Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-27
RENEWAL OF THE CITY CHARTER.
Mr.. Sumuer,s Bill,

teI Iails 10 present many OF the more important
provisions Of the bill. As it is important that
our citizens should have full opportunity 20 ex-
anime the details Of a measure SO closely affect
ing their interests, We publish the bill in full,
as follows:
BE ii enacted, DC, That the boundaries Of the
clty Of Washington shall be as follows, VIZ
Beginning on the east side of Rock creek, al q
stone standing in the middle of the road lead =
ing from Georgetown TO Bladensburg, thence
along the middle of the road TO a stone standing
on the east side of the Reedy branch OF Goose
creek, thence southeastIy, making an angle of
sixty lone degrees and twenty minutes with the
meridian, TO a stone standing in the road lead
ing from Bladensburg to the Eastern Branch
Jerry, then south to stone eighty poles north
of the east and west line already drawn from
the mouth Of Goose creek to the Eastern
branch, then east parallel to the east and
west line to the eastern branch, then with
the waters OF the Eastern branch, Potoma &C
river, and Rock creek to the beginning:
the whole subdivided into seven wards, as fol-
lows, viz all that part Of the city west of the
cCntIe of Fifteenth street west shall constitute
the first ward; all that part north of the ceatre
OF the Washington canal, east of the eastern
boundary Of the frs: ward and west and north
OF line drawn north from the centre OF the
canal through the centre of Tenth street west
I'LL II mtersects the centre of Rhode Island ave-
nue, ,ahd thence north-eastwardly with the cen.
tre of the avenue to the boundary of the city,
shall constitute the second ward; all that part
north of the centre of the Washington canal
east and south of the eastern boundary of the
second ward, and west and north OF a line
drawn north from the centre Of the canal
through the centre of Seventh street west till IL
ntersects the centre of New York avenue, and
thence north.eastwardly with the centre of that
avenue to its intersection with the centre of l.
street north, thence east with the centre of L
street north to the boundary of the city, shall
constitute the third ward all that part north of
the centre Of the canal east and south OF the
eastern boundary of the third ward, west and
north ofa line drawn north from he centre of
the canal through the centre of Third street
west til II intersects the tire of street north
thence east with the centre of ID street north
till 1t intersects the centre of Mary land avenue,
and thence north-eastwardly with the centre
of that avenue to the boundary of the
city, shall constitute the fourth ward:
ali that part east and south Of the eastern and
southern boundary Of the fourth ward aud
bounded on the east and south by line drawn
south from the centre Of ID street north through
the centre OF Sixth street east to the centre Of
street south, thence west with the centre of T.
street south TO the centre Of Fourth street east
thence south with the centre of Fourth street
east to the southern boundary of the city, thence
westwardly with the boundary of the CITY TO
the centre of South Capitol street, thence north
with the centre of South Capitol street 10 the
centre OF Virginia avenue, thence northwest
wardly with the centre of Virginia avenue to
the centre of Third street west thence north
with the centre Of Third street west to the
centre Of ID street north, shall constitute the
NTH ward; all that part south and east of the
fourth and fifth wards shall constitute the
sixth ward; all the rest of the city shall consti-
tute the seventh ward.
Sec. 2. The inhabitants residing within the
boundaries described in the first section of this
act, shall be body polite and corporate by the
name OF Washington City, and by this corpor-
ate name may sue and be sued, implead and be
impleaded, grant, receive. and do all other acts
as natural persons, and may purchase and hold
real, personal and mixed property, or dispose
of the same for the benefit of the city; and may
have and use q corporate seal, and alter the
same Al pleasure.
