Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-30

our probate laws are to keep abreast
Of the progress being made in the pres
ent method of handling estates, he said.
He mentioned the Maryland act
as the basis for the District law and said
that under the law the first account OF
an executor or administrator cannot
be approved and distribution made to
the creditors, legatees or distributes
until one year from the date OF the
appointment of the fiduciary. why
could not the law be changed" the
speaker asked, 80 as to provide SIX
month period of administration, which
in most cases would be ample?"
Would Follow Bills Closely.
The suggestion was made by the
speaker that it might be good thing
for the fiduciary section to have within
itself a committee whose duty it would
be to obtain copies of all bills intro
duced in Congress affecting the admin
istration of estates and to make care
full study of the same with view TO
personally appearing before congress
sional committees in support OF or In
opposition to such proposed LEGISLATION.
The speaker cited a number OF cases
indicating that laws might be changed
for the better, although no criticism was
leyeled at the makers OF the laws as
they now stand. Under the present
law respecting guardians he salo, II
REQUIRES almost the employment OF foul
means to obtain any recompense Tor the
intricate and arduouS duties OF guard
ian. Bear in mind that the section
states that the guardian shall receive
commission on the amounts collected II
and when diSburSed: in other WORDS, tne
more a guardian can spend the higher
his compensation will be, and If he con-
serves the estate and spends nothing, ne
gets nothing for his labor and economy.
How Judges Are Hampered.
"The courts are naturally interested
in all proposed legislation" he stated.
but the justices of the court, in most
cases, cannot with propriety appear In
opposition to or in support OF proposed
legislation, hence such organizations as
this and the Bar Association of the
District Of Columbia must bear the bur-
den of properly placing true facts be-
fore Congress in regard to proposed
bills affecting the things in which they
are vitality interested. or must them
selves propose such legislation as might
be helpful in the administration of
justice.
"One of the requisites which I have
felt at times is sorely needed in this
jurisdiction for the guidance and pro-
lection of f1duciarieS in list of invest
ments legal for trust funds in accord
ance with the provisions OF the rule
for the investment of trust funds,
known as equity rule II now in force.
At the present time there is no such
list nor has one ever been compiled
for the District Of Columbia. NUM-
Der of Eastern States, among them New
York, Massachusetts,, New Jersey, Con-
vaI nd haNo q
and it is revised yearly. Naturally
great responsibility rests upon those in
charge of such a compilation"
Chairman F. P. H. Siddons called the
meeting to order, President Robert V.
Fleming OF the District Bankers As
ISOLATION spoke briefly and reports were
made by William H. Baden, Kenneth
H. Brooks and T. Stanley Holland
James M. Proctor spoke briefly for the
District Bar Association.
Two Steamboat Directors Named.
At the meeting Of the directors of the
Norfolk & Washington Steamboat Co.
held Thursday the Office of chairman OF
the board was created and Clarence F.
Norment. ST., was elected to same. The
directorate was increased by two, E. c,
Brandenburg and George L. Starkey
being elected to fill these positions.
The directors Of the company now
are Charles j. Bell, Woodbury. Blair,
Edwin c. Brandenburg, Daniel j. CAL
lahan, GustavuS w. Forsberg, Clarence
r. Norment, ST.; Clarence F. Norment,
jr; william E. Pearson, B. Francis Saul,
Odell S. Smith and George L. Starkey.
The officers are Clarence F. Norment,
ST., chairman of the board; Charles j.
Bell, president; Clarence F. NOrment,
jr., vice president; Daniel j. Callahan,
general manager, and Odell S. Smith,
secretary and treasurer.
Heard in Financial District.
It is estimated that the gain in de-
posts by Washington banks on the
call of March q over that of December