Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-02
The District i'm CONGRESS.
NEW BILL FOR GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT.
Mr. Rollins introduead In tho anata tl .in,

Mr.. Rollins introduced in the Senate to day.
by request, bill providing new form of gov
ernment for the District of Columbia. The
bill provides that the government of the Dis
aldermen. The board of aldermen is TO con
slSt OF thirty six members, or not less than one
member OF the board for each 1900 citizens.
Idts,a ne mem6ets am6 OF Inc board shall be qualified
elected annually by the people of the District.
provided that after the first election the board
Itself may provide for future elections of
members OF the board or of any portion
thereof by wards or sub-diStricts.
A., Inc mayor shall be chief executive officer of
the district, and shall see that the laws are
executed. He shall receive such cOmpenSa-
tlon-nOt over $4.OOO-as the aldermen shall
prescribe. The compensation of aldermen
snail not exceed $500 per annum each.
The first election under this act Shall be held
under direction of the District Commission
ers on or before June lst, 1878, and the govern
ment provided for in the act shall go into
enect on tne ISL OF July following, and there
upon the office of District Commissioner shall
be abolished.
The government provided for by this act
shall succeed to the powers and authority pos
SeSSed and exercised by the governments here
tofOre established in the District. and the Dis
trlct OF Columbia shall continue to possess and
may t,Se exercise all the rights and power Of a
munlclpal corporation and local body polite
not inconsistent with the laws and conStitu-
ton of the United States
= mat on full satisfaction and permanent set
trict of Columbia in lieu of all future appro
prlatlons for the ordinary municipal eXpendi-
lures of the District, the United States shall
ina FAY e sae heF9y or ye dss bs SO ws
IS expressed in bonds bearing interest at the
rate OF 3:65 per annum,. provided that the
whole amount of the indebtedness of the Dis
trlct, SOaSSumed by the United States shall
not exceed the sum of $l5,G00000
All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with
tins act be, and the same, are hereby re
pealed.
THE HOUSE BILL AMENDED.
The amendments to the bill providing per-
manent form of government for the District
of Columbia, which have been heretofore
printed in THE STAR, were reDorted to the
House by Gov. Hendee, ordered to be printed
and placed on the public calendar. The OBJ
lect OF this proceeding is to, get the bill out
OF the committee on the whole, where it for
merly was, and into the House of Representa-
tives.
The amendments strike out the provision in
the original bill which imposed property
qualification on the Commissioners and poll
tax on the voters. The term of residence ten
years in the District is retained as one of the
qualifications for a Commissioner.
The eighth section is amended to read ::
That until otherwise provided by law, the
secretary OF the Treasury shall pay the inter
es the on te 31o D3nds on OF the District
shall be credited as part of the appropriation
1ort the year by the United States toward the
thptuScS Ol tIle DlSCTlCC. PrOctQ1Q. That
nothing in the act shall be construed or con-
Sidered as an acknowledgment of any liza
bllIty on the part of the United States to pay
the principal of said bOnds.'
The section in regard to taxation is in
creased to $l.I5 on each 500 valuation instead
OF 81. in the original bill.
THE METROPOLITAN STREET RAILROAD.
Mr.. Window introduced in the Senate to-day
bill to amend the charter of the Metropolitan
railroad company Of the District of Columbia.
The bill authorizes the company to lay track
beginning at the intersection of III and 10th
streets northwest; thence running on 10th
street to New Hampshire avenue: thence along
New Hampshire avenue to Boundary street :
thence along Boundary street to 18th street
road; thence nOrtherly along the west side of
l4th street road to its junction with Park street
and the road to the United States Soldiers
Home; then by said road to the entrance of
the Home Park, on the 7th street road. The
rate OF fare Shall not exceed five cents per pas
Senger for any distance between the ternini
OF said road, except for passengers over that
portion OF the road which extends beyond
boundary street into the county of Washing
ton; all such passengers, whether going from
or coming into the city of Washington, shall
be subject to the payment of two cents addi-
tlOnal fare. The company is to complete the
road by the lst of July, 1881 1t is also author
lied to construct single or double track rail
way, to begin at the intersection of street
thence nOrthWeSterly along L street to 22d
street. thence along I'D street to P street
north. and thence along street to the offices
and stables OF the company. In building the
new road the company is to be guided by the
provisions OF its charter.