Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-16

The Commissioners of the District of Colum-
pa shall apportiOn the cities of Washington
| ana Georgetown into eleven election precincts
as as nearly equal in population as may be, and
the territory of the District of Columbia out
| side the limits of said cities shall constitute
| one election precinct.
Al the hrst election, one member from each
| pfeclhct shall be elected for one year, and one
narI member TT therefrom shall be elected for two
| years and thereafter one shall be elected an
1 n1tally I'D each precinct, who shall be elected
l., Each ,; male inhabitant of the District of Co
lump l4m6la above the age of q years, and who
snail be citizen of the United States, shall be
entitled to vote at all elections for council
men: Prorided, He shall have been an actual
| Dla FOR the three years, and of the election
precinct in which he offers to vote for the six
mont months last preceding the election at which he
har 0fters to vote, claiming no residence else
Whefe during that time, and who shall have
paid the poll-taX imposed upon him by law ::
duly registered as qualified voter as herein
after provided.
;, Until Congress shall otherwise provide by
and manner Tor holding ' elections p'fOr Tor
connelmen, coG;afln1ia, shall appoint board of
tion, not to exceed three members in each
election precinct, whose pay shall not exceed
Two dollars and fifty cents per day each, who
snail register the qualified electors in their
as said Commissioners shall prescribe; and
| said commissioners shall designate three in
spectors in each election precinct to conduct
said election, and make returns thereof to
| Sald commissioners, who shall canvass the
same, and issue certificates of election to those
respective precincts; and said Commissioners
| shall make al! needful rules and regulations
LOT carrying into effect the provisions of this
act, act not otherwise herein provided for: Proci-
| Ged, Ihat the first election for cOuncimen
shall be held within sixty days from the pas
sage of this act And prorided further That
said , Commssloners n shall give notice by publ
cation OF all elections and registrations prov-
ded for by this act. by printed notices to be
| posted in convenient and public places in each
election precinct in said District of Columbia
| at least thirty days prior to such election on
registration.
No member of said council shall receive any
| compensation for his services
| Each member of the council registrar in-
spector, clerk. or other officer shall, before
| entering upon the discharge of the duties of
his office take an oath, binding himself to the
| faithful performance of the same before some
| officer authorized to administer oathS
A majority Of said council shall constitute
Quorum for the transaction of business.
! Inc council shall have power to prescribe
| luleS Tor Its own government; shall be the
| Judges OF the qualifications, election, and
| returns of its members; shall elect a president
from among its own members, and secretary
who shall not be member of the council, and
who shall be allowed salary, to be fixed by
the council, not TO exceed 81, 900 per annum
The council shall convene whenever notified
VI
| umbla that they have business to submit for
! their consideration, and at such other times as
the council, in its discretion, may determine:
| PrOrided, That the first meeting of said coun-
Gil, for the organization thereof, shall by ac
| tiOn of the Commissioners, be called within
thirty days after the first election of council
| men.
The necessary expenses of said council shall
be certified by the president and secretary of
said council, audited by the comptroller, and
paid by the Commissioners OF the District of
The appointment of all officers, agents, or
| employees of the District of Columbia whose
salaries shall be at the rate of Sl,500 per an
mum OF more shall be made by the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia, subject to
confirmation of said council:
;. The council shall, through committee OF
It's members, nave Tree access to the records
! books. and papers of said Commissioners of
| the District OF Columbia, and of any depart
meni OF the government of the District of Co
| lGmbia, and may at any time, by a committee
| of its members, institute and carry on an in
| vestigation into the accounts and official CON
GHct cl OF any of1lcer, agent, or employee of the
| DlStllct OF Columbia, and shall report to the
| Commissioners of Columbia any mismanage-
ment, maladmnistratlOn, or official miscon-
duet upon the part OF such officer, agent, Or
| employee; which said report when SO made
| shall, by the said Commissioners, be promptly
transmitted to both Houses of Congress when
! sorequeSted by the council.
! NO contract for the construction, improve
ment, or repair of any buildings, street, ave
nue., sewer, alley. highway, or other public
| Work in the District OF Columbia, or for mate
rial to be used for any of the purposes above
mentioned, shall be entered into by the Com
missiOners of the District of Columbia without
the approval of the said council.
| All contracts fOr the construction, improve
ment, alteration. or repairs of the streets,
! avenues. highways alleys cutters. sewers
and all work of like nature, shall be made and
S Se oY oY e ed hoSs Sh ss Usa al
the District And the entire control and su
peryislon, and the preparation of all plans,
| speclilcatlons, and estimates for work as above
mentioned, shall be vested in and exercised by
that Commissioner of the District of Columbia
appointed from the engineer corps of the
| army, as hereinbefOre provided.
The President of the United States may de-
tail from the engineer corps of the army not
| more than two officers, of rank subordinate to
that OF the engineer officer belonging to the
Board of Commissioners of said District, to
act as assistants to said engineer Commits.
| siOner in the discharge of the special duties
imposed upon him by the provisions of this
| act.
| No member of the council or salaried officer
! OF the District of Columbia shall be accepted
as surety on any bond required to be given to
| the District of Columbia, nor shall any con
| tractor be accepted as surety for any other
| contractor.
Before any moneys shall be raised or taxes
ing on the government of the District of Co
lumbia. the said Commissioners shall submit
annually to the council for their approval
statement, showing in detail the work pro.
| posed to be undertaken by them during the
! fiscal year next ensuing, and the estimated
cost thereof; and also an estimate in detail
which shall include the cost of all courts i'm
| said District, except the United States courts.
| the judges, officers, witnesses, jail-fees, and
al expenses incident thereto; also the cost of
constructing, repairing, and maintaining all
bridges, authorized by law, and the Washing
ton ton Aqueduct across the Potomac river within
| the Dlst!ict of Columbia, and also all other
streams In said Districts the cost of maintain.
ing all public institutions of charity aSylumS,
hospitals, refOrmatOrieS, and prisons belong.
ing to and controlled by the District of Column
pla, and which are now by law supported,
wholly or in part, by the United States or Dis.
tr1ct OF Columbia, of the amount necessary to
de1Iay the expenses OF the government of the
District OF Columbia for the next fiscal year.
/. Inc council Shall carefully consider all es-
Inmates submitted to them, as above provided,
and Shall approve or disapprOge the same:
they may reduce the same, or any item there
OF, Dut shall have no power to increase such
estimate, or any item thereof.
All votes of said council upon such questions
or revision or reduction of estimates shall be
taken by ayes and nays, and record kept
After the council shall have considered and
passed upon all the estimates as submitted to
them, they Shall cause a statement to be made
OF the amounts approved by said council, and
the fund or purpose for which required which
statement shall be certified by the president
and secretary of the council and delivered,
together with the estimates as originally sub
mTtted 70 said council, to the Commissioners of
District of Columbia who shall fra nc n,;t fIao,