Evening star., 1915-12-08

| Dry goods, boots aud shoes. 81 ,23S. 30
| Vehicles, including motor driven. 80 1855. 6s
Drugs. chemicals hospital biolosi.
| cal and laboratory supplies. q, 5,s91 .0l
Horses ....................,.. l5 5OO. 90
| Postage ..-...................... 2.22S, CT
| Sad'llcry ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. IL. 1919. ~
| Transportation Observation-Disclosures. 1890. 20
Telephone service ...........--. 80 II
| Ice Observation-Disclosures. 1853. -
| Laundry I.3I 81
= Miscellaneous. Observation-Disclosures. 24.5S6. u
Total OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 81 ,555 922 IS
Inventory at close of business June
80. 1915. discloses that the District at
that time had stock of construction ma
terials in the various property yards
amounting to $S3,164.07.
CORPORATION COUNSEL.
In the Supreme Court of the United
States one case appealed by the Dis
trict of Columbia was remanded for
further proceedings In accordance with
the contention with the District. one
appeal was dismissed by order Of the
plaintiffs attorney, and two cases are
There pending.
The Court of Appeals of this District
i decided 10 cases favorably to the Dis
trict of Columbia, 8 adversely, l was
dismissed and are there pending.
In the supreme Court of the District
of Columbia IL judgments were ren-
dered i'll favor of the District of Co
lumbia, l. were adverse, 90 are pend-
ling, cases were dismissed and coin
promises entered. In the equity branch
! case was decided in favor Of the
Commissioners, adverse. were dis
missed, II cases arc pending and >
wore discontinued. Four cases in
volving questions concerning the pub
lie utilities commission are there pend
ing. In the District Court 10 verdicts
of condemnation were confirmed. 2
cases were dismissed and IL cases are
there pending. Eight probate and seven
lunacy cases other than commitments
We're handled during the year. One
habeas corpus case was decided IA
vorably to the District and l is pend
ing. The claim of the District against
the estate of n bankrupt was allowed
in 1 case Two appeals from judgments
rendered in the Municipal Court were
decided in favor of the District. 1 was
compromised and 6 are pending. In
the Lunacy Court 1893 cases were dis
posed of.
In the Municipal Court . cases were
decided in favor of the District,
were decided adversely. are pending,
- were removed to the Supreme Court
by writ of certiorari and l was COM
promised.
I'm the Police Court 23,5O4 ,informa-
tions were filed against offenders. and
fines aggregating ss3.9l5.51 were col
lected.
In the Juvenile Court of this Dis
trict l,7s2 iRformations were filed. and
collections in the sum of S42,30759
were made in behalf of deserted fam
lilies.
The general office work consisted of
the approval Of 473 bonds. go con-
tracts, the preparation and approval Of
33o tax deeds. the rendition of 347
written opinions. SO damage claims
were passed upon, and acts of Con-
gress were also passed upon.
| During the last term of the circuit
courts of this District q jury cases
were tried. 4 of witch resulted in the
jury returning verdict in favor of
the District Of Columbia One case in
ivolving false arrest resulted in
nominal verdict of 81 against the de-
/ fendant officer. and in one case the
plaintiff was given l cent nominal dam
ages by the jury. In three cases the
jury returned d verdict for the de-
fendant by direction of the court, in
one case it was unable to agree, and in
one case the court ordered a new trial
after verdict.
The case of Flagg VS.. the District of
Columbia was remanded to the Supreme
Court of the District OF Columbia for
new trial. The first trial of this
District for $4,000. At the second
trial the jury returned verdict in
ravor OF the District of Columbia, from
which no appeal was taken.
Ihe right OF the Commissioners to
regulate Sunday amusements was uues-
Newman ct al. The Court of Appeals
sustained the right of the Commission
ers 10 regulate these amusements
| In the case Of Lynchburs Investment
Corporation ct al VS.. Commissioners
ct al. the Court of Appeals held that
the publication of notice of the con-
aeinhation @ OF property to be sufficient in
law should be published daily for
twenty days preceding action by
the court in three daily news.
papers published in the District.
heretofore it had been customary to
publish this notice for about five days.
a writ of certiorari was obtained from
the Supreme Court of the United
states, which court reversed the de-
cision OF the lower court in this re-
spect. and the District was thus re-
iieved from the situation fraught with
great danger, expense and delay
In cases involving the condemna ton
gested condition of the local courts
prevented much progress. 1t is ex-
pected that the cases accumulated will
De disposed of during the coming
The law regulating the business of
| loaning money has been vigorously en-
forced. and this community is now
practically free from the operations of
| loan sharks" Efforts have been made
to prosecute money lenders engaged in
business outside Of the District, but
the courts have held that they are not
within the provisions of our loan
The strict enforcement of the loan
shark law has worked a great hard
| ship upon many needy persons. There
Is no place within the District to which
such people may apply for a small
! loan. 1t is recommended that the pres
ent law be amended SO as to provide.
under proper regulation. for the carry
| ing on of small loan businesses.
l. 1t is recommended that Congress
enact a law which will compel claim
ants for damages against the District
| occasioned by the alleged negligence
OF the District to report the time. place
| and circumstances of such negligence
within reasonable time thereafter,
| and that failure to SO report shall
constitute a bar to the right of re-
! covery.
| counsel are very much underpaid. but
| the inadequacy of their compensation
| has in nowise diminished the integrity
and efficiency Of their services.
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE.
! This department, organized in 1902,
has supervision over all matters per-
tanning to insurance in the District of
Columbia. subject only to the general
supervision of the board of Commits
sioners.
There have been a few minor changes
in the insurance laws since 1902, but
| there is urgent need for further amend
| ments prominent among which is the
| naod Of coma prOVfsiO0 for tho