Daily national Republican., 1863-04-20
ImDrov.ment orths streets.

| theme Of conversation for some time past, ana
numerous suggestions and complaints have
been made TO the corporate authorities upon
this subject. These complaints, so far as the
corporation was concerned, were unjust, as II
was clearly the duty Of Congress at its late ses-
sion to have made an appropriation for street
repairs, these repairs being rendered necessary
by the business operations of the Government.
The Mayor so far as the state of the weather
wouldpcrmit, has made all the repairs possible.
To enable him more efTectually TO carry on i'm
prOvemCnts, Mr.. Gordon, member of the Board
of Common Council from the First ward, pro-
poses to introduce into the Board this evening
the following bill, to appoint a street commits
sioncr, who shall be under the control Of the
Mayor, to whom all complaints shall bc made,
and who shall he charged with the duty of at
tending to all street improvements throughout
the city:
A BILL to create the office of Commissioner of
Streets and for other purposes.
Sec. /. Whereas 1t being manifest to the cor
poratc authorities Of the city Of Washington
that the condition of the streets will require n
heavy outlay and a more general uniformity Of
action and expenditure of the funds applicable
to the Improvement Of the streets, avenues and
alleys Of the city; therefore,
Be il, and II Is hsreby, CRdctcd, By The Board of
aldermen and Board Of Common Cou,ca, That
the Mayor be, and is hereby, authorized, with
advice and consent of the Board OF Aldermen,
to appoint an officer of this Corporation, who
shall he styled commissioner of streets, whose
duty II shall be to supCrintend and have the
control Of all improvements and repairs appCr-
tanning in any manner to the streets, avenues,
NJ al MI tl,t hnalth Of tIa oil
that II shall be his duty to give his personal
attention to the condition Of all street improve
mCnts and repairs; 10 have an advisory CON
troll over the setting and repairs of lamp posts,
the laying of gas pipes and water mains In the
streets, and In connection with the crossing Of
cutters. and pavcmGnts to the building line,
and to sec that all the laws In relation to this
subject are fully complied with by the opera
tvcs. That said commissioner shall be paid
for his services a salary of $500, payable
monthly from the general fund.- that he shall
be, in all cases, subject to the direction and ad-
vice of the Mayor and Corporation authorities.
Sec. >. That the Mayor, with the advice and
consent Of the Board of Aldermen, shall appoint
one assistant commissioner for each of the
wards Of the city, who shall receive an annual
salary Of 5000 for their services, payable
monthly; that the commissioner Of streets shall
have the permission Of selecting and recon-
mcnding the aforesaid assistants for appsiut-
ment to the Mayor, (prOvidCd, however, that
the Mayor shall have the power Of his own
sulottiOn,) who shall be citizen residents Of the
wards for which they are appointed, and shall
nt all times be subject to the control and dirUC
tiOn of the commissioner in the performance OF
their duties; and the said commissioner shall
have authority to command the services Of the
assistants to or IN any part Of the city, aud at
all times; and the said commissioner shall have
full power to command the advice and services
Of the water registrar and city surveyor, to en-
able him TO more fully carry out the purposes
of this law.
Sec. 3. That said commissioner shall be al
lowed a clerk or engineer (to be appointed by
the MayOr) who shall be under the immediate
control of said commissioners who shall at
tend to the office duties in charge of said COM
missioner, of all papers, books, and other doc
| umCnts In any manner relating to the office,
keep the record in good order, file all papers,
and such other office duties as from time to
time may be required of him 10y said commits
slOncr OF streets, and receive a salary of 81 500
per annum, payable out of general fund
monthly. That there shall be assigned to said
commissioner a room in the City Hall, con-
yCniGut to the Mayors office, where all books
/ and papers relating in any form to his office
shall he filed and Kept. That all payment re-
quired by this act shall be made by the Mayor
IN the manner and form as at present by law.
That IL the performance of the duties hcruiu
delegated to said commissioner, he shall, at all
times, be subject to the advice and control of
the Mayor, who is hereby delegated the power
of removal for cause, which cause shall be re-
ported to the corporation board at the time of
such removal
Sec. L. Be Il further enacted, That the corpo-
ration authorities call upon Congress so to
amend the city charter giving to the people the
| right TO elect a commissioner of streets, on the
first Monday Of June, 1854, and annually there
after on that day; provided this law shall be
unrepGaled. That until otherwise ordered, the
appointec under this law shall hold his Office
with the appreciation of the Mayor, until some
ether be elected or appointed for the place.
That whenever a new appointment or election
be made, II shall be the duty Of the incumbent
to hand over TO his successor his office books,
papers, orders, and property of whatever kind,
belonging or appertaining in any manner to
this corporation, taking record of the property,
and deliver the same to the Mayor.
Sec. g. Il il torther c1tacted, That for the pur-
pose of more eileCtually securing the health and
quiet Of the city, the said commissioner of
streets, and each and all Of his assistants, are
hereby constituted as having and possessing
cOnstabulary powers in every respect (eNCcpt
for civil prOcess) as are now delegated to the
city police of the city.
That all laws or parts of laws which come in
conflict, or are inconsistent, with this act, are
hereby repealed.