Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-09
HART WILL LEAVE
DISTRICT SERVICE
Principal Assistant Corpora
ton Counsel to Enter
Private Practice.

Ringgold Hart, principal assistant
corporation counsel Of the District, sub
mitted his resignation to the Commits
sioners today to become effective Sep
TENDER /.
skr. Hart will leave the District gov
eminent after nearly % years of service
to go into private practice. He will
become a member of newly organized
law firm, of which Roger j. Whiteford
and P. H. Marshall are to be the other
members. Both Mr.. Whiteford and Mr..
Marshall are former assistant corpora
ton counSelS.
The announcement of Mr.. Harris
resignation did not come with surprise
at the District Building, since he has
been contemplating this move for more
than a year. Mr.. Hart timed the ef-
3ective date of his departure, however.
30 that Corporation Counsel William
". Bride could carry out his vacation
plans.
Expert on Municipal Law.
Probably the best known member of
the corporation counSels staff, Mr.. Hart
is considered an expert on municipal
law and has handled nearly all of the
important legal questions which have
involved the District since he has been
attached to the general ONCE in the
District Building. His name also has
been prominently mentioned on several
occasions for the position OF District
Commissioner though he has never
been a candidate for the ONCE.
Mr.. Hart entered the District service
November 5, 1906, as q stenographer IN
the Police Department and advanced
through the various steps in the clerical
grade until 1915. when he became sec
rotary to the late Mai. Raymond Pull
man, superintendent OF police. While
connected with the department he
studied law at Georgetown University
and fitted himself for position IN the
CORPORATION counsel's office, which he
entered as the fifth assistant corpora
ton counsel in April 1917. His first
assignment was at Police Court, where
he had charge OF prosecutions.
Worked Way Through Grades.
In 1920 Mr.. Hart was transferred to
the general office in the District Build
ing and advanced to the rank of fourth
assistant corporation counsel and placed
in charge of condemnations. Later he
was assigned to the general work OF
the Office and has handled the variety
of legal work which confronts it. In
the reorganization of the corporation
promoted to principal assistant corpora
ton counsel the rank he now holds.
The diversity of the legal problems
disposed of by Mr.. Hart is illustrated
by his activities from the time Of his
transfer from Police Court to the main
ONCE. From 1917 to 1920 he directed
prosecutions under the old Sheppard
liquor law, which was repealed when
the national prohibition act became OPP
erative. He has tried virtually all OF
the important damage cases against the
District, and in one Of the outstanding
he was commended by the Board OF
District Commissioners. This was the
case In which the District was sued on
the ground Of negligent maintenance
when a culvert in Kenilworth gave way
during a cloudburst and one life was
lost. AS the defense, Mr.. Hart held
the cloudburst was an act OF God and
the District could not be held respon-
sible for damage caused by the ele-
mentS. He won the case. The offcial
commentator Of the Commissioners
for his victory was conferred April IT.,
1925.
Mr.. Hart also is credited with sug-
costing the basis on which the District
settled In 1927 the long-pending tax
cases against the Washington Terminal
Co. Through the settlement Of these
cases the District recovered $239, 1863
and cleared It's tax records of the cases,
some of which had been pending for
IL years.
Heads Tax Committee.
Mr.. Harris wide knowledge of mu-
Nd Ia Lad hn a Ell
year to appoint him chairman of a
special committee to write q new license
tax law for the District, which was
subsequently introduced in the House
by Representative Gibson of Vermont,
chairman of the House District COM
n1ittee. Though designed primarily to
remove the inequities in the present
license tax law, which has undergone
only a few minor notifications since
its enactment in 1902, the new legisla-
ton will afford greater protection to
the public by giving the Commission
ers and the Police Department increased
authority to regulate and control those
businesses which have long escaped
close municipal supervision.
Last year when Congress directed
shafts Of criticism at the District gov
eminent for the congested trial docket
In Police Court Mr.. Hart was detailed
there to determine the cause Of the
congestion and solve it. In few
months the docket had been cleared
Many Of the cases were Of long stand
ing For this work he also was. COM
merided.
Mr.. Hart is a native Of Washington.
Born February rs 1886, he was edu-
Gated in the public schools. After
passing through the elementary grades
he attended Business High School and
soon after graduation he entered the
District service. He secured his IL. B.
degree from Georgetown University in
1911.
Mr. Hart Is as prominent in the civic
life Of WASHINGTON as he is in legal