Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-02-13
Government of the District of Co.
lnmbia.
THE BILL REPORTED FROM THE DISTRICT
COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE.

COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE.
The bill to provide form of government for
| the District of Columbia was reported in the
House today by Mr.. Black burn, from the COM
| mlttee on the District of Columbia. and is the
bill adopted by the committee.
Section ]. Prescribes that all that portion of
the territory of the United States which was
| ceded by the state of Maryland for the perma-
| nent seat OF the federal government shall con-
5lnue 10 be designated as the District of Co
Section 2. That on the in the month of
| - IN the year 1878, there shall be elected or
OF the District-one to be an officer of the en-
glneer corps of the army. with rank above
major, to be detailed by the President for
be assigned to any other duty or receive any
! other compensation the second to be elected
| by the House for three years and the third to
the end OF the term OF any of the Commission
erS, their successors are to be elected in a like
manner. Provided, that at the first election of
| commissioners by the Senate and House the
! terms of Commissioners shall expire one one
| year from the date of election, and the other
TWO years from the date of election, the same
| elected by the Senate and House shall, at the
time OF their election, be citizens of the United
! States, and shall have been actual residents of
the District for ten years previous to their
| election, and who have, during that period
claimed no residence elsewhere. The bill pro
yideS that in case of vacancy when the Senate
| and House is not in session, then the vacancy
| can be filed by the President until the Senate
and House shall elect.
Inc third section provides that the Commits
| slOners shall be a body corporate and be sued
| and sue.
The fourth and fifth sections define the
| duties and powers of the Commissioners
| which are about the same as are now exercised
by the present commissioners.
| Section 6. There shall be a council, con-
| and powers as hereinafter provided. No per-
| son shall be eligible as member of said c0ln-
q! who IS not the owner OF property in the
| District of Columbia of the assessed valuation
| OF three thousand dollars or more and who is
not at the time of his election citizen of the
United States and who has not been perma-
| years previous to such election, without claim
| of residence elsewhere during that time, and
who is not resident of the, election precinct
any office under the United States or District
Of Columbia, or who shall be interested either
drectly or indirectly in any contract with the
District of Columbia, shall be eligible
as member of the Council. The bill
provides that removal from the Dis
| trict or becoming interested in any claim
| against the United States or District shall ere
ate vacancy in the council and in such ease
| new election shall be ordered by the council.
| The Commissioners OF the District shall appOr-
| ton the cities of Washington and Georgetown
| into eleven election precincts, as nearly equal
| in population as may be, and the territory in
the District outside of said cities shall c0ilsti
| tute one election precinct. At the first elec-
| ton one member from each precinct shall he
years, and thereafter one shall be elected an
| nGally in each precinct, who shall be elected
for two years. The bill provides that each
| been resident of the District for three years
! and of the election precinct in which he offers
his vote for six months last preceding the eec-
no residence elsewhere during that time
and who shall have paid the poll
tax imposed, upon him by law The
prescribe the time, manner, and place of hold
ing the election for councilmen, and shall ap-
point board of registration of three mem
ceed $50 per day, who shall register the
| names Of the qualified voters in their respec-
| tive precincts. The Commissioners are also
| directed to designate three inspectors in each
election precinct to conduct said election and
| make the returns thereof. The Commissioners
are also to make all other necessary provisions
in the act: Provided that the first election for
| councilmen shall be held within sixty days
aiter the passage OF the act. No member of
| for his services The council Shall have
| power to prescribe the rules for its own gov
ernment; shall be the judges of the qualitica-
! elect a president from its own members and a
| secretary who shall not be member of the
council at salary to be fixed by the council
not to exceed $l,OOO per year. The council is to
convene whenever notified by theDistrict Com
missOnerS that they have business to submit
| tOr their consideration, and at such times as
provided the first meeting shall be called with
thirty days after the first election.
.u Al officers, agents and employees of the Dis
| trlct whose salaries are or exceed $500 per
annum. are to be subject to confirmation by
The council; The council, through its mem
berS, to have free access to the records,
| books and papers of the District and of any
department, and may at any time, by a COM
mittee of its members, institute and carry on
an Investigation into the accounts and official
| conduct OF any officer or emplOye of the Dis
trlct; and shall report to the Commissioners
! any msmanagement. maladminstratiOn or
Hea ThSa tG IS to be
| both houses of Congress, when so requested
by the council. No contract for the cOnstruc-
enue, sewer, highway or other public work in
the District, or for material to be used for any
| OF the purposes aforementioned, shall be en-
| tered into by the Commissioners without the
| approval of the council. No member of the
| council OF salared officer shall be accepted as
surety on any bond required to be given to
! cepted as surety for any other contractor
All contracts for the construction, improve
ment, alteration, or repairs of the Streets ave-
wsrk of like manner shall be made and en-.
tered into only by and with the official consent
| OF majority OF the Commissioners of the Dis
| trict OF which ajOrity the Commissioner ap-
| pointed from the engineer corps of the army
| shall be ore.
belOfe any moneys snail De raised Or taxes
| levied and collected for the purpose of carry-
| ing On the government of the District, the said
| Commissioners shall submit annually to the
| council for their approval statement show
! ing in detail the work proposed to be under
| taken by them during the fiscal year next en-
| suing, and the estimated cost thereof, and
| also an estimate in detail, which shall include
| the cost of all courts in said District except
| the United States cOurtS-the Judges officers
| witnesses, Jail fees and all expenses incident
! thereto also, the cost of constructing repair-
| ing, and maintaining all bridges authorized by
| law across the Potomac river within the Dis.
| trict, and all other streams i'm said District:
| the cost of maintaining all public institutions
| OF charity, aSylums, hospitals, reformatOries
| and prisons in the District of Columbia and
| which are now by law supported wholly or i'm
part by the United States or the District of Co.
| lumba, of the amount necessary to defray the
! expenses of the government of the District for
| the next fiscal year.
| The Council Shall carefully consider all esti-
| mates submitted to them as above provided
| and shall approve or diSappr0ve the same :they
may reduce the same or any item thereof but
| shall have no power to increase Sucn estimate
| or any item thereof After the Council shall
have considered and passed upon all the esti-
mates 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 GER
| rfinI 1~ry1 1N1 tl0r,f