Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-09
The New Plan for the District Gov.
eruRaenr.

eEuhfents
The following is the fun text OF the amend
ment proposed To be offered by Senator Sar-
gent as a substitute for the bill now before
the Senate for the better government OF the
District:
Sec. I. That the District of Columbia shall
hereafter constitute one municipality, and
shall. so far as practicable, be governed by
uniform laws applicable 10 all portions
thereof
See ?. That the District is continued n BODY
corporate for municipal purposes by the
name Of the District of Columbia; and by
that name may sue and be sued. contract and
be contracted with, have a seal, and exercise
all other powers of a municipal corporation
rot inconsistent with the laws of the United
States governing the District.
Sec. 3. That from and after the third Mon
day in April, 1875. the affairs of the District
shall be conducted, under the supervision
and subject to the general legislative powers
council, to be elected in part and in part APP
pointed, as hereinafter provided.
Sec. 4. That the executive power and au-
thOTity in and over said District of Columbia
shall be vested in a mayor, who shall be
elected as hereinafter provided. and shall
hold his office for two years and until his
successor shall qualify. He shall have the
qualifications of a voter in said District. He
may grant pardOnS and rcspiteS for offences
against the laws OF said District enacted by
the council thereof; he shall commission all
officers who shall be elected or appointed TO
| office under the laws of the said District en-
acted as aforesaid, and shall take care that
| the laws be faithfully executed.
Sec. .. That every act, ordinance, or reSO-
| luton which shall have passed the council
shall, before il becomes a law. he presented
| TO the mayor of the District Of Columbia. II
| he approve, he shall sign it; but if not, he
| shall return il, with his objections to the
council who shall enter the objections at
| large on their journal, and proceed to recon-
| slider ii. If. after such reconsideration. two
| thirds of all the members appointed and
| elected to the council shall agree to pass the
| act ordinance, or resolution, it shall become
| law; but in all such cases the vote shall be
| determined by yeas and nays, and the names
| OF the persons voting for and against the act,
ordinance, or resolution shall be entered on
| the journal. If any act, ordinance, or reSOlu-
| ton shall not he returned by the mayor at
| the next regular meeting of the council after
| il shall have been presented 10 him. the same
| shall be law in like manner as ii he had
| signed il, unless the council, by their adj
| jouTnmcnt. prevent its return. in which case
| val, resignation, or other disability of the
mayor, the presiding officer OF the council
| shall act in his stead during the continuance
| of such vacancy or disability.
Sec. g. That the legislative power and aUl-
| thOrity in said District shall be vested i'll Il
council, whose powers shall extend only To
! in the following section. The council shall
consist of twelve nlSmberS. who shall be
| qualified voters in said District, six of whom
shall be appointed by the President, by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate,
| and six of whom shall be elected by the
| voters of the District at large. as hereinafter
! provided. The members of said council shall
| hold office for two years and until their sue
cesSOrS shall qualify.
See. 4 That the legislative powers of the
| council shall extend to the following sub
| jectS, subject to repeal or mOdifica ton by
| the Congress of the United States: The eStab-
| hSEmCnt and enforcement of health and san
| itary regulations, and the abatement of
| nuisances; the establishment and mainten-
| aHce of Il free public-schOoI system; the cs-
| Enlistment and maintenance of a police de-
| partment; the establishment and mainten-
ance of fire department; the establishment
and maintenance of a system of street. road
! bridge. and sewer Improvements and repairs:
| the establishment and maintenance of build
| ing regulations; the leVying and collection
! of taxes and licenses in conformity with tho
provisions of this act; the establishment and
| maintenance OF militia organization for
| the District.
| Sec. s. That all officers necessary TO carry
| into effect the acts, ordinances, and reSoltI-
| tfOns now in force, or which may be passed
| by said. council i'm pursuance of the foregoing
| sectio8k shall be nominated, and, by and
with 4e advice and consent of the council,
| appointed. by the mayor, and hold office du-
| ring his pleasure.
Sec. Q. That the first election under this
| act shall be held on the second Tuesday i'm
| April next. and shall be conducted, as far as
! may be applicable, i'll the manner last pro-
| vided by the legislative assembly for cleo
| election, the proper officers OF registration
| and election shall be appointed and be re
! movable by the commissioners OF the Dis
trict: and said commissioners shall canvass
| the returns of said election, make public
| proclamatiOnS OF the result thereof. and Ger
tify TO each persen elected the fact of his cleo
ton; such appointments shall be divided as
| iairlyaS may he between different local or po-
| litical parties; and thereafter all elections
for mayor and for members of the council
shall be held on the second Tuesday in April
| in each alternate year. All male citizens OF
| the United States OF lawful age, except such
| as are non compoS, or persons convicted of
infamous crimes, who have resided within
| the District for twelve months prior 10 an
| election therein, and within any election Or
| assembly district for thirty days immediate
| ly preceding such election. shall be entitled 10
vote in such district at such election, ana
| shall be eligible to any Office within the Dis
| trlct; but 10 person holding an Office under
the Government of the United States and
| maintaining a residence elsewhere, shall be
| eligible TO any office in said District.
See. 10. That the mayor shall enter upon
| his duties, and the members of the council
| shall meet for organization and enter upon
| their duties, on the third Monday in April.
eighteen hundred and Sevcnty-five, and on
| the third Monday in April of each alternate
| year thereafter; and the present government
| of the District shall continue until that day.
The oath OfOffiCe 10 the mayor and the mem
bers of the council shall he administered by
aJuStice of the supreme court of the District
OIL Columbia.
Sec. II. That The council shall upon its or
ganiZatiOn and when vacancies occur, elect
by ballot. one of its members who shall be
the presiding officer of the council.
See. II. That the council shall be the judge
| of the election-returns and uualifica ions of
its members, prescribe the rules of its pro-
ceedinss, determine and choose its neces-
sary subordinate officers. and establish their
compensation; and a majority OF the council
shall constitute quorum.
Sec. Il. That regular meetings of the coun-
ell shall be held at least once in each month,
but shall not be required To be holden during
the months OF July and August in any year
See. "A. That adjourned and special meet
lngs may be held when necessary, but no spe-
cial meeting shall be called except upon the
proclamation OF the mayor; and no business
shall be transacted at any special meeting
other than such as shall be specifically men
toned III the proclamation.
See. IS. That the meetings of the council
shall be public. and all their records, con
tracts, proceedings, vouchers, ami accounts
snail be, at all proper times, open 10 public
inspection.
Sec. 10. That the acts of the council may he
expressed in the form OF acts. ordinances and
resolutions, and shall be attested by the sig
natures of The president and the secretary of
the council and the approval of the mayor:
and all ordinances and resolutions shall
forthwith, upon their passage be prOInul-
gated by advertisements or publications in
such manner as the council may provide.
Sec. l.. That ut the request of any member.
the yeas and nays shall be taken upon any
question and entered upon the Journal; and
on the final passage OF all bills. resolutions,
and ordinances the vote shall be by yeas and
upOn each measure Spp;irafaIv and shall