Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-03
THOMAS SUBMITS HIS REPORT
COUNSEL Elk.
PLAINS WORK OF PAST YEAR.
Points Out Status Of the Legal Dc.
partment Of the District
Of Columbia.

The most important work by his once
during the past year. according 70 the
annual report submitted to the Commits
sioners today by Edward III. Thomas. cor
poration counsel was in connection with
the litigation growing out OF the appli-.
cation of the Georgetown Gas Light Com
pany and the Washington Gas Light
Company 10 have valuation made by tho
Supreme Court OF the District OF their re-
spective plants. under act of Congress.
with the view OF increasing their capital
stock.
These proceedings" Mr.. Thomas says.
have been annuled on the application OF
the Commissioners to the Court OF APP
peals for writ Of prohibition. which that
court issued to the Supreme Court of the
District. An appeal has been taken by
the Washington Gas Light Company to
the Supreme Court OF the United States.
Writ Of Prohibition.
THE granting of the writ OF prohibition
in the case mentioned Is the first in
stance. SO far as I know, where the writ
of prohibition has been granted by the
local courts. and there appears to be only
three reported instances where It has
been granted by the Supreme Court OF
the United States"
1t is explained to the Commissioners
that an abundance of testimony WAS
taken in the cases, and il was necessary
to employ stenOgraphers and additional
clerks He uses this as a. argument for
an additional clerk in the office.
Hundreds OF opinions were rendered by
request OF the various departments Of tho
District, 1t is explained. and numerous
bills introduced in Congress were pre-
pared or examined. The corporation coun.
sci also devotes considerable time 70 Dis
trict legislation before the D1stract COM
mi:tee OF the House by direction OF the
chairman OF that committee.
Discussion Of Litigation.
Regarding litigation concerning the Dis
trict. both disposed OF and pending at the
close Of the fiscal year. the report sets
forth:
I'm the Supreme Court OF tho District
Of Columbia twenty-four suits It law
wherein, as damages or due By contract.
aggregated about $685. 80 resulted In
judgments aggregating -$9SSa70 and
twenty-one suits at law in that court
wherein the amount claimed against tbs
pending. The District brought . number
of suits at law to collect personal taxes
and defended various other suits ct law
and in equity. -...,., >
twenty-five condemnation suits for sxa
tension of streets were brought and twenf
ty-three were disposed OF. resulting td
awards OF damages OF Sal .06276 and Asl
sessments OF benefits OF sl20.927.R
Condemnation Suits.
Proceedings were had In six .gsueea1
condemnation suits for rights OF way fof
sewers sites for schoolhouses. etc. I'd
which the awards amounted to el2.l6oAn-
Twelve cases OF alley coudemnattonA
resulted in awards OF $17.76l-oo and -.
sessments OF $21. O65.75.
There were sixteen suits BROUGHT
against the District OF Columbia and ono
brought by the District.
THE number of lunacy petitions filed
was 312, as against 81 and $50 for the
two previous fiscal years.
There are three cases pending in the
Supreme Court OF the United States, one
taken there by the District and the re-
mainder on appeal and error assigned by
opponents"