The Washington herald., 1921-02-25
Legislative Speed Record
Broken by Upper House
Under Pressure.
STANDARD WEIGHT
LAW is ENACTED
Another Bill Enlarges Ju.
risdiction of Municipal
Court in Capital.


the Senate yesterday in a hurricane
of legislation. Sixty-two enactments
made the day a record breaker of
the session.
The local measures included that
Department Of
Weights, Measures and Markets and
another enlarging the Jurisdiction
Of the Municipal Court to relieve
in the upper tribunals
and to expedite litigation.
The former fixes a uniform sys-
ten of inspection and regulation of
the sale of bread. coal. ice and
other commodities. Among the
many bills in which Washington
was not concerned were many
for relief or pension.
Measures Affecting District.
Following are the District bills
passed:
An act to provide for the redis-
tribution of general taxes and
special assessments due and pay
able on real estate in cases of sub
division or sales of land, object
being to keep titles clear.
An act to provide for the convey
ance of lots on low grounds near
Botanical Gardens. as means of
clearing title.
Bill authorizing the District Com
missioners to close upper Water
street between Twenty-first and
streets northwest
for the improvement of Potomac
park.
An act to authorize corporations
in the District TO change their
names. providing simplified method.
An act to provide for the closing
of Cedar road between Quincy ano
Shepherd streets northwest
An act to enlarge the jurisdiction
of the Municipal Court Of the Dis
trict, Of Columbia and to regulate
appeals from the judgments OF said
and for other purposes.
An act to establish standard
weights and measures for the Dis
trict of Columbia to define the du-
ties of the superintendent OF
weights. measures and markets and
for other purposes.
salary Of $500 q Year.
The weight and measures act be-
comes effective within three months
uTder a superintendent. TO be ap-
pointed, who shall receive S='"Vo
year. He must supply a $5'oVo
bond. The District Commissioners
are authorized to appoint assistants
TO the superintendent. inspectors
and other employees, and it shall be
the duty of this force to inspect
scales. measures and other devices
used in markets at least every six
months. The members of this force
shall have police powers to arrest
yiolators of the laws and convic-
tion means a fine and imprison-
ment not to exceed $500 and SIX
months in Jail.
Coal and ice must be sold by
weight and the long ton Of 2'2io
pounds is prescribed for the sale OF
coal in major quantities. All other
under the law arc
subject to the 2,o0o-pound, or short
ton. Strict rules are laid down for
the use of tickets in coal transac-
tiops to avoid the practice of sub
stitutinE. such as was exposed at
the recent Senate investigation OF
coal dealers here.
Labels on Bread Loaves.
Bread Of all kinds, except spe,
cjally ordered. must be labeled as
TO weight and the names Of the
firms given on the same Label.
which shall be of white paper.
Sizes are stipulated for the sale
of milk in bottles and the law re-
ouires that the bottles be filled to
the stopple. Crates, baskets, ham,
pers and other measures >or con-
tainers arc defined by the bill for
the marketing OF fruits and vege-
tables of all description.
All foods in package form must
be labeled. 1t is provided that 12S
cubic feet must comprise a cord OF
wood. Slot machines are regulated
by the bill, which requires that
thew he kept in order and be under
the supervision of responsible per-
sons. All weights shall be net, ana
all measures or scales found untrue
will be destroyed by the inspectors,
though allowances are to be made
and tolerance granted in worthy
cases
weights and measures enact
mcnts of 1895 and 1896 are re-
pealed
Court Measure Comprehensive.
The bill charging the jurisdic-
ton of the Municipal Court grants
exclusive jurisdiction in cases of
damage for assault, assault and
battery, slander. libel, malicious
and breach of promise
to marry, involving up to $4,000,
and abolishes the writ Of certiorari
by which cases ere taken to the
Supreme Court OF the District. The
court is made a court of record.
with a seal, and trial by jury OF
cases involving $40 or more.
An additional term of service for
petit Jurors from the first Tuesday
In August to the first Tuesday in
is permitted. In perfecting
juries the Municipal judges are
given the powers Of the Supreme
Judges of the District. The United
States Marshal of the District shall
designate two of his deputies to
take charge of the Jurors in the
court under the direction
Of the trial judge.
Provision for an additional as
sistant clerk at $1,000 was knocked
,ut of the bill. Sitting in banc. the
Court shall have power
10 prescribe fees and, costs. includ-
ing the fees to be paid for a jury