Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-17
ALTON FDIsTRICT
IaWs.
Amensins
ats Proposed by the Cod

the late CORPORATIONS OF Washington, of George
town, OF the Levy Court or the County OF Wash
ington, and Of tie Legislative Assembly; the
ordinances Of the late Board of Health of the
District OF Columbia; certain regulations oil
the Commissioners