Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-05-23
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.


Mr.. Eaton. from the Judiciary Committee,
reported back the bill providing for the ap-
HorARIEs PUBLIC,
with amendments. The amendments provide
that all notaries pubic shall open offices for the
transaction of public business within sixty DAYS
after confirmation by the Council; other wise TO
forfeit their commissions.
Mr.. Thompson moved to amend by adding
after the words "the Governor shall appoint"
the ~, words "by and with the advice and consent
MIR. Brown moved to amend the amend
ment by inserting "the House of Delegates"
in place Of the Council; lost, by vote OF TO 1,
and Mr.. Thompson's amendment was then
adopted.
Mir. Cross moved to amend by authorizing the
Governor TO appoint a. many Justices OF the
peace as may be necessary. This amendment
Was subsequently withdrawn. The amendment
reported by the Judiciary Committee was
agreed to.
MIR. Thompson said there we're now q nota-
ries, and he moved 10 limit the number to be
appointed TO 40. Mr.. Gulick said thaaat least
10 Of the q were on the retired list, and doing
no business. Mr.. Thompson's motion was
adopted. Mr.. Peck moved an amendment that
they shall hold their Offices for three years
unless sooner removed by the Governor. The
notion was adopted, and the bill was then read
the third time and passed as amended.
Mr.. Hall, from the joint committee to fix upon
the
HOUR OF MEETING,
reported resolution naming the hour at three
g
Mr.. Quick, from the Finance Committee re-
ported a substitute amendment TO the bill pro-
vidiDg tor commission OF three citizens to
audit
THE OUTSTANDING CLAIMS
against the cities of Washington and George
town and the county, and to provide q plan FOR
powers of the commission, and not making their
decisions final. After some debate the bill
passed. Adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.-Mr. Brown in
north side of the canal to the gate of the Smith
soDian grounds; referred. Mr. Handy-resolu-
ton for gas lamps on 10th, between L. aud II
streets n. W.; referred. Mr.. Burgess-bills to
grade and gravel Ilth street, from n to Boun-
dairy street; TO cause street north to be or AIDED
and graveled; referred. Resolution authoriz-
ing the Sergeant at Arms to appoint a door
keeper, An assistant doorkeeper, and two pages:
referred. Mr.. Solomons submitted a resOlu-
ton, which was referred to the judiciary Com
mittee, requesting their views a. 60 the mean
ing of the term zone hundred days." as applied
to the session Of the Legislature, whether 1t
meant one hundred days of actual session, or
one hundred consecutive days.
THE MILITIA.
Mr.. Dickson submitted q resolution authoriz-
ing the Speaker to appoint an additional com
mittee, TO consist of three members, to be known
As the Committee on Militia, to which shall be
referred all matters relating to the orRaniZa-
ton, disciplining, and government OF the citi-
zen militia OF the District. Adopted.
POWERS OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
change of grade OF T street, from Iith to 23d
streets N. W., signed by W. Il. Webb and others
Referred to the Committee on Public Works.
Mr.. Moore hoped that the protest would be
spread upon the journal, and moved that IL be
printed. Here were the grades OF the city being
altered and great damage being done 10 prop.
erty without authority of law.
The motion to print was adopted-yeas 20,
Mr.. Hardness introduced resolution request
ing the Governor to report.to the House at his
earliest convenience, by what clause OF the
organic act and by what appropriation the
Board Of Public Works have been authorized
TO alter the plan of the city of Washington, by
directing, at great cost, radical changes to the
long established grades OF T street north, be-
tween 18th and 10Th streets west, and OF l1th
and 18th and other streets of that vicinity, to
the great damage of the costly Improvements
erected upon the squares fronting on said streets
Mr.. Boswell urged the adoption OF the resolu-
ton. 1t appeared from the protest that the
Board OF Public Works had no right TO ATTEMPT
to do this work without authority Of law, and
the Governor ought to be able to answer the
inquiry. No bill had yet been passed author
izing the work, and he would not give the
Board OF Public Works the power to opea
streets, &c, without authority from the Legs
lature.
Mr.. Murray offered as a substitute a resolu-
ton requesting the Governor 10 communicate
to this House bywhat authority and what nee So
sity occasioned a change OF grade on laid street
Mr.. Dickson moved an amendment to the sub
stitute, land what appropriation has been made
agreed
Mr.. Burgess claimed that the entire control
Of the streets was placed in the hands OF the
Board of Public Works by the 9th section of
the act OF Congress, but that they were required
to wait until an appropriation was made.
MIR. Hardness said that it was not a legal
question, but question of fact. The organic
act did not give TO the board the entire control
of the streets, hut simply entrusted them with
their repair. He charged that the Board of
Public Works had assumed prerogatives that
belonged to the United States alone The rights
OF The citizens were being outraged, and there
should not be any delay. The fact was patent
that the work was being done, and the House
should know the authority under which il was
done. he handed the tnformationin the name
of the people of the District OF Columbia. The
people were becoming aiar med, and they should
be informed upon the subject.
Mr.. Moore said that vote of reference would
be to delay the inquiry while the mischief was
Mr.. Meningitis motion was lost, and the
substitute a. amended by Mr.. Dickson was
adopted.
FRONT Poor TAX FOB STREET IMPROVEMENT.
MIR II aIkness also offered g resolution direct
ing the Committee on Public Works to inquire
into the eIpediency Of the enactment OF gene
raj law REQ airing the consent OF the owners of
majority Of the front foot for improvements.
involving tax upon adjoining property unless
such work Is ordered by twO-thirds vote in
each House. Adopted-yeas, IS; nays, (Messrs.
Brown, Bursley, Carroll, Cox and McKnight,)5.
THE STREET PIGHT CONTINUED.
Mt. Moore introduced a concurrent resolu-
NUN DOdIu OF PUBLIC NOrks to
suspend work commenced on Z street, between
L til and Goth, until the same IL authorized by
the lie legislature, and an appropriation is made
therefor.
Mr.. Davis said that 1t seemed that a conflict
was impending between the Legislature and the
Board OF Public Works. he was willing to
adopt the resolution, il it did not place the
House in a wrong position.
MT. Campbell said the work had been awarded
to j. V. W. Nandenburg for 81 so by the MAYOR
of the city OF Washington.
Mr. Moore said the whole amount approprf-
ated by the city Councils was but 500 and con-
templated only repairs TO the street. The MAYOR
had assured him that he had not authorized the
work.
MIR. Boswell read the notice of the Board of
Public Works, dated May 10, fOrbiddiny Others
tb an those authorized By the board from per
forInin 3 any pu bic works, and said il was well
known that the IayOT and other CORPORATION
officers had been enjOined by the courts from
authorizing work of this nature.
The House refused to suspend the ruIes And
the resolution was referred 70 the Committee
on Public Works.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Mr.. Moore offered resolution providing for
the printing OF all bills ana joint resolutions
after being introduced and read once in the
House. Adopted.
Mr.. Mcknight offered a resolution requesting
the Governor to inform the House by what au.
thority the office OF clerk Of the Board of Health
bad been created, and a salary OF 81 200 fixed
for the same, and An appoint ment made to said
once, &C. The resolution adopted, Messrs