Evening star., 1933-06-04

ii s u.
Dobbin- drawn ancestor of the trolley"
would fill windows with surprise and line
sidewalks with wonderment. Policemen might
even ponder upon whether the vehicle was
operating within the law A complete familiarity
with that ponderous tome titled THE Code
of the District of Columbia" would provide the
answer in simple form. Section 161 of title 26,
standing ready for application whenever oc-
casion demands, says 1t is unlawful to operate
street car drawn by one horse on the streets of
Washington. AL cars used within the city
limits, the law book declares, shall, if drawn
by horsepower, be of the size and style known
as 'two-horse' cars"
Obviously that provision is antiquated and
takes no heed of the fact that the nineteenth
century has departed. But it is no more heavily
covered with moss than dozens of other obSo-
lete mandates which have outliyed their times
in the laws governing inhabitants of the District
of Columbia
Attention now Is centering upon these legal
relics by virtue of recent avowal in official
quarters that action seeking their removal is to
be launched. Such action will follow in the
path taken by Congress early this year when
hundreds Of useless laws were stricken from the
Federal statute books
4 us interest awakened, the layman can find
all sorts Of curios in the 8oo-page tome
which sets forth the code of laws for the Ma
tional Capital. The eye roams from injunctions
against bull fights to stern outlines of the pun
ishment which awaits such persons as may go
about Washington poisoning wells and cisterns
It ranges from the solemn outlawry of dueling
to the provision of police supervision for pub
lie elections.
Men learned in the law often assert in one
style of phrasing or another, that set of
legal precepts simply is guidance for human
conduct. Therein, perhaps, rests exp,ana-
ffny, 81 fhnv -
enjoinders in the District code. Moulded to
control the conduct of men in decades which
now have vanished distantly into the past many
OF the continuing orders apply to habits and
customs that are as dead as the eras wherein
they fourished.
In point Of fact, person bent upon violating
some of the laws which long have rested peace
fully would encounter sheer difficulty Look
upon the following by way of illustration:
II any person shall in the District challenge
another to fight a duel, or send or deliver any
written or verbal message purporting in
tended to be such challenge or shall accept any
such challenge or message, or shall knowingly
carry or deliver acceptance Of such chal-
lenge or message to fight duel in or cut of
the District, he shall be punished by imprison-
ment for term not exceeding 10 years"
Congress passed that law almost 100 years
ago, taking the action after two members of
the House of Representatives, Jonathan Cilley
OF Maine ana William j. Graves of Kentucky
aimed rifles at each other in duel near the
eastern end of the Anacostia Bridge ON the
highroad to Marlboro. Representative Cilley
was killed instantly in the third exchange of
bullets The incident provoked great clamor
against dueling, with the result that Congress
enacted the law which remains in force at
time when duels are fought only in movies, so
far as the District is concerned
Some may fear that repeal of the anti-duel
statute might be followed by a dragging of
fencing blades from wall displays and an oil
ing of pistol triggers. But little exploration
probably would reveal that fields of honor have
become suburban building developments.
Added evidence that the legal code is a har-
bor for memories which have descended from
forgotten customs is found in the provisions
relating to gambling Among games specifically
forbidden are A. B. c., equality keno, thinlbles,
and Jenny Lind tables and bagatelle tables may
be set up providing licenses are obtained from
the proper authorities. The game of thinbles
might be as pallid an affair as its domesticity-