Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-03-24

''"" '"V same power winch Is at present
exercised by the mayor upon the like &C
csSion, ard he shall convene the council
whenever in the opinion of four of the
members expressed TO him in writing, or
whenever in his opinion the good of the
town NAV require il: and the authority of
the SAID common council shall continue
one year from tn: day of their election,
and until others are chosen and qualified
IN their stead, an no longer. That the
common council so elected, and those
thereafter to be e,ected, and their success
sors, shall be and hereby are made a BODY
polite and corpo"ate, by the name Of the
common council ne Alexandria and by
the said name Shall have perpetual sue
cess'on with capacity to purchase, possess
and enjoy lands ani, tenements. and goods
and chattles either in fee or lesser estate
therein, and the same to give, grant, let,
sell, assign or transfer and to plead and
be impleaded, prosecute and defend al,
causes, complaints, actions real, personal
or mixed. and to- have one common seal,
and perpetual succession. And all the
estate, rights, and credits. now vested in
the mayor and commonalty of the town of
Alexandria shall be vested in the said
common council when elected, and NAV
be recovered in their name for the use of
the said town and in like manner ali
claims and demands against the mayor
and commonaity of Alexandria, prior 10
the operation of the present act, may be
prosecuted and recovered against the a.
foresald common council and process
served upon the president of the common
council shall be deemed sufficient.
Sec. 4. ind be IL further euactrd, That
the jurisdiction of the said common conn
Gil shall extend to the limits heretofore
prescribed by law, and exercised by the
mayor and communicable concur
renee of a ma 0"itv of the whole number
OF members eleEted into the common
council, shall be necessary for the passing
OF any law, order, or resolution, or for
repeating, altering, or rcvoIing the same.
Sec. s. ind BE- IL further enacted. That
the said common council shall have now
er 30 erect and repair work houses, houses
OF CORE lion, and other public buildings.
for the bcneit Of the said town to pave.
make and repair the streets and llirhgsys:
to make alllaws which they shall conceive
requisite Tor the preservation Of the health
OF the inhabitants, and for the regulation
OF the morals and police of the said town,
and TO enforce the Observance Of their said
laws, by reasonable penalties and forfeit
lures, to be levied np0n the goods and
chattels Of the offender; and thew shall
have power to raise money by taxes, Cor
the use and benefit Of the said town: Pro.
Ufded, That such laws shall not be reDua-
nant to, or Inconsistent with the laws and
constitution of the United States. The
SAID commo. council shall, whenever thew
dee n 1t proper, have power to open, ex-
tend, regulate, pave, and improve the
streets, within the limits ofthe said town
ProOifed, They make to the person mr.
persons who may be injured by such ex-
tension, Just and adequate compensation
out of the funds Of the corporation, to be
ascertained by the verdict of an impartial
jury, in like manner as has been usual in
other cases where private property has
been condemned for public use. They
shall have power to hold and keep within
the said town, market days in every week,
and from time to time to appoint a clerk
OF the market, who shall 10 and perform
all things belonging tn the Office Of clerk
OF the market, within the said town, ac-
cordng to the rules and regulations
which they shall prescribe.-They shall
have power to pass all laws. not incon-
sistent with the lays of the United States,
which they may conceive requisite for the
prevention and removal or nuiSarces and
to appoint superintendent ofpolice, com.
missioners, and surveyors Of the streets,
constables, collectors of the taxes, and all
otherofiicers whomay be deemed necessary
for the execution of their laws, who shall
be paid for their services, reasonable
compensation, and whose duties and DOW.
ers shall be prescribed in such manner as
the common council shall deem fit, for
carrying into execution the powers hereby
granted.
Sec. 6. Be II further enacted, That the
jurisdiction Of the said common council
shall extend over the harbor Of Alexan-
dria, and over the vessels orevery descrip-
ton, which may arrive and be in the bar-
Dor, or be at anchor in any part Of the RI
yer Potomac below Pcarson's Island, and
within the district Of Columbia, for the
purpOcc Cf f,rpvant.rr. q,