Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 06.djvu/372

DISTRIBUTIVE LAW. write the separate products in order, affecting each product with its proper sign. Symbolically: ± a (± b ± c ± d . . . . . ) = ± ab ± ac ± ad ±. . . . a, b, c,. . . . being any algebraic quantities. See.  DISTRICT (ML. districtus, territory wherein a lord may distrain, from Lat. distringere, to pull asunder). A political subdivision of a city, county, or State, which forms the basis of legislative representation. Its boundaries are fixed by law, either by the enactment of the legislature or by the adjudication of a court, to whom this power is delegated. The citizens thereof assemble within these boundaries and vote for local, State and National officials. In the United States the boundaries of the Congressional district in each State are determined by the State Legislature after the apportionment of representation has been made by Congress, following on every decennial census. The ratio of representation under the census of 1900 was 194,182, and the total number of Congressional districts 386. There is no definite principle laid down for the manner in which a State may be redistributed, and as a rule the party in power will, as far as possible, so distribute representation as to insure its continued supremacy. See .

For the purposes of taxation, the term has a broader meaning, and the Supreme Court of the United States has decided that for the collection of taxes a district means any part of a State described for the purpose of assessment, without reference to the civil or political divisions of the State, made for election purposes. See Kelly vs. Sanders, 99 United States Reports, p. 441.  DISTRICT ATTORNEY. In the United States, the public prosecuting officer within a defined district. The Federal Government has one set of district attorneys, and each State has an entirely different set for the same territory. The former are appointed by the President, and are in reality deputies of the Attorney-General of the United States, to whom they are required to make report of their official acts, and to whose direction and control they are subject. They are appointed for the several districts into which the United States are divided for district courts (see article on, subdivision United States Courts), and are charged with prosecuting offenses against the Federal Government, as well as with conducting civil actions on behalf of the Government, and in some cases on behalf of Government officers. As a rule their compensation comes from fees, and is not in the form of a stated salary.

In most of the States a State district attorney is elected in each county, although his most important duties, as a rule, are discharged in prosecuting criminals before the State courts. He is also the prosecuting officer before the county court of the county in which he is elected. He is subject at times to the control of the Attorney-General of the State, and in New York is removable by the Governor. In certain contingencies he may call upon the State Attorney-General for assistance in important criminal prosecutions. His duties and powers are regulated under the provisions of the statutes in accordance with which he is appointed or elected. For these consult the Federal and State statutes.  DISTRICT COURT. A court having a jurisdiction limited to a defined judicial district. Several of the United States have divided their territory into judicial districts, but the court of the district is usually a branch or ‘term’ of the highest court of original jurisdiction of the State and not a separate tribunal.

The , however, are district tribunals subordinate to the circuit courts. Each of the nine judicial circuits (corresponding to the number of justices of the Supreme Court) is divided into a larger or smaller number of districts. In some instances a district embraces the whole territory of a State; in others, States are divided into two or more districts. In one instance a single judge serves three districts, in others two. With these exceptions, there is one judge for each district. When a circuit court is held within the limits of a judicial district, the district judge sits with the judge of the Supreme Court appointed for that circuit. See, subdivision United States Courts.  DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. A territory embracing 60 square miles, situated on the east bank of the Potomac River, between Maryland and Virginia (Map:, B 7). The surface is flat and marshy along the Potomac, but elsewhere gently rolling and hilly. The Anacostia River, or Eastern Branch (of the Potomac), crosses the southern portion, and Rock Creek, a stream abounding in picturesque scenery, traverses the northwestern part. The climate (mean temperatire 55°) is subject to sudden and extreme variations of temperature. The rainfall is about 50 inches annually. Snow falls in the winter, but is generally of short duration. The soil is a light sandy loam. Twenty-two per cent. of the area, or 8500 acres, is contained in farms. The nature of the agricultural industries is determined by the proximity to Washington, and the products are chiefly those of the vegetable garden and the dairy. The largest acreage therefore consists of hay and pasture lands and gardens. Floriculture is of considerable importance, the annual returns from this source exceeding half a million dollars.

. The population in 1800 (when the area was one-half larger than at present) numbered 14,100; in 1850, 51,687; in 1860, 75,000; in 1870, 131,700; in 1890, 230,400; in 1900, 278,700. There is a very small foreign-born population (19,500), but the negro element is large (86,700). The mass of the population is, of course, centred in the city of Washington. The villages surrounding the city bear the relation of suburbs to the city proper.

. The District of Columbia was governed directly by Congress until 1871, when it was placed under a regular Territorial government. Governor and Secretary were appointed, a delegate was chosen to represent the Territory in Congress, while a legislature of 11 councilmen and 22 delegates was elected by the people annually. In 1874 the government was placed under the control of three commissioners appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. The citizens have no direct voice in the appointments to office within the District, having no vote in District or National affairs.

. Originally the District of Columbia comprised land on both sides of the 