Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-27
D. c. COURTHOUSE
IS REDED|CATED
WITH ceremony
Chief Justice Mccoy Con-
ducts Elaborate Program
of Exercises.
JUSTICE w. P. STAFFORD
is PRINCIPAL SPEAKER
Building Which Was Used for
Nearly a Century Was Recently
Thoroughly Reconstructed.
ny THOS. M. HARvE.y ~
BY THOs. M. HARVEY.

Washington's temple of justice-the
reconstructed courthouse at the head
of John Marshall place-the corner
stone Of which was laid a century ago,
was rededicated this afternoon. For
NAL dedicatory exercises were held
in the presence Of the justices of the
various courts. members of the bar
association. committees of Congress,
representatives from the Oldest In
habitants' association and thee CO.
lumbia Historical Society, as well as
a large gathering of the general pubs
lie. The services opened with an
invocation by Rev. Charles Wood,
pastor Of the Church of the Covenant,
which was followed by eloquent
speeches replete with historical remi-
niscences and interesting anecdotes,
and closed with benediction by Mgr.
C.. r. Thomas. rector Of St. Patrick
Church.
a Chief Justice Presides. ss,
Chief, Justice walter l.. Mccoy of
the District Supreme Court presided.
He was introduced by H. Prescott
citation. Introducing the presiding
justice. Mr.. Galley said: The corner
stone Of the building was laid GEN.
fury ago. I feel safe in saying that
prior to the Transformation that has
recently taken place in 1t. judging
was prepared to admit its age With
out argument, Now that 1t has been
SO magnificently remodeled and re-
constructed it was deemed appro :
PIRATE that fitting ceremonies attend
Its opening.
I,of
one who played no small part in pro-
curing this beautiful structure and
who presides over the courts held
within its walls should preside at
these ceremonies" ------z
Chief Justice Mccoy spoke briefly.
paying special tribute to his prede-
cessor, ]. Harry Covington. former
chief justice. who was able to secure
from Congress the first appropriation
for the remodeling of the building.
He also thanked the committees of
Congress for the aid in completing
the structure and expressed the graft
tude of the judges and members of
dent of the Capitol. who had charge
of the building. to August Eccard, su :
perintendent of construction. and 9TH
ers connected with the work on the
building.
Justice Stafford Chief Speaker.
Justice Wendell P. Stafford was the
first speaker. He was followed by ].
Harry Covington, former chief JUS
tice. and by Attorney Henry E. Davis.
former United States attorney for the
District of Columbia. An illus
trated monograph containing a his
tory of the courthouse by Attorney
p. Regis Noel and Margaret B. Down
ing, and the details of today's cele-
bration, published by Judd & Det-
weller. was distributed.
Shows D. c. Courts Origin.
In opening his address, Henry E
Davis traced the establishment of the
District as a separate judicial entity,
citing provisions of the Constitution and
ginia and Congress leading up to the
enactment of the judiciary act Of Sep
TENDER "a, 1888, which, as he pointed
out, while dividing the United States
into judicial districts, including those
Of Maryland and Virginia. made no pro-
vision for court In the District OF
Columbia Then, taking up the act of
February 10. 1901, for the more con-
venient organization Of the courts of
the United States, he NOTED that this
act still left the District as such with
out its provisions. and recalled the al
most IOTSOtten IdCt tifdl ny tllS act
there was established a district called
the District of Potomac, including, &C
cording to present geography, the Dis
trict of Columbia, the counties Of Mont
gomery and Prince Georges, part, If
not all, of Charles and part of each of
Anne Arundel and ST. Marys counties
In Maryland, and the counties of Alex
andria, Fairfax and Prince William
and part of Stafford county, in the
state of Virginia. for which district
there was created a separate court. TO
be held, however. by the district Judge
of the district Of Maryland.
Circuit Court Established 1901.
By the later act of February 81. 1901
the Circuit Court of the District OF
Columbia was established, consistine
of one chief Judge and two associate
Judges, and by act of March 3, 1901. IL
was provided that the chief judge OF
this court should hold court for the
District of Potomac. Afterward, by
act of March 8, 1902, effective July /
1902. the District of Potomac was
abolished, and for the first time the
District of Columbia was given a
judicial system of its own.
He then cited the act of July z, 1888
establishing a separate criminal court
for the District, prior to which date
ali cases, both civil and criminal. had
800 .-,ed bvthA Circnit Court of the
DisIri...
He then recalled the act of March 8
1853, abolishing the Circuit, Distric,
and Criminal courts of the District
present Supreme Court Of the Distric,
Of Columbia, consisting originally Of
Continued on Ninth PaSe.5