Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-15
A PROPOSED MEASURE FOR fHB GoVERyMsyI
OF fHB DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The Morrill, Bll in Subs a. nee.
The Provisions OF the Bill.

MI heDdee, or vermont, provides that there
! be created in the government OF the United
/ States department to be called the ID spart-
ment of the District OF Columbia, which,
| under the name OF The District OF Columbia
shall have corporate capacity; and In such
! capacity may use common seal, sue and be
sued, acquire, rent, hold property, contract
| and be contracted with, and generally shall
| be liable, and may In appropriate ways, in
| court and elsewhere, consistent with this act,
] assert, defend, and maintain its rights aud
! interest 10 the same extent as II said District
! were municipality.
| The bill provides that there shall be at the
head of said Department, board, To consist
| OF three members, To be Severally appointed
| by the President of the United States, by
and with the advice and consent of the Sem
ate. 10 be known as the Council of the Dis
trict OF Columbia. One member OF said
Council, and his successors in Office, shall be
appointed for the term ofsix years, and shall
be President of said board and ex-officio
chief ext cutive,Of said Department, and shall
have the title of Governor OF the District of
columbia. One mem Der shall be appointed
for four years, aud one for two years but
Ibelr successors In Office shall be appointed
for four years.
Any member OF said Council may re re-
moved by the President for cause; but no
member shall be removed by re- soa OF his
opinions, nor until after he shall have been
allowed reasonable opportunity of being
heard upon any charge male az aiDst him
The salary OF the President OF said Council
shall be 5000 per year. and of each of the
other members 81 coo. Said Council may ap-
IL.
be regarded as Secretary OF said District and
Department., and whose salary shall be
q, 800 per year; said Secretary TO give bond
TO the United States for the faithful dis
charge OF his duty. in the amount of 5000,
with two sureties
1t is provided that all the authority
conferred by the act belonging TO the Coun-
Gil, may be exercised in It's discretion,
without discrimination, because OF race,
faith, color or condition.
The authority of making ordinances SD a II
Az ri Incl unl m Nnnn Nfl and 10
may exercise the same, in aid of the powers
hereby conferred, as 1t shall deem best for the
public welfare. Said Council may, in any
ordinance, impose the penalty for its viola
ton; and no penalty shall oe fxed at more
than one hundred dollars; but a double pen
atty may be fixed for repeated and willfuI
violations of the same ordinance, to be re-
covered in the police court subject to appeal
TO the criminal court OF said District. But
before any new ordinance, or any ordinance
rs materially amended, shall go into effect,
the same shall be printed three separate DAYS
In each of what said Council shall regard as
being the two journals of said District hag-
iBg the largest daily circulation therein. An
action claiming any penalty, not exceeding
$50 in the aggregate, may be instituted in
the Municipal Court herein provided for,
which court shall have Jurisdiction thereof
The general authority of appointment and
removal hereby conferred upon said Council
J. qualified. and shall be exercised, I'm refer
eDce only TO personal fitness; and all APP
pointmeDts and removals shall be male at
SOme regular public meeting OF said Council.
No such officer shall be removed until he has
been furnished with copy in writing of the
fair oDpoT tunity of being publicly heari In a
summary manner before said Council or the
board recommending his removal. Said
Council shall appoint all other Off GERS for the
terms OF four years, except that policemen,
dremen, and principals and teachers in the
schools, shall be appointed or selected for
provided for.
A majority OF the said Council shall be a
quorum; its action shall be 10y order. aud at
public meetings called pursuant ID the reyu-
latonS; the President shall direct les pro.
ceedrgs and conduct the business Of the
Department, and record shall be kept by
the Sc cretaTy.
The Council shall have power to regulate,
adjust, and Tx the water tax. and IT, extend
the same over all parts OF said District where
water taken from the United States aque-
duct is used; sell any real estate belonging
tn said District and not required for its uses,
or that may have become unsuitable for Dis
trict purposes. and spply the projects to the
purchase of other property; purchase prop
erty for public school purposes in so far as
the fund appropriated tn maintenance OF
such schools may warrant
The Council shall fix from time To time the
number and pay OF all clerks. employees,
and laboTers employed in said Department.
There shall be in said Department the fol-
lowing bureaus: OF Health. of Education, of
Police OF Fires, and of Charity and Correc-
ton, 8 the head OF each OF which there shall
he Board. There shall also be Bureau of
fuOllc " Ofks ana buildings, AT the ne61
of which there shall be Superintendent.
Each Board shall consist of thr members
TO be appointed, one for the term OF six years,
one for four, and one for two years; but all
appointments thereafter made, except the
successors 10 the President OF the several
Boards, who shall be appointed for six years,
Der of each Board appointed for six years
shall be President of the Board and ex off clio
executive officer OF the Bureau. A m iiDrity
of said Council or of any Board shall form A
n ahSanRa m
or his inability TO act, may elect member
to act as President pro tempore. Each Board
shall be entitled 10 Secretary. and each, as
well as said Superintendent, shall devise
suitable seal for its or his Bureau. Any
member OF Board appointed by said Coun-
ell shall receive - for each meeting attend
ed; but the aggregate amount so paid to any
one member per year shall not exceed as fol-
lows: To a member Of the Board of Fl ealth,
$50; OF Education, $500; of Police and Fire
Board. $3.50; and OF Charity and Correction,
$50: PrOli9ed, That the President Of each
Board shall be paid 6fty per centum add.
tional. The Secretary of each Board shall
certify 10 the Auditor of said District month
ly the number OF meetings actually attended
by each menber during the month. The
yearly salary of the Secretary of each b pard
shall be as follows: OF the Board OF Health,
81 800; OF Education, ~ 500; OF Police. II 2lo;
of the Fire Board Al coo.
Two members of the Board of Health shall
De physicians not under thirty years
OF sg-, one of whom at least has Drac-
tised In saidDistrict for a period OF not
less than four years next preceding
his appointment and of which one
member shall be a lawyer, not under said
age, in active practice before the bar or the
courts OF said District, who has resided there
in for period of not less than two years
next preceding such appointment. The
lawyer SO appointed shall be President OF
said Board Of Health. The Secretary, in
addition TO his other duties, shall act Reg
lister of Vital Statistics. Said Council shall
appoint person having adequate education
TO act as executive officer under said Board,
with the title or Sanitary Superintendent;
and also a reasonable mum Der OF sanitary
inspectors, not exceeding four to hold such
appointment at one time, of whom two may
be physicians, and one shall be q person
skilled in matters OF drainage and ventiIa-
ton. The action OF said Board shall De az
public meetings duly called, unless in cases
OF grave peril TO the public health, SAIL
Council may authorize said BDard 10 ten.
pOrarily hold secret meetings. The annual
pay snd com pensation OF the SanitarySuper-
intendept shall be 80 800; that of the whole
number of inspectors, being the aggregate TO
he paid for inspection, sum not exceeding
$1,000.
The Board of Education shall possess. and
may exercise In any manner consistent with
the provisions hereof, and In any aud every
part of said District, all the authority now
given by any provision OF law, or possessed
by any body or Officer on the subject of free
a.L.~