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 " 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. SECTION 1. No judge shall hold any other office, civil or military, so long as he continues to act as such. SEC. 2. No person shall be appointed to any civil office within this District under the laws thereof, unless he shall have been a resident therein six months next preceding the appointment, and shall be a citizen of the United States. SEC. 3. If any civil officer shall receive, directly or indirectly, at any time during the period for which he was appointed, the profits, or any part of the profits of any office held by any other person, his appointment and commission shall be void, and the person so offending shall be disqualified forever afterwards from holding any office of trust or profit. SEC. 4. If any person shall give any bribe or reward, or any promise, or any security for the payment or delivery of any money or any other thing, to be appointed to any office of profit, both the person giving and the person receiving the same, upon conviction thereof, shall be forever disqualified from holding any office of profit or trust under the laws of this District. SECTION 1. Every office shall become vacant on the happening of either of the following events, before the expiration of the term of such office: 1. The death of the incumbent; 2. His resignation; 3. His removal; 4. His ceasing to be a resident of this District; 5. His conviction of any infamous crime, or of any offence involving a violation of his official oath; 6. His refusal or neglect to take his oath of office, or to give or renew his official bond, or to deposit such oath or bond within the time prescribed by law; 7. The decision of a competent tribunal declaring void his appointment or election. SEC. 2. If any person holding office shall charge and collect larger fees, for services rendered in his office, than are authorized by law, his office shall become vacant. SEC. 3. The circuit court shall have jurisdiction of all cases arising under this chapter, and may declare when vacancies in office exist. SECTION 17. Several recoveries may be had on official bonds. 18. Official bond not to be void, although informal or defective. 19. Certified copies of official bonds to be evidence. 20. 21. 22. Proceedings where official bond becomes 23. Original bond not to be discharged. 27. How sureties in an official bond may be 28. Upon new bond being given, sureties to be relieved from further liability. 29. Officer failing to give new bond, his office to be vacant. 30. Certain sections to apply to executors, administrators, and guardians. SECTION 1. Every person chosen or appointed to any office of trust or profit under the laws of this District, shall, before entering upon the duties of such office, take an oath before some person lawfully authorized to administer it, that he will support the constitution of the United States, and that he will faithfully perform the duties of his office to the best of his skill and judgment. SEC. 2. The oath to be taken by any person chosen or appointed to any office, shall, except in the cases where it may be otherwise directed by law, be administered in a court of record, or by some judge of such a court. SEC. 3. When a person elected or appointed to any office takes the oath required of him in a court of record, a transcript from the record of the court, stating that such an oath had been taken, and when he takes the oath before any judge of a court of record, a certificate of the person administering the same, stating the fact that such an oath had been taken, shall be obtained by the person taking the same, and be by him delivered for record in the office of the clerk of the court to which such officer may belong, or by which he may be appointed. In the case of an officer not otherwise provided for, the transcript or certificate aforesaid shall be delivered for record, and be recorded in the office of the clerk of the circuit court. SEC. 4. Whenever an officer is authorized or required to appoint a deputy, such deputy, before he shall proceed to act as such, shall take the same oath, and deliver for record the transcript or certificate thereof, in the same office where his principal is required to deposit his oath. SEC. 5. If any person required to take an oath shall declare that he has religious scruples as to the propriety of taking it, he may make a solemn affirmation, which shall in all respects have the same effect as an oath. OFFICIAL BONDS. SEC. 6. Every officer, except the clerks of the circuit, district, and criminal courts, and register of wills, of whom an official bond is required by law, shall file such bond in the same office in which he is required to deliver for record the transcript or certificate of his official oath as aforesaid. SEC. 7. The official bonds of the clerks of the district and criminal courts, and the register of wills, shall be filed in the office of the |