Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-20
New District Government Proposed.
Mr.. BUCRNER's HILL FOR AN ELECTIVE

resentatives by Mr.. Buckner on the 18th
| instant "to provide an elective government
/ for the District of Columbia" has a long pre-
amble quoting the Declaration OF Independ-
ence, the Constitution, etc, etc, on equal
rights and the suffrage question, protesting
against the present District government as
an oligarchy, etc, etc.
The bill enacts that the District of Column
bia shall hereafter constitute one municipal
ity, and from and after June lst, 1876, its af-
fairs shall be conducted by a mayor and
municipal council, TO be elected annually by
the people; that all citizens OF the United
states OF lawful age, except such as are non
coiHpOs or persons convicted of infamous
crimes, who have resided within the District
for twelve months prior to an election there
IN, and within any election or assembly dis
trict for thirty days Immediately preceding
such election, shall be entitled to vote in
F such district at such election, and shall be
eligible TO any office within the District; but
no person holding an Office under the gov
eminent OF the United States, and maintain
. ing residence elsewhere shall be eligible to
any Office In said District; nor shall any per-
son holding an Office under the government
. OF the United States the emOluments OF
which exceed five hundred dollars annually
receive any compensation for performing
the duties OF any other office in the District
OF COlum bia.
Section prescribe the duties of the mayor
| Sec 6. The municipal council shall consist
oil hfty-six members, who shall possess the
| qualifications of voters.
/ Sec. Z. That for the pur pose Of holding the
| first election under this act two members OF
the municipal council shall be chosen from
each election district as established by the
| late legislative assembly Of the District O Z
/ Columbia, and twelve shall be chosen at
| large; and thereafter the number AMI bound
/ aries OF wards or election districts or pre-
| cinctS, and the appOrtiOnmento of representa-
| lion, shall be determined by the council:
| I'Totfded, That not less than twenty four
| election districts shall be formed in the Dis
| trict, and not less than one representative
from each election district so formed shall
| Sec. s. The first election under this act
| shall be held on the first Monday in June
next. and shall be conducted in the manner
last provided by the legislative assembly for
| elections in this District, except that for
such first election the proper officers of regis
tration and election shall be appointed and
be removable by the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia: PTOrided, That such
appointments shall be divided as equally as
possible between different local and political
parties; and thereafter all elections for mayor
and for members of the municipal council
and for such other District officers as may
be chosen by the people of the District. shall
be held on the first Monday in June of each
year.
Sec. 9. The mem bers- elect of the municipal
council shall meet for organization on the
third Monday in June, 1876, and upon the
tkird Monday In June in each year there
Sec. 10. Each council shall. upon its Or
ganiZatiOn, and when vacancies occur, elect,
By yeas and nays, one of its members, who
shall be presiding officer of the council.
Sec. II. The municipal council shall be the
judge of the election-returns of its members
prescribe the rules of its proceeding, deter
mine ard choose Its necessary and subOrdi-
nate officers, and establish the COMPENSATION
OF its officers and members; amaiOrity of the
assembly shall constitute quorum, but a
minority can compel, upon call of the
members, the attendance of absentees.
Sec. II. Regular meetings of the municipal
council may be held at least once in each
week, but snail not he required TO meet
during the months of July ana August in any
year, except 10y extraordinary proclamation
OF The mayor calling them together.
Sec Is. Provides for adjourned and special
meetings.
Sec IA. The meetings OF the municipal
council and of all executive bodies, commits
S1Ons, or boards of administration, now or
hereafter established within the District,
shall be public; and all their records, con-
tracts. proceedings, vouchers. and accounts
at all times he open 10 the public inspection.
secs; 10 and 10 prescribe rules for the ma
nicipal assembly.
Sec. II. The mayor, with the consent OF
the municipal council, shall appoint twelve
justices of the peace, who shall be paid an
a. nual salary of -, 600 compensation.
Sec. Is. NOtaTieS public snail be appointed
by tue mayor, with the consent of the coun-
Sec. ~. That the municipal council shall
have no power TO abridge the right of suf-
frage; nor 10 tax the lands or property of
non-Iesidents higher than the lands or other
property OF residents; nor to impose any per
capita tax ON persons; nor to exempt any
waite or corporate property from its fair
p poTtiOnate share of taxation; nor to grant
10 any corporation any exclusive privilege
over the liberty or property of citizens of the
District or of states residing In the District.
Sec. 20. The municipal council shall have
power TO fix the hours and compensation OF
labor on all public works in the District OF
Columbia, inaugurated either by the cOun-
eli Itself or by the government Of the United
States.
Sec. u. The municipal council shall pro-
vide for the supper tofthe poor.
Sec. p. The council Imay establish a uni
form system OF public schools for the free
education OF all youths within the District,
and may provide for the election ofa school
board by the votes of all adult residents of
the res pective schOOl-districtS; and any per-
son entitled TO vote for the school board shall
be eligible TO be elected thereto.
Secs. = and "a provides that the council
snail define the duties andefiX the number
and compensation of District officers; and
may provide for tine election, by the District
at large, of the necessary officers charged
with the performance Of general duties, and
for the election, by sub districts, of officers
charged with the performance of local duties;
nd all officers not made elective by the PEG.
pie, and not otherwise provided for by Con-
gresS, shall be annually chosen by the NUM-
cipsl assembly.
Sec. 25 provides for the removal OF Off
GERS.
Sec. 26 is in reference TO advertising.
Sec. q. The council may adopt or ratify !
any ordinances deemed necessary by the !
Board OF Health for the prevention or dis !
ease and the abatement Ofnuisances: but no !
powers shall be exercised by said Board of |
Health not explicitly granted thereto by the
council or by Congress.
Sec. rs. The council shall have power to !
provide for the government and fixing of
compensation of the metropolitan police
force of the District OF Columbia; vacancies
hereafter occurring in the board of police to
be filled by the mayor, by consent of the
council, and the board OF police commits
SiCneTs for the District of Columbia are
abolished.
Sec. % prescribes what subjects the coun-
ellis can legislate on.
Sec. so. The council snail have power 10 |
cause the several street railway companies
within the District TO conform To the condi- |
tons of their respective charters, and may |
make such regulations relative thereto as
the case may require; fix the hours of labor !
OF conductors and drivers of the different
companies now organize in the District, etc
Sec. 81. The council shall exercise due
supervision and control over all District
expenditures.
Sec. - provides 50 for eight hours work by
day laborers, with back pay for laoorers
under the Board of Public Works.
Sec. S.. There shall be appointed a board of
public imprOvem emit, TO carry on public i'm
pTOvemeDIs and supervise the letting of con-
tracts on the part OF the District of Colum-
bia, and on the Fort of the Government OF
the United States nv the advice and cOnSent