Evening star., 1870-01-15
The Proposed Change I'm its Form OF
(sOypPmm

nesday evening last, for the purpose or taking
into consideration plan for change in the
municipal government of this district, was held
to-day at one O'Clock p. m, at Kilbourn *
Latta's Office, Mr.. S. p. Brown in the chair. and
present Messrs. A. II. shepherd, DIR. III. Linds-
ley, DIR. c. II. Nichols, Colonel j. A. Magruder
Colonel w. ii. Philip, VIM. b. Todd, and Hallet
Kilbourn.
Mr.. Shepherd, from the sub. committee ap-
pointed to draft a bill for the approval OF the
committee, and to be by them presented TO Con-
gress for its action, submitted the following,
which seemed to meet the approval OF the com
mittee:
AN ACT to provide Territorial Government
for the District of Columbia.
Be ii enacted by the Senate and House IF Repre-
senidtires cf the United States cf America in Con-
gress assembled, That all that part of the United
States known as the District of Columbia he,
and the same is hereby. organized into a Terri
torial Government, by the name of the District
OF Columbia.
Sec, .. And be IL further enacted, That the ex-
ecutive power and authority in and over said
District of Columbia shall be vested in a Cover
nOr WHO shall hold his Office for four years, and
until his successor shall be appointed and quail
fed, unless sooner removed by the President OF
the United States, with the advice and consent
Of the Senate. The Governor shall reside
within said District, shall be Commander
in-Chief of the militia thereof, and shall
approve all laws passed 10y the Legislative
Assembly before they shall take effect, unless
the same shall be passed by a two-thirds vote of
said Assembly, as provided in section five of this
act; he shall commission all officers who shall
he appointed to office under the laws of said
District, and shall take care that the laws be
faithfully executed.
Sec. 3. ind be at further enacted, That there
shall be a Secretary of SAID District. who shall
reside therein, and hold his Office for four wears
unless sooner removed by the President of the
United States, with the consent of the Senate:
he shall record and preserve all the laws and
proceedings OF the Legislative Assembly herein
after constituted, ana all acts and proceedings
of the Governor in his executive department.; he
shall transmit one copy of the laws and eXecu-
tive proceedings on or before the first day Of
December in each year to the President of
the United States, and at the same time
two copies of the laws to the Speaker OF the
House OF Representatives and two copies to the
President OF the Senate for the use of Congress:
in case of re moval, resignation or absence of the
Governor, the Secretary shall exercise all the
powers and perform all the duties of the Gov
ernor during such vacancy or absence, or until
another Governor he appointed.
SEC. 4. And be ii further enacted That the legis-
latiye power and authority of said District shall
be vested in the Governor and Legislative As
Scmbly. The Legislature shall consist OF a
Council and House of Assembly. The Council
shall consist OF eleven members, TO be appointed
by the President OF the United States, by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate, and
whose term of Office shall continue four years.
and each of whom shall he a resident Of the sai;i
District, and a qualified voter therein. The
members, whose term Of Office shall continue
two years. and who shall be elected by the qua
lifted voters in said District, in accord
ance with the laws now in force regulating
elections in said District far as applicable.
Each member OF the House OF As emily
shall be a resident and qualified voter in
the District from which he is elected; the trst
election TO be held at such times and places. and
to be conducted in such manner as the Governor
may direct; all subsequent elections to be held
at such time and in such manner as NAV be pre-
Hl l.
the greatest number of votes for the House OF
Assembly shall be declared by elle Governor to
be elected members of the House of Assembly
PTOrided, That in case of n tie vote between tw
or more persons voted for, the Governor shall
crder a new election. The first Legislative A.
semby shall meet at sue time the Governoi
may appoint, but thereafter the time of meetin,
to be prescribed by law.
Sec. 8. And be al further enacted, That the leg
iSlative power OF the District shall embrace al
powers conferred by the present charters OF
the cities of Washington and Georgetown, anu
shall extend to all other rightful subject
OF legislation consistent with the constitu-
Every bill which shall have passed the Council
aid House of Assembly shall, before it becom,s
a law, be presented to the Governor; ii he ap-
proves he shall sign it, if not he shall return il
with his objections to the House in which it
originated uwhO shall enter the objections al
large upon their journal and proceed to recon
slider it. If, after such reconsideration, two
thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill,
ii shall be sent, with the objections to the other
House, by which it shall likewise be reconsid-
cred, and if approved by two-thirds of that
the votes of both Houses shall be determined by
yeas and nays, to be entered ON the journal OF
each House respectively. If any bill shall moi
be returned by the Governor within five day>
Sunday excepted) after it shall have been pre-
sented to him, the same shall become a law il
like manner as if he had signed it, unless the
Assembly, by adjournment, prevent its return,
in which case 1t shall not be a law.
Sec. b. A0d be ii further enacted That the Gov
ernOr shall nominate, and by and with the ad-
vice and consent of the Council, appoint ali
except Judges and officers Of the courts, and all
other officers whose appointment may be pro-
vided for by special acts Of Congress.
Sec: I. ASdt 1t further enacted, That no mem
ber of the Legislative Assembly shall hold or be
appointed to any Office which shall have been
created, or the salary or emoluments Of which
shall have been increased while he was a mem
Der, during the term for which he was elected.
and tor one year after the expiration OF such
term.
Sec. 6. And be 1t further enacted, That as soon
as the Governor and Council are appointed, the
duties and powers of the Mayors and Councils OF
the cities Of Washington and Georgetown, and
the Levy Court shall cease and determine; but
all other offices shall continue until otherwise
made under the provisions of this act
Secs. iRd be 1t further enacted, That the Gov
ernOr and Secretary shall be appointed by the
President OF the United States, by and with the
nor ard Secretary shall take an oath or affirma-
ton for the faithful discharge OF their duties
before entering upon the same. The Governor
si:all receive an annual salary OF -; the
Secretary shall receive an annual salary OF
-, both of which shall he paid quarter year
ly. The members OF the Legislative Assembly
shall be entitled toreceive each - per diem.
The salaries of the Governor and of the Council
TO be paid out of the Treasury OF the United
States, and that of the members of the Assem-
bly, shall be paid by the District.
Sec. 10. And be 1t further enacted That the
Congress Of the United States reserves to itself
the right to repeal or annul any and ell acts
which may be passed by the Legislative Assem-
bly, OF the said District.
Sec. II. And Ge ii further enacted, That Dele
gate to the House Of Representatives OF the
United States, to serve during each Con-
gress OF the United States, shall be elected
by the voters qualified to elect members OF
the legislative Assembly. who shall be en-
titled to the same rights and privileges As
from the several Territories Of the United States
in the House of Representatives. The first cleo
ton to be held at such time and in such man
ner as the Governor and Council may appoint;
at all other elections the time and manner o.
holding elections shall be prescribed by law
The person having the greatest number OF vote
shall be declared by the Governor elected, and
a certificate of election accordingly given him
Sec. II. And be 1t furtLer enacted, That il shall
be the duty Ut the Legislative Assembly, when
convened, to make an equitable apportionmeni
and adjustment Of the debts due respectiyely bv
the cities Of Washington and Georgetown and
Levy Court.
Sec. 1S. And be IT, Ifurther enacted, That the laws