Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-08-21
GENERAL NATuRE-No. GAL

AN ACT for the government Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, and for other purpos-
BE il enacted Jy the Senate and House Of
Representatives Of The United States Of
1mericd, in Congress assembled, That all
prov visions of law providing for an eXecu-
tive, for IA secretary for the District, for
legislative assembly, for bodrc of public
works, and for delegate in Congress in
the District of Columbia are hereby repeal
cd Prorided, That this repeal shall not
affect the term Of Office Of the present Del
cgate in Congress.
SEC. 2. That the Presidento of the United
States, by and with the advice and consent
Of the Senate, is hereby authorized to ap-
point commission, consisting OF three
persons, who shall, until otherwise provid-
ed 10y law, exercise all the power and au-
thority now lawfully vested in the govern
or or hoard of public works Of said Dis
trict, except a. hereinafter limited; and
shall be subject to all the restrictions and
limitations now imposed by law on said
governor or board and shall have power
to apply the taxes or other revenue' of said
District to the payment of the current ex-
pcnscs thereof, to the support of the pub
lie schools, the fire department, and the po-
lice, an tn the payment of the debts Of
aiid District secured by n pledge Of the
securities of said District or board Of pub
lie works as collateral, and also to the pay
ment Of debts due to labpTers ahd employ
ees of the District and board of public
works; and for that purpose shall take
possession and supervision of all the of
fees, books, papers, records, moneys, cred
its. securities, assets, and accounts belong
ing or appertaining to the business or in
terests OF the government OF the District Of
Columbia and the boaru Of public works,
and exercise the power and authority afDte-
said bnt said cOmmis issiOn, in the exercise
of such power or authority, shall make no
81. .aNa fla.aH
than such contracts and obligations as may
be necessary To the faithful administration
of the valid laws enacted for the govern
mcnt Of said District, to the execution Of
existing legal obligations and contracts,
and to the protection or preservation of i'm
provemcnts existing, or nmenced and
not completed, at the time OF the passage of
| this act. All taxes heretofore law fully as
| scssCd and due or to become due shall he
| collected pursuant 10 law, except as here
| in otherwise TTpvided; but said commits
sioners shall have no power TO anticipate
taxes by sale or hypothecalion of any
| such taxes, or evidence thereof: Provided,
| That nothing in this clause contained shal
| affect any provisions OF law authorizing or
| requiring a deposit Of certificates of as
sessment with the sinking fund commits
| sioners of said District and said commits
Sioners are hereby authorized 10 abolish
| any office, To consolidate two or more Of
| fees, reduce the number of employees, re-
move from office, and make appointments
| toany office authorized by law and the
| COMPENSATION of all officers and EMPLOYEES,
except teachers in the public schools, aud
| officers and employees In the fire depart
| ment, shall he reduced twenty per centum
per annunl. Said commissioners shall
each, ber1re entering upon the discharge Oi
his duties, take an oath tosuppOrt the Con-
| slitutiOn Of ,ie United States and to faith
fully discharge the duties imposed upon
| him by law and shall each giVo bond in
the enal sum of finy thousand dollars, tc
be approved by the Secretary Of the Treas
ury for the faithful discharge of the duties
of his office; and shall each receive for his
services a compensation at tue rate OF five
thousand dollars per annum: PrOUided
That nothing in this act shall be construed
to abate or la any wise Interfere with any
suit pending in favor Of or against the Dis
trict of Columbia: find prOUided further
That in lits hereafter commenced agains
the District of Columbia, process may bt
served on aHy one of said commissioners
until otherwise provided by law.
SEC. B. That the President of the United
States shall detail an officer of the Engin
eer Corps of the Army of the United States
who shall, subject to tho general supervis
ion and direction of the said board of c0ul
missioners, have the control and charge O
the work of repair and improvement Of al
streets, avenues, alleys, sewers, roads ant
bridges of the District of COlumbiai an'
he is hereby vested with all the power anC
authority of, aud shall perform the dulie
heretofore devolved upon the chief engin
eer of the board Of public works. ii
shall tako possession Of and preserve an,
, keep, all the instruments pertaining to sal
office, and all the maps, charts, surveys
books, records, and papers relating to sale
District, or to any OF the avenues, streets
I alleys, public spaces, squares, lots an
, buildings thereon, sewers, or any OF then
as are now in or belonging TO the office {
, said engineered the board Of public works
r and shall, in hooks provided for that Pur
+ pose, keep and preserve the records nov
= required To he kept, and such as may be RI
quired by regulations OF said board. III
may, with the advice and consent of sal
7 board of commissioners, appoint not NOR
0 than two assistant engineers from civil lilt
I who shall each receive a salary of on
5 thousand eight hundred dollars per annuu
= and shall be subject TO his direction an
d control. He shall receive no additions
Q compensation for such services. And
2 shall not be deemed by reason of anythiu
: in this act contained to hold a civil off
= under the laws Of the United States. An
= no salary or compensation shall be paid
!; the surveyor of The District, OF any of b
: subordinates, except such fees for speci
: services as arc allowed by law. And Il
|, offices of assistant surveyor and addition