Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-09
CODE AMENDMENTS
Chamber of Commerce Com
mittee Reports.
DOZEN CHANGES PROPOSED
One Relates to Suits Against Non
Residents of District.
PAPERS SHOULD BE SERVED
Suggested That Courts Have Great
er Leeway in Sale Of Infants
Real Estate.
DOZEN CHANGES PROPOSED
PAPERS SHOULD BE SERVED

/
of the Chamber of Commerce last night
the principal business of the evening
being the explanation of certain proposed
| changes In the code of law of the Dis
trict. The law and legislation committee
had undertaken to delve into the sup
posed defects in the code and after many
weeks of study offered a dozen changes
| The next step will be the drafting of a
| bill to incorporate the amendments and
communication with the Senate and
House committees on the District.
| The more important changes favored
were explained by Charles w. Clagett,
| chairman Of the subcommittee having the
| matter in hand.
| When an appeal is to be taken in liti-
cation where $1,000 or more is involved
| it should be taken within sixty days it
| is thought. The lawyers said this would
| hasten the end of legal battles instead of
having appeal cases drag out for several
years.
| In the matter of the sale of infants
real estate, it is proposed to give the
courts greater leeway in ordering the
sale of property of this kind. SO that a
young man or woman can get his or her
property sold and realize on it more
quickly than at present.
barbed arrow was launched in the
direction of all nonresident defendants.
1t is proposed to 90 away with the GUS
tom of publishing specifications of their
faults In the newspapers. At present, this
| is the only way of starting suit against
any one out of town. Mr.. Clagetts COM
mittee believes that the best way is to
serve papers on them--"a copy of the re-
citaf' the legal phrase has it-and give
the out-of-townsman forty days in which
to get his defense prepared.
Estates of Minors.
The Equity Court will be given jurisdic-
ton over the estates of minors, if the
law be amended proposed.
At present when thief gets away
with exactly $50 no one knows whether
he is guilty of grand larceny or petit
larceny. The law says that person
stealing less than $50 Is small crook
and one who steals more than that is "a
big crook, but the man who takes eX-
actly $50 has no standing, it is said. Mr..
Clagett proposed to settle the matter by
making petit larceny cover $50 and less.
Other amendments cover a provision to
exempt certain portions of estates from
debt, provide sentences In the Police
Court so that judges can send prison
ers either to the Jail or workhouSe at
their discretion, and suggest Slight
change in the law covering the legal
rate of interest.
A vote of thanks was rendered to Mr.
Clagett and his committee.
the law and legislation committee,
through A. l.. Sinclair. reported unfavor-
ably on the Johnston bill for the OBJ
servance OF Sunday.
Park Matters Discussed.
Several reports were made in reference
to the parking system. The committee
studying the matter is of the opinion
that the Commissioners idea of straight
enine ont the hounda rieS Of f-roaE
Park is a good one. They also want
parks and playground sites for every
public school and recommended that pro-
vision be made in every instance, where
school site is chosen, for plenty of
breathing space for the children. Will
liam z. Richards read report favoring
the Senate park commissions PROPOSE
lions.
The Anacostia flats committee advo-
Gated the reclamation of the flats and
recC commended that an appropriation for
the purpose be asked for at this session
of Congress.
The school committee, through 2. NJ
Browne, chairman, reported in favor of
the teachers retirement fund and also
recommended that the needs of the
schools be provided for by Congress by
including the figures in the items of ex-
traordinary Improvement.
Shannon Carries Point.
William f. Shannon. who for several
months has been fighting to get through
the chamber a resolution that will start
in motion the machinery by which the
citizens associations can get together on
matters of interest to the entire city,
was successful last night. AS a result a
committee Of fifteen will be appointed
to find the best way of bringing this
about.
! Changes in the constitution which have
been discussed by the members for some
time were adopted last night. The presi-
dent of the chamber now becomes "A mem
Der of the executive committee A slight
change was made i'll the requirements
as to the admission of members
| President GUIDE presided over the meet
ing for only few minutes, after which
he gave way to Charles j. Bell on ac-
count Of hoarseness.