Sec. 3. The elective officers Of Washington
city sha!i 5e a mayor, register, surveyor, col.
iector, trea surer, and water comptroller to be
elec,ed by the qualified electors of the city
Each ward shall be entitled to two aldermen,
three councilmen, one assessor, and two justices
OF the peace, TO be elected by the qualified
electors thereof The mayor, register, surveyor
collector, treasurer. w Ter comptroller, alder
men. assessors, and juI ices of the peace shall
be elected for the term of two years, and the
councilmen for one year. The elections for
hese officers shall be by ballot, and the person
having the finhest number Of votes shall be
deemed elected; but in case two or more per-
sons shall receive an equal number of votes for
either of the Offices at large, the elect on shall
Ae decided by ajority Of the board of alder
me n and the common council, who shall with
an ten days after any election, assemble in Joint
convention therefor. And when two or more
persons shall have an equal number of votes
for any OF the ward Offices, the commissioners
Of election of such ward, or a majority thereof
shall meet within five days after the election,
at the city hall, and the ma Jority Of their num-
ber shall determine which Of such persons shall
be entitled TO the Office, and when determina-
tion has been made by the joint convention OF
the board OF aldermen and councilmen, or by
the commissioners of election Of any ward, a
certIfcate OF the result shall be made
out, signed by the president Of such Joint con-
vention or board of commissioners of election
and filed with the register, and thereupon the
person selected for the Office shall be notified
by the register and mayor. There shall also
be board OF police, composed Of i've persons,
TO be appointed by the judges of the supreme
court Of the District Of Columbia; q supcrin-
tendent OF pelice, TO be appointed by the board
OF police; three commissioners of elections for
each ward or election precinct, and board Of
Judges of election TO be composed of one person
from each ward, 10 be appointed by the Judges
OF the supreme court who shall hold their Of
hces for two years, and such other subordinate
officers as the boards of aldermen and council
men assembled in joint convention with the
mayor SHALL from time TO time, deem necessary
for the government Of the city. When assem-
bled Tor the election or appointment of officers
or for their removal, the mayor,i present, shall
pre- side. except when the question of the re-
moval of the mayor may be pending; but, if the
mayor shall be absent or refuse to serve, or be
disqualified TO act. the president of the board
of aldermen shall preside; if he and the mayor
should both De absent or refuse to act, the pres.
loent OF the board OF councilmen shall preside,
and if all three should be absent or refuse TO
ACT, the members of the two boards shall
proceed to elect presiding officer; and the Sec
retaries OF the two boards shall keep
record of the proceedings had in joint con ven.
uon, and spread il on the journals of the two
boards respectively. And when convened a
shall constitute quorum, and the
mayor and the members OF the two boards
prese mt shall each have one vote; the elections
shall be by ballot, and a ajority of the votes
cast shall be necessary for an election. The
first joint convention for this purpose shall be
con vened at ten o'clock ante meridiem, on the
third Monday Of April, ammo Domini eighteen
hundred and sixty -eight, and may adjourn
from day TO dav until this business is con-
cluded. And such Joint con vention shall be re-
at any time " hen vacancies in any of
the offices exist by the mayor, or by a concur
rent resolution OF the two boards: Prori9ed
That when convened on the third Monday of
April, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight or at
any OF the adjourned meetings thereafter, they
shall not remove from Office any person whose
term of Office may have commenced by an elec.
tiOn in or bya joint convention Of the mayor
time within two months of such third Monday
Of April; but they may abolish any Office, or
change the duties, salaries, or fees thereof
whenever they may deem 1t proper to do So
Sec. 4. Every male person of the age of
twenty lone years or upwards, born or natur.
allied in the United States, who shall have
been n inhabitan of the city of Washington
for the period OF one year, and Of the ward or
election precinct where he shall claim the
right to vote, for fifteen days next preceding
any election therein, shall be entitled to the
elective franchise, and be deemed an elector
thereof, except on-commissioned officers
soldiers, sailors, ard marines in the service OF
the United States, stationed or on duty in the
city, persons non cOmpoe mentis, persons found
TO be habitual drunkards, paupers, persons
under legal guardianship, persons convicted Of
any infamous crime, persons who left the Dis.
frict OF Columbia TO avoid being drafted in the