Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-05-21

| AN ACT
Further 70 amend the charter of the City of
j. Washington.
BE il enacted By The Senate and House
Of Representatives. Of the United States
ef .dnaerica, IN Congress assembled, That
| from and after the first Monday in June
next, the corporation of the city of Wash
ington shall be composed of mayor, a board
of aldermen,au a board of common council,
| to be elected by ballot, as hereafter direct
! ed The board of aldermen shall consist of
eight members, to be elected for two years,
two TO be residents of and chosen from each
tyard by the Qualified voters resident there
| in and the board Of common council shall
consist of twelve members, to be elected for
one year, three to be residents of and cho-
4 sen from each ward in manner aforesaid:
4 and each board shall meet at the council
chamber on the second Monday in June
next (for the despatch OF business) at ten
o'clock in the morning; and on the same
day and at the same hour annually thereaf-
ter. A majority of each board shall be ne
cessary to form quorum to do business,
but less number may adjourn from day to
| day, Tue board OF aldermen, Immediately
after they shall have assembled in conse-
quence of the first election, shall divide
| themselves by lot in two classes; the seats
| OF the first class shall be vacated at the ex-
piration of one year, and the seats of the Sc
| cond class shall be vacated at the expiration
| of two years, so that one half may be cho-
sen every year. Each board shall appoint
its own president from among its own mem
bers, who shall preside during the sessions
of the board, and shall have casting vote
on all questions where there is an equal di-
vision Provided, such equality shall not
have been occasioned by his previous vote,
Sec. 2. Ind be il further enacted, That
no person shall be eligible to a seat In the
board of. aldermen or board of common
council, unless he shall be more than twen-
lty-fve years of age, free white male citi-
zen of the United States, and shall have
been a resident of the city of Washington
one whole year next preceding the day OF
election, and shall, at the time of his election,
be a resident of the ward for which he shall
be elected, and possessed of freehold es-
tate in the said city of Washington, and
| snail have been assessed two months pre-
ceding the day of election. And every free
white male citizen of lawful age, who shall
have resided in the City of Washington for
the space of one year next preceding the
day OF election, and shall be resident o
the ward in which he shall offer to vote
a,ia yhs shall have neen assessed on tn
books of the corporation not less than tive
months prior to the day of election, shall b,
qualified to vote for members to serve il
the said board of aldermen and board o
common council, and no other person what
ever shall exercise the right of suffrage a
such election.
Sec. 8. lind be ii further enacted, Tha
the present mayor of the City of Washing
ton, shall be, and continue such until tn
NOndav in, lime upSt IN which ~.
and on the second Monday in June annually
thereafter, the mayor of the said city shall
be elected by ballot of the board of alder
men and board of common council in Join
meeting, and a majority of the votes Of al
the members of both boards shall be neces
sary to a choice; and if there should be al
equality of votes between two persons, afte
the third ballot, the two boards shall deter
mine the choice BY lot. He shall, before h
enters upon the duties of his Office, take a
oath OF affirmation, in the presence Of bot
boards, "lawfully to execute the duties c
his office to the best of his skill and iudg
: ment, without favor or partially" He shal
: ex-officio, have and exercise all the powers
, authority aud Jurisdiction of justice of TN
; peace for the county of Washington, within
the said county. He shall nominate, and
with the consent Of majority of the mem
|
: offices under the corporation, (except tn
! commissioners of election) and any such Of
! ficer shall be removed from Office on III
concurrent remonstrance of a majority {
, the two boards. He shall see that the law
: of the corporation be dolly executed. an
= shall report the negligence or misconduc
of any officer TO the two boards. He sha
: | appoint proper persons TO fill up all vacan
= cies during the recess of the board Of alder
: men, to hold such appointment until tn
: end Of the then ensuing session. He sha
: have power 70 convene the two board.
T when in his opinion the good Of the commu
> nifty may requre.it, and he shall lay befor
: them, from time to time, in writing, such al
terations in the laws Of the corporation, a
i, ne shall deem necessary or proper, an
Il shall receive for his services annually,
> jnst and reasonable compensation, to be a
Il lowed and fixed by the two boards, whic
\. shall neither be increased nor Ciminishe
b during the period for which he shall nav
s, been elected. Any person shall be eligibl
e 70 the office Of mayor, who is free whit
l. male citizen of the United States, who sha
20 have attained to the age Of thirty years. an
3 who shall be the bona ide owner Of FREE
hold estate in the said city, and shall haS
y been resident in the said city two years in
: mediately preceding his election; and q
= other person shall be eligible to the sal
. Office. In case Of the refusal Of any persc
to accept the Office Of mayor upon his ele
ton thereto, OF Of his death, resignation, II
- ability or removal from the city. the sa
two boards shall elect another in his pla,
n 70 serve the remainder Of the year.
E. Sec. 4. IND be 70 further enacted. Tn
the first election for members Of the boar
of aldermen aud board Of common counc
p shall be held ON the first Monday in Ju
next, and on the first Monday in June a
~ nually thereafter: the first election 70
held by three commissioners, to be appoir