National Republican., 1877-11-21
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
Regulating the Appointment Of Justices OF
the Peace and Constabies.


The District Commissioners have prepared
the following bill regulating the appointment OF
Justices of the peace constablcs, and commissioners
Of deeds In this District, which they will present to
Congress and ask for It's adoption:
That the number Of justices Of the peace within
aud Tor the District Of Columbia is hereby limited
to -. They shall be appointed by the supreme
Court Of the sn District Of citgrns resident there
in, and hold their offices for period Of ten years
subject to removal for cause, They shah have the
jurisdiction exercise the powers, and perform the
duties as now provded for by law aud when the
amount IN dispute is less than siO)ther Jurisdiction
They shall be the successors Of the justices Of the
peace now holding olic" IN said District, and shail
proceed IN and close up all such unfinished busi.
ness Of their predecessors as mny be brought 70
their attention, by any party In interest," who shall
present transcript Of the same, ~ hereinafter pro
vided And, IN like manner, they shall proceed IN
and close up all unfinished business of any prcde.
ccsSor In Office appointed under this act Upon
resignation, or the expiration Of the term OF onlce,
they Il al make certify and deliver transcripts OF
any proceedings their docket to any party In in
terCEt or shall deliver said q ckcL together with
all papers, In all uutn he'd busiuC.s g. to their sue
cessors IN Office at their option, and account for
| moneys In their hands. Upon the death or remnval
of any justice of the peace appointed under this
act, his docket bonks and pGpcrs OF oice Shnll be
delivered tO his immediate sncccs-or In office.
The terms Of office of all justices OF the peace
now IN office within aud for The District Of Cnum.
OF this act They shall issue no process rcturnablc
Oh or after that day. and shall have power there.
| cases and business on their docket and shall On
demand Of the parties In interest deliver To them
transcripts duly certified, gethcr with all papers
or proceeding. and pay to the proper persons all
moneys in their hands that may be due Them,
| The number Of costabCs within and for said Dis
trictu Columbia Is eby limited to twenty. which
| may be increased or reduced by an order Of said
supreme Court determining the number. They
| shall be appointed BY said supreme Court, rs now
provided for by law and hold their Office for term
Of five years, subject to removal for cause.
| The term Of office of oil constahlCs now In
office in said District shall end on the thlreth day
after the approval hereof, and they shall on or
before said day, return all prucess which may be
held by them. and pay over TO the parties
entitled thereto all moneys In their hands.
The supreme Court of said District shall have
power To iix the amount and form of bail boi.ds
| aud approve the same, To be executed by tho
justices of the peace and constables appointed un
der this act to regulate the practice OF said nagis
trntes and officers; make such further regulation,
may be necessary complete the transfer of tht
existing business from the present justices OF the
peace and cOnstables TO those appointed under thi,
act and may enforce the provisions o. this act and
all regulations made pursuant To It, by attachment
on Information or relation. II shall also have
power like information and relation, to reInpv,
justices of the peace and cunstabcs from Office fn
the violations OF The law or the rules aud rcEula
tons established by su!d court, aud also for grOs
| incompetence, or conduct which produces loss o
good reputation.
The Commissioners of the District of Columbia
| are hereby authorize 10 appoint as many 'mmis
sumcrs of d, eds Throughout the United States ~
| they may deem necessary, with power 10 take th'
G"knOwlrd smcnt of deeds for the conveyance o
property within the said District; administer oath
and take dcpusitnns IN CTr cs pending IN the court
| of said District IN the manner prescribed by law
10 whose nets properly attc,te by their hands ant
seas of Office, null ius:h aud credit shall be given
They shall also have power tn appnint such number
Uf noiaries public residents OF said District rs h
their discretion the business Of the District may
require. said commissioners Of deeds and nOtaric
public to hold their Offices for the period of y
years. removable at discretion
Report of the Superintendent of Property
Mr. l.. V. Townsend, Superintendent Of til,
District Property has submitted n thorough ant
exhaustive statement Of the bureau under hi
charge, from which the following IS taken
Total property to be accounted for, s2is g3j. II
amount issued. ls7,ii9a9; balance, sil, ,is573.
A comparatively small amount of construction
material has been purchased during the year, OWN,
to the fact that at the close Of last year qIiantit!
was LEFT on hand which had becn, purchased in an
| tcipatlOn Of the demands Of public improvement
discontinued by the action OF Congress. Th'
amount now on hand will be speedily consumed u
event Of any considerable work being ordered
The system Of contracting for supplies ha!
worked very smoothly during the entire year
demonstrating the fact that II Is the most economi
cal plan of supplying the needs Of the variou
proved acceptable to the heads ofthc departments
l great saving has been effected IN nearly ever!
class. aud us ulc the supplies have been Of bet
| ter quality than OF the previous years
There has been expended for the following pnr
E poses the amounts given below Stationery, S0l6ll
blank forms and printing. A.bll.lS: schoo'books
p s3,l3j.42 furniture, sl0,39S.3s, (of this amour
ssGOii7 was for schOOlsG hardware. s2I 9sl9; gro
ceres and provisions, slo,O069; dry goods and no
tiOns, si01352 boots and shoes, 81 .47l.20 drugs
&c, s3il6,57; saddery sl2 2l63l, tof this Anonn
800 was for engine hosel lumber and building
material sl2,593O5; forage, s5bO3.0 fresh and sal
meats, stsiSSi: ice, t2gi.s5; steel, lamps, &c
55l II miscellaneous supplies expenses, and rs
: pairs, ell ,J0O3