National Republican., 1876-01-21

On Tuesday Mr.. Buckner introduced bill in
the House Of Representatives "to provide an elec'
tive government for the District OF Columbia,
which was referred TO the Committee on the DIS
triet.
The bill enacts that the District of Columbia
Xhall hereafter constitute one municipality, ana
from and after June /, 1876, its affairs shall be
conducted by mayor and municipal council, 70
ne elected annually by the people; that all citi.
zeps of the United States Of lawful age, except
sSch as are non compoS, or persons convicted OF
infamous crimes, who have resided within the
District for twelve months prior to an election
therein, and within any election or assembly ais
trict for thirty days Immediately preceding such
election shall be entitled TO vote In such district
At such election and shall be eligible to any once
within the District; bat NO person holdIng an
once under the Government of the United states,
and maintaining a residence elsewhere, shall be
el1CibIe to any office in the District; nor snail
any person holding an ns Gss Inc em0umepts Of
which exceed $500 annually, receive any compen-
sation for performing the duties Of any other once
in the District OF Columbia.
section ave prescribes the duties Of the mayor.
Sec g. The municipal council shall consist Of
hfty six members, who shall possess the Qualih:s-
ttOns Of voters.
Ser. Z That for the purpose Of holding the fi.st
election under this act two membe OF the mu-
RicIpal council shall be chosen from each election
district as established by the late Legislative
Assembly Of the District Of Columbia, and twelve
shall be chosen az large; and thereafter the num-
Der and boundaries of wards or election districts
or precucts, and the apportionment of representa-
sion shall be determined by the council: Provided,
That not less than tTenty-four election districts
shall be formed in the District, and not less than
one representative from each election district so
formed shall be chosen.
THE FIRST ELECTION.
Sec S. The first election under this act shall be
held on the first Monday in June next, and shall
he conducted In the manner last provided by the
Legislative Assembly for elections in this Dis
irct except that for such first election the proper
oftcers OF registration and election shall be ap-
nsiHtsd and be removable by the Supreme Court
Of the District of Columbia: PfOrtdet, That such
appointments shall be divided as equally as posi-
bic between different local and political parties;
and thereafter the elections for mayor and Tor
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
EOuday in June Of each year.
Sec. .. The members. elect OF the municipal
council shall meet for organization on the third
Monday in June, 1876. and upon the third Monday
IN June in each year thereafter.
Sec. 10. Each council shall, upon its reorgan-
iEatiou, and when vacancies occur, elect oy yeas
and nays, one of its members, who shall be pre-.
Eiding officer of the council.
See. II. The municipal council shall be the Judge
Of the election returns OF Its members, prescribe
the ruIes OF its proceeding, determine and choose
Its necessary and subordinate officers, and es;ao-
lish the compensation of its officers and members;
a majority Of the assembly shall constitute q
quorum, bat a minority can compel, upon call
Of the membG IS, the attendance OF aosentees.
WEEKLY MEETINGS.
Ser II. REGULAR meetings of the municipal
council may Ue hell at le st once IN each week,
buJ snail not be required to meet during the
months of July and August in any year, except
BY extraordinary proclamation oil the mayor call,
in them together.
Section thirteen provides for adjourned and
Sec. Il. The meetings of the municipal council
and of all executive bodies commissions or boards
of administration, now or hereafter established
within the District, shall I've public; and all their
records, contracts, proceedings, vouchers and &C
counts at all times be open to the public inspec-
Sections fifteen and sixteen prescribe rules for
the municipal assembly:
See Il. The mayor, with the consent of the mu-
eipal council, shall appoint twelve justices o. the
peace, who shall be paid an annual salary OF 1000
compensation.
See. IS. Notaries public shall be appointed by
the mayor, with the consent OF the council.
Sec. -. That the municipal council shall have
no power to abridge the right of suffrage; nor to
tax the lands or property of non-re3idents higher
than the lands or otner property OF residents; nor
10 impose any per capita tax on persons; nor TO
exempt any private or corporate property from
its fair proportiOnate share Of taxation; @ nor to to
over the liberty or property OF citizens oi the
District or Of States residing in the District
PAY OF LABoRERs.
Sec 20. The municipal council shall have power
10 fiN the hours and compensation OF labor on all
public works in the District OF Columbia, in.
augurste either by the council itself or by the
Government OF the United States,
Il II.
the support Of the poor.
Sec. = The council may establish a uniform
system of public schools for the free education OF
Of all youths within the District, and may provide
for the election OF a school board by the votes of
all adult residents Of the respective school dis.
tIIcts: and any person entitled to vote for the
school board snail be eligible 10 be elected
thereto.
Sections twenty.three and twenty four provide
that the council shall define the duties and f1S
the number and compensation Of District officers;
and may provide TOR the election, by the District
1t large, Of the necessary officers charged with
the performance OF general duties, and for the
election, by subdistricts, Of officers charged with
the performance Of local duties: and all Oficers
not made elective by the people, and not other
chosen by the municipa! assembly.
Section twenty-five provides for the renewal oil
officers.
Section twenty six is in reference to advertising
Sec. -. The council may adopt or rati!y any
ordinances deemed necessary by the Board oi
Health for the prevention Of disease and the
abatement of nuisslces: but no powers shall be
exercised by said Board OF Health not explicitly
granted thereto by the council or by Congress.
POWER OF THE COUNCIL.
Sec. IS. The council shall have power to pro
vide for the government and fixing Of cOmpensa
tion OF the Metropolitan police force Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia; vacancies hereafter Occurriog
in the Board of Police TO be filled by the mayor
by consent OF the cOancI. and the Board OF POLES
Commissioners ior the District OF Columbia are
abolished.
Section twenty-nins prescribes what subjects
the council can legiElate On.
Sec. 80. The council hall have power TO cluSI
the several street railway companies within tht
District to conform TO the conditions Of their re
spective charters, and may make such regulation
relative thereto as the case may require; fix thi
hours Of labor Of conductors and drivers OF tn
different companies now organized in the Dis
tTfct, etc.
Sec. 81. The council shall exercise due supe-
vision and cOntrel over all District expenditures
Section thirty-two provides g for eight hours
NoTk by day la50rerE. with back pay for laborer
under the Board OF Public Works.
BOARD OF rUgLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
Sec. S5. There shall be appointed board o
public Improvements, to carry on public improve
ments and supervise TIE letting of contracts Of
the part Of the DiCtrict Of Columbia, and on tn
part OF the Government of the United States b,
the advice and consent OF the council and to N X
recommendations from time to time TO the counci
and to the Government OF the nited StateswnRi
ever improvements they consider necessary. ant
10 lay out and build suitable stone docks llonl
the banks Of the Potomac fronting the city Q
washington, and cause the same TO be dredge
and all obstruction to navigation removed, and I
employ, always subject TO the advice and consen
OF the council Of the District, all necessary mean
20 carry out the provisions OF this act: PrOUideG
That the President Of the United States shal
appoint three members Of said board and tn
council choose the other three.
Secs. "A and 35. The board OF public improve
nent shall have full power TO lay out sites With
the boundaries Of the District Of Columbia 70
suitable Congressional hotels, one for each Stat
In the Union, TO be called Congressional halls
and to be named after the state whose COngrei
HionAl delegation shall occupy 1t.
NATIONAL NAUsoLEUM.
Section thirty-siG prescribes that the boar
oi paDlic improvement shall have power I
erect suitable marble ediice, to De calle
the Washington National Mausoleum, lsrg
enough 10 contain the bones Of the honored deIt
of the republic, and also for suitable monument
representing heroes and Statesmen of the differ
ent States Of the Union.
section thirty-seVen prescrIbes the mode Of col
lec:ing, keeping and disbursing District funds
Sec. 3S. Tne compensation Cf the board OF pub
lie Improvement sEall be Il, ,OC0 per annum to eacl
member Of said board
Sec. 80. The council shall have power to eIec
an attorney TO be called the solicitor general fO
the District OF Columbia; to be MD an annua
salary Of s. 800 per snnum, and Reasonable fees
and shall be allowed two assistants in his oF5ce
whose salary shall not exceed s., 500 per annum
Section forty provides for q surrogate's a court
See. Al. There shall be elected by the psonis nj
- District OF Columbia, in the same manner AMI
NJ tbs sam, time as that Of the municipal coun
oil, sheriff, to psr,y.n the duties Of the present
United States marshal.
Sec. A.. A Delegate to the HoIEs Of Renresep
tatiTes Of the United States shall be ehosrr A.
The peopio of the District Of Columbia, to sery,
Ior two years.
A CongrsssNan Capt1Isd-
Hon. Robert A. Hatcher Democratle penrs