St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-09-19
TPUBLIc- No. 57.l
AN ACT TO create a Metropolitan Police Di

| AN ACT to create Metropolitan Police Dis
trict, Of the District of Columbia and to
| establish police therefor.
~ cR1cei On the S5lnir aud House Of Representatives
n ~ Enaod Na'es # tHc'on in Co19yss assembled,
! That the Corporations of Washington and
Georgetown, and the county OF Washington,
| outside Of the limits of said corporations are
hereby constituted, for the purposes of this act
| into one district, to be called The Metropoli-
tan Police District of the District of Column
bia"
SIC. .. And be Il .firtler enacted. That imme-
diatcly upon the passage of this act, and
| thereafter from time to time, as required by
this act, there shall he appointed by the Presi-
dent of the United States, by and with the
advice and consent OF the Senate, five Com
missioncrs of Police. who shall be the chief
officers of the said - Metropolitan Police Dis
! trict," and who shall severally possess and
| perform therein the powers and duties author
! lied aud cnoned hy this act. The said COM
missioners, together with the mayors of the
| the cities OF Washington and Georgetown, cx
oilicio. shall form the'board of police for the
said district, and a majority of them shall
constitute quorum OF such board Tor the
| transaction Of business.
| SIC. g. Ind be Il further enacted, That three
of said commissioners shall he appointed from
| the city OF Washington one from Georgetown,
and one from the county Of Washington at
large for the term of three years, and until
their SUCCESSORS are appointed and qualified,
unless sooner removed by the President. The
said commissioners shall meet at such time and
place as may be designated by the President
| of the United States; and after being duly
qualified by taking and subscribing an oath or
| affirmation before some person duly authorized
! 10 administer oatlis in said District, To support
| the Constitution of the United States, aud
! faithfully discharge the duties of his Office
| shall proceed to discharge such duties as pre-
| scribed by this act.
| SIC. A. And be IL further enacted. That the
officers of the board of police shall he pres
ident and a treasurer, who shall each he Sc
| lccted from among said commissioners by
| themselves, who shall discharge such duties rs
| the board may prescribe. The treasurer shall
| give bond, with two suretics, to the satisfac-
| tion of said board, in the penal sum of ten
| thousand dollars for the faithful discharge oi
| the duties OF his Office. The board may also
| appoint clerk, to hold his office during the
pleasure of the board, and to receive a COM
pensation to be fixed by the board, not to ex-
| ceed the rate of one thousand dollars per an
mum, and who shall perform such duties as
may be required by said board OF police :,
! SEC. 8. lind be R further enacted, That 1t shall
| be the duty of the board of police hereby con-
| stituted. at all times of the day and night,
/ within the boundaries of the said police dis
i trict, 10 preserve the public peace; TO prevent
| crime and arrest offenders to protect the
rights OF persons and of property; to guard the
4 public health to preserve order at every pub
! lie election 10 remove nuistnces existing in
the public streets, roads, alleys, highways, and
other places to provide aproper police force
ut every fire, in order that thereby the iiremen
and property may be protected to protect
| strangers and travellers at steamboat and ship
| landings and railway stations; to see that al
| laws relating to the observance of Sunday
and regarding pawnbrokers, mock auctions
| elections, gambling, intemperance, lottery
dealers, vagrants, disorderly persons, and the
! public health. are promptly enforced, and q
enforce and obey all laws and ordinances OF
the city councils of the cities of Washington
and Georgetown which are properly applicable
TO police or health, and not inconsistent with
4 the provisions of this act.
II SIC g. And Be il further enacted, That the
duties of the board OF police shall he more es-
pecially executed under the direction and con.
! troll Of said board. and according To rules and
i regulations which it is hereby authorized to
! mass. from time to time, for the proper govern
ment and discipline of its subordinate officers
{ bya police force for the whole OF said police
I district, and authorized TO DO duty in any par
thereof without regard TO residence or corpo
2 ration lines.
fl SEC I. indbcd further GadctCd, That the sai'
= police force shall consist OF n superintendent
5 Of police, ten sergoants OF police, aud sucl