In conclu
sion the report reads:
The office has has but two trial law
yers. the Corporation Counsel and tax
first assistant 1t Is q noticeable fact
SO much so that IL has been publicly
referred to from the bench by the chic
Justice OF the Supreme COurt-that tn
Corporation Counsel does not have tn
necessary force to do the work assigned
to him At present the Office force IN
der the direction of the Corporation
Counsel assignable TO general work con
sists of the chief officer and two as
sistants, one Of the assistants is engage
exclusively in prosecuting general con
demnatfOn cases. and the special counse
for the condemnation OF minor streets /
limited by the acts Of Congress to tina
special work.
while il is believed that the work o
the office has been efficiently performed
this Office can serve the District bette
and save more money to the public
the CORPORATION Counsel Is given at leas
an additional hrSt-class stenogTaphel
and a law clerk. In the public interes
I earnestly urge upon the Commissioner
the necessity for these additions to tn
office force, and have the honor to ad
wise that this recommendation is no
eXtravagant, but is really less than tn