Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-11-29
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT
The Proposed Bill, i'm Full.


agreed upon by the subcommittee OF the
joint special committee to frame form of
government for the District of Columbia. II
will be submitted to the full committee for
its action when quorum is secured
Be 10 enacted, DC, That all that portion of the
territory of the United States which was
coded by the state OF Maryland for the per-
manent seat of the federal government shall
continue 10 be designated as the District of
Columbia. Said District and property and
persons that may be therein shall be subject
to the following provisions as and for the
government of the same, and also to any
existing laws applicable thereto not here ~
repealed or inconsistent with the provisions
of this act.
Sec. 2. That on the - day Of, in the year
1871, there shall be elected or appointed, in
the manner hereinafter directed, three per-
sons, to be commissioners Of the District of
Columbia, who shall exercise all the powers
and authority formerly vested in the COVER
nor and in the board of public works OF said
District, except as hereinafter limited; and
shall be subject to all the restrictions and
limitations which were imposed upon The
said governor or board of public works PRIOR
10 the 10th OF June, in the year 1874. One of
me said Commissioners shall be appointed
by the President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, for the term of four
years and until his successor shall be an
pointed and qualified; the second of the said
Commissioners shall be elected by the House
OF Representatives by ballot, for the term of
two years and until his successor shall be
elected and qualified; and the third of the
said Commissioners shall be elected by the
Senate by ballot, for the term of six years
and until his successor is elected and Quail
ified; and at the end of the several terms OF
each OF the Commissioners, their successors
shall be elected or appointed, in the same
manner, for the term of four years, respec
lively, and until their successors are elect
ed or appointed and qualified. The two
persons elected as Commissioners by the
House of Representatives and the Senate
shall, at the time of their election, have been
citizens of the United States and residents of
the District of Columbia for five years previ-
Gus 10 their election; and the person appoint
ed by the President, with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate, shall have been for FIVE
years previous 10 his appointment a citizen
OF the United States; and If any Commits
siOner shall die, resign, refuse or neglect for
twenty days 10 take the oath of office or re-
move from the District, if he be elected by
the Senate or House of Representatives, his
place shall be filled, for the balance of his
term, in the same manner as the person
whose place is to be filed was elected or an
pointed; but If the person whose place so be-
comes vacant shall have been elected by the
Senate or House OF Representatives, and such
vacancy shall occur during the recess of Con-
gress, then the said vacancy shall be filled by
the appointment OF the President, until the
Senate or House of Representatives, as the
case may be, shall elect a person TO fiji the
said office for the balance of the term thereof
One OF the said Commissioners shall be cho-
sen President of the Board OF Commissioners
thereafter.
Sec. 3. That the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia shall be, and they are here
by, constituted body corporate, by the name
OF 1.-The commissioners OF the District of Co
lumpla," and by that name shall have per-
petual succession, and be capable i'm law To
sue and be sued i'm any court whatsoever
and may have and use a common seal which
may be altered at pleasure; may acquire,
rent, and mold property; may contract and be
contracted with, I'm all cases authorized bv
law;) and may, in appropriate ways, in court
ana elsewhere, consistent with this act. as
sert, defend, and maintain its rights and in
terests TO the same extent that il would be
lawful If the said Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia were municipality.
Sec. 4. That such Commissioners so an
pointed as aforesaid, shall each of them. be-
fore entering upon the discharge of his duties.
take an oath or affirmation TO support the
Constitution of the United States, and to
faithfully discharge the duties imposed upon
him by law, and shall each givea bond to the
United States i'm the penal sum of $4,000, TO
be approved by the Secretary of the Treasury,
for the faithful discharge OF the duties of his
Office, and shall each receive for his services
compensation at the rate of 5000.
Sec. o. That as soon as the Commissioners
appointed as aforesaid shall have taken and
subscribed the oath or affirmation hereinbe-
fore described, and shall have duly bonded
as aforesaid, all the powers, rights, and priv
ty, estate. and effects formerly vested Inv taw
in, the governor or board of public works of
the District Of Columbia, and now held and
exerclSeQ Dy tne commissioners appointed
under the provisions of the act of Congress
approved June 10th, 1874, shall be transferred
to, and be vested In, said Commissioners:
and the functions Of the Commissioners so
appointed under the act OF June 10th, 1874.
shall cease and determine; and the Commits,
sioners of the District of Columbia shall ha We
power to apply the taxes or other revenues of
said District to the payment of the current
expenses thereof, to the support of the public
schools, the fire department, and the police,
and for that purpose shall take possession
and supervision Of all the offices, books pa
pers, records, moneys, credits, securities, as
sets, and accounts belonging or appertaining
To the business or interests OF the government
of the District of Columbia, and exercise the
power and authority aforesaid; but said Com
in the exercise of such power and
authority, shall make no contract, nor in
cur any obligation other than such con-
tracts and obligations as may be necessary
to the faithful administration OF the valid laws
enacted for the government OF said District,
and to the protection or preservation of i'm
provements existing, or commenced and not
at the time Of the passage Of this
act, unless a recommendation for the con-
struction Of new improvements, and an esti- |
mate of the cost thereof, shall be first sub |
nitted to Congress with the annual estimate |
hereinafter provided for, and shall be ap- /
proved by Congress. All taxes heretofore
lawfully assessed and due, or TO become dine