DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AN ACT

FOR REVISING, SIMPLIFYING, DIGESTING, AND CODIFYING THE LAWS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

WHEREAS it is expedient that the laws of the District of Columbia should be arranged in appropriate titles, chapters, and sections; that omissions and defects therein should be supplied and amended; and that the whole, rendered concise, plain, and intelligible, should be established and known as the Revised Code of the District of Columbia:

THEREFORE,

BE it enacted by the Senate and

House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, in manner following, that is to say:

PART I.

OF THE INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE

GOVERNMENT.

TITLE I.

Of the jurisdiction of Congress; of statutes and rules of decision.

SECTION 1. The jurisdiction of Congress shall extend to all places within the boundaries of the District of Columbia, being that territory ceded by the State of Maryland to the United States, by an act entitled "An act concerning the territory of Columbia and the City of Washington," passed 19th December, 1791.

SEC. 2. The District of Columbia shall be included within one county, to be named the County of Washington. The Potomac river, together with the islands therein, in its whole course through said District, shall be taken and deemed to all intents and purposes to be within the said county of Washington.

SECTION

CHAPTER 2.

SECTION

1. Acts of incorporation to be deemed public acts.

2. Printed copies of statutes to be received as evidence.

3. Rules for construing statutes.
4. The common law.

SECTION 1. All acts of incorporation shall be deemed public acts. SEC. 2. The laws of the District of Columbia, printed and published under the authority of Congress, shall be received as evidence in the courts of this District, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the United States, for any purpose for which the original acts could be received, and with as much effect.

CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTES.

SEC. 3. In the construction of all statutes, the following rules shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of Congress, or repugnant to the context of the same statute that is to say:

First. Every word importing the singular number only, may extend and be applied to several persons or things, as well as to one person or thing; and every word importing the plural number only, may be applied to one person or thing, as well as to several persons and things; and a word importing the masculine gender only, may extend and be applied to females; and the word "person" may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate as well as to individuals.

Second. All words and phrases shall be construed and understood according to the common and approved usage of the language; but technical words and phrases, and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in the law, shall be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning.

Third. Words purporting to give a joint authority to three or more public officers or other persons, shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons, unless it be otherwise expressly declared in the law giving the authority.

Fourth. The words "insane person" shall be construed to include every person who is an idiot, lunatic, non-compos, or deranged.

Fifth. The word "land" or "lands," and the words "real estate" or "real property," shall be construed to include lands, tenements, and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interest therein, other than a chattel interest; and the words " 'personal estate" or "personal property" shall include chattels real, and such other estate as, upon the death of the owner intestate, would devolve upon his administrator.

Sixth. The word "oath" shall be construed to include an affirmation in all cases in which by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath; and in like cases the word "swear" shall be construed to include the word "affirm."

Seventh. The word "written" and the words "in writing" shall be construed to include printing, engraving, lithographing, and any other mode of representing words and letters; provided, however, that in all cases where the written signature of any person is required by law, it shall always be the proper handwriting of such person, or, in case he is unable write, his proper mark.

Eighth. Unless otherwise expressed, the word "month" shall be construed to mean a calendar month, and the word "year," a calendar year; and the word "year" alone shall be equivalent to the expression "year of our Lord."

Ninth. The word "State," when applied to a part of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia, and the several Territories so called; and the words. "United States" shall be construed to include the said District and Territories.

Tenth. The word "justice" or "justices" shall be construed as if the words" of the peace" followed them.

Eleventh. The words "this District" shall be construed to be equivalent to "the District of Columbia."

Twelfth. The word "marshal" shall be construed to mean the marshal of the District of Columbia, or any other person authorized to perform his duties in any case.

Thirteenth. The words "preceding" and "following," when used by way of reference to any section of this Revised Code, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding, or next following, that in which such reference is made, unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference.

Fourteenth. Where a statute requires a notice to be given, or any other act to be done, a certain time before any motion or proceeding, there must be that time, exclusive of the day for such motion or proceeding; but the day on which such notice is given, or such act is done, may be counted as part of the time.

Fifteenth. In cases where the seal of any court or public office shall be required to be affixed to any paper issuing from such court or office the word "seal" shall be construed to include an impression of such official seal made upon the paper alone, as well as an impression made by means of a wafer, or of wax, affixed thereto. And in any case in which the seal of any natural person shall be required to a paper, it shall be sufficient for such person to affix to such paper a scroll by way of seal.

SEC. 4. The common law of England, and the principles of equity jurisprudence, so far as the same are not repugnant to the constitution of the United States, shall continue in force in this District, and be the rule of decision, except in those respects wherein the same are or may be altered by Congress.

TITLE II.

Of offices.

CHAPTER 3. Of appointment to office.

CHAPTER 4. Of the disabilities to hold office.

CHAPTER 5. Of vacancies.

CHAPTER 6. Of oaths and official bonds.

CHAPTER 3.

OF APPOINTMENT TO OFFICE.

SECTION 1. The President of the United States shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States, appoint all civil and military officers under the laws of this District, unless a different mode of appointment be prescribed by the law creating the office; and all such officers, not holding their commission during good behavior, may be suspended or removed by him.