National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-21
LGENERAL NAruRE-No. 81

An ACT for the government OF the District Of
Columbia, and for other purposes.
Be IL enacted By the Senate and HIrESs Of Rep
reSsntQfi1ss Of the EItitsd States of America IN
Congress assembled, That all provisions of law
providing for an executive, for secretary for
the District, for . legislative assembly, for 3
board of public works, and for Delegate in
Congress In the District of Columbia are hereby
repealed: Provided, That this repeal shall not
affect the term Of Office of the present Delegate
in Congress. .....-. -.........- -.
Sec. 3. That the President Of the United
States, by and with the advice and conseaB of
the Senate, Is hereby authorized to appoint q
commission, consisting Of three persons, who
shall, until otherwise provided by law, exercise
all the power and authority now lawfully vested
In the governor or board of public works Of
said District, except as hereinafter limited; and
shall be subject to all the restrictions and lin
tations now imposed by law on said governor
or board; and shall have power to apply the
taxes or other revenues Of said District TO- the
payment of the current expenses thereof, to
The support Of the public schools, the fire de-
partment and the police, and to the payment
Of the debts of said District, secured by a
pledge Of the securities Of said District or board
Of public works as collateral, and also to the
payment OF debts due to laborers and employ
ees Of the District and board of public works;
and for that purpose shall take possession and
supervision OF all the Offices, books, papers,
records, moneys, credits, securities, assets and
accounts belonging to and appertaining to the
business or interests Of the government of the
District of Columbia and the board Of public
works, and exercise the power and authority
aforesaid; but said commission, in the exercise
Of such power or authority, shall make noeon-
tract, nor incur any obligation other than such
contracts and obligations as may be necessary
to the faithful administration OF the valid laws
enacted for the government Of said District, to
the execution Of existing legal obligations and
contracts, and to the protection or preserV1-
ton Of improvements existing, or commences
and not completed, at the time Of the passage
of this act. All taxes heretofore lawfully as
sessed and due or to become due shall be col
lected pursuant to law, except as herein otherr
wise provided; but said commissioners shall
have no power to anticipate taxes by sale OF
hypotP ecation Of any such taxes, OF. evidence
thereof: Provided, That nothing In this clause
contained shall affect any provisions Of law aur
thorizing or requiring deposit Of certificates
of assessment with the sinking-fund cofnuiia
sioners of said District; and said commits
sioners are hereby authorized to abolish
any office, to consolidate two or more
offices, reduce the number Of employees, re-
move from Office, and make appointments 10
any Office authorized by law; and the compen-
sation of all officers and employees, except
teachers in the public schools, and officers and
duced twenty per eentum per annum. Said
commissioners shall each, before entering
upon the discharge Of his duties, take an oath
to support the Constitution of the United
States, and to faithfully discharge the duties
imposed upon him by law; and shall each give
bond in the penal sum Of fifty thousand dol
lara, to be approved by the Secretary of the
Treasury, for the faithful discharge Of the dg-
ties of his Office; and shall each receive for his
q nor A. ut rat n
thousand dollars per ahnum: PrOVidsd, That
nothing in this act shall be construed to abate
or In any wise interfere with any suit pending
in favor Of or against tha District of Columbia:
And pT0gidcd further, That in suits hereafter
commenced against the District of Columbia,
process may be served on any one Of said COM
sioners until otherwise provided b. law.
Sec. 8. That the President of the United
States shall detail an officer of the Engineer
Corps Of the army Of the United States who
shall, subject TO the general supervision and
direction Of the said board of commissioners,
have the control and charge of the work of re-
pair and Improvement of all streets, avenues,
alleys, sewers, roads, and bridges of the Dis
trict of Columbia; and he is hereby vested with
ali the power and authority Of, and shall per-
! form the duties heretofore deyolVed upon, the
\ chief engineer Of the board of public works.
| He shall take possession Of, and preserve and
keep all the instruments pertaining to said office,
and all the maps charts, surveys books, records,
and papers relating to said District, or to
any of the avenues, streets, alleys, public
spaces, squares, lots and buildings thereon,
sewers, or any Of them, as are now in or be-
longing to the Office Of said engineer of the
board Of public works, and shall, in books pro-
Vided for that purpose, keep and preserve the
records now required to be kept, and such es
may be required BY regulations OF said board.
He may, with the advice and consent Of said
board of commissioners, appoint not more than
two assistant engineers from civil Hfe, who shall
each receive a salary OF one thousand eight
hundred dollars per annum, and shall be sub
! iect to his direction and control. He shall re-
eeive no additional compensation for such ser
! vices. And he shall not be deemed by reason
Of anything IN this act contained to hold civil
( Office under the laws of the United States.
/ Aud no salary or compensation shall be paid to
the surveyor Of the District, or any Of his suo-
ordinates, except such fees for special services
as are allowed by law. Aud the Offices OF as
sistsnt surveyor aAd additional assistant sur
Yeyor Of the District Of Columbia are hers9y
abolished.
/ Ito be eoHifnHsi.)