Evening star., 1933-06-04
Districts MoSs-C Covered Laws Scheduled to Go

A third section, equally aged, provides that
"if the principal debtor fail in payment of the
debt, having nothing wherewith to pay, will
not pay where he is able the pledges shall
answer for the debt"
Moving out of the musty atmosphere which
surrounds those venerable dictates the turning
of few pages brings to light legal stipula-
tion which has small chance to be active in
''voteless Washington" Contrived in a day
when local officers were chosen by polling, this
section which is shackled by Circumstance de-
clares that it shall be the duty of the Coss(A
missoners of the District of Columbia Ito pre-
serve order at every public election
Under terms of another provision which was
drafted and adopted before automobile traf6c
grew to place a premium upon street space,
District authorities are given the right to set
aside park areas in any and all streets and
avenues except Pennsylvania, Louisiana and
Indiana avenues, and Four-and-a-half street
between the City Hall and Pennsylvania ave-
nue." Not more than half the width Of
thoroughfare may be devoted to these park
areas, however, and certain allowances for
traffic are prescribed.
On March 3, 1909 there was added to the
code an Automobile wheel tax provision which
continues to maintain its position. By its
terms an assessment of So is placed upon auto
mobiles "or other motor vehicles having seats
for "only two persons" It leyies an additional
tax of So for each additional seat In ears
equipped to carry more than two persons.
The flying of kites, building of bonf1res at
night, throwing of stones and construction of
fences made of barbed wire are banned. Neither
is it permitted to set up ANY business or de-
vice by or in which any person, animal or iv-
ing object is exposed a target for profit
or for gain
Even with all professional adherence to the
principle of holding fast to pertinent details,
however, District officials have found many por-
tions of the code as deserving of consignment
to specially prepared limbo. Thoughts 81
plans seeking to promote that action are not
new of course; daily experiences and capable
reviews, in long succession, have outlined the
course which now is commanding a renewal of
attention.
Mach responsibility for the present state Of
affairs in which the local laws rest is traced .
to the peculiar and rather complicated manner
in which the District of Columbia was given
form. As created by the first Congress, the
District was composed Of portion of Vir-
ginia and portion Of Maryland. The section
ceded by Maryland was known-as the County
of Washington District of Columbia: the part
ceded by Virginia designated as the County
of Alexandria, District of Columbia.
This had the effect of bringing both Mary
land and Virginia laws into force within the
upon which they, in turn were based. The
cornplexity was reduced somewhat when the
County of Alexandria was receded to Virginia
in 1846
AS it now stands, the Districts code OF
laws contains the maxims and principles Of
equity as developed in the Court of Chancery,
the common law as it existed in 1776, British
statutes in effect in 1776, laws of the Colonial
Maryland government, laws of the State Of
Maryland from 1776 to 1900, and acts passed by
Congress for the District applicable to the
District
As a means of applying the laws, large
number Of regulations have been adopted;
these like the basic code, are open to pruning.
for the sake Of eliminating obsolete provisions
District officials agree.
One of the marked difficulties encountered in
consideration Of the proposed revision rests in
the fact that portions of specific acts of Con-
gress, as well as other laws now embraced in
the code, have become useless while other por-
tions of the same legal units continue to have
a broad and lively application.
Until such time these partially decrepit
laws, well those which are so out of date
that they are absolutely useless, come under
official action, however, they will continue ~
tincture severely -phrased precepts with remind
ers CT olden habits and bygone days.