The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-11
Citizens Directing to Delay
In Starting New Ar
rangement.
TWO REASONS GIVEN
FOR DISAPPOINTMENT
Real Estate Men With Suits Wait
ing Claim That Excuses Are
insufficient.

Vigorous protests are being registered
by citizens in all parts of the District
against the unusual delay fR getting in
motion the legal machinery of the new
Municipal Court, which includes the
jurisdictions of the present six justices
of the peace.
This court was established by act
OF Congress near the close of last sea-
son. and 1t has as it's object the cN1sol-
idation Of these justices courts so that
their cases may be handled quickly and
inexpensively.
The law establishing the new court
became effective February II. when
President Roosevelt signed the IAN, but
no cases have since been tried under
the new arrangement
The justices say the DELAY is he TO
TWO reasons: First. because the A0ney
with which to begin the work dill not
become available until the President
slgneG the District appropriation bill
on March 3; and, second, because the
building on John Marshall place where
the Municipal Court will make its fu-
ture home is not ready for OCCUPANCY.
This building, the former residence of
Senator Morgan, will probably not be
ready for another week.
Many dissatisfied.
The explanation, however, is not sat
isfactors' to the large number of land
lords and property owners who are
eager 70 have settled numerous pro-
posed suits against delinquent tenants.
They take the ground that the justices
should while waiting for the repairs
on the building in John Marshall Mace
10 be completed, be trying those suits
that are ready for docket. Such action
&c
interest OF the public generally. but
would avoid overcrowding the docket
of the new court
B. z. Saul, real estate broker. of Sew
enth and L streets northwest. is one
who complains against what he saws
seems TO be unreasonable DELAY in put-
ting the machinery of the new court
in motion. He does not believe anv
reasonable excuse exists, but contends
that some provision should have been
maze by the six justices to carry on the
cases which real estate men and prop-
erty owners are so anxious To- have
settled. Mr.. Saul says:
1 nave been informed that the ms
tices hold that fees in suits coming I'M
Der their Jurisdiction cannot be legally
collected until the clerk of tba r31,pf
cipal Court has qualified. In NV opin-
ION, however, the justices themselves
could collect these fees, IL that is ali
that prevents them from holding court
Ihis delay has caused me- ard a good
many other real estate men OF NV ac-
Quaintance, considerable ANNOYANCE be-
cause Of the numerous proposed suits
that are being held UP. There are be-
tween twenty and thirty of these suits
waiting in my office TO be filed, and il
rs probable that before the Municipal
Court does open there will be several
more Other business men are in the
same fix, and I am sure all Of US would
q cot 1nff ~ /, s- ~4ar-
Others Complaining.
other real estate men and property
owners who have suits similar to be filed
are Floyd z. Davis, a real estate broker.
} OF Seventh and E streets southwest:
John Quinn, real estate broker, of Az
Seventh street southwest, and James F.
Shea, real estate broker. OF 64S Louisi-
ana avenue. The complaints Of Mr..
Saul and Mr.. Shea were aired at a
meeting of the Chamber of Commerce
on Monday night, when II was suggest
ed that the justices, If they were pre-
vented from holding court only for the
reason that they had no quarters. use
the rooms Of the Chamber for that
purpose until the building on John Mar
shall place was in readiness.
Justice Terrill, Of the Sixth district,
said TO-DAY that he did not think ii rea-
sonable for the justices TO be expected
10 begin suits until the equipment of
the new court was ready.
There was naturally some little de-
lay" he said, because the money to
put the new court in operation did not
become available until the District ap-
preparation bill was signed on March
2. although the law establishing the
court became effective on February IT.
IT may be well to explain also that
the dockets OF the justices are clear
Of cases. because the clerk OF the court,
Mr. Aukam. who assigns the suits with
up 20 this time, as far as 7 am in
formed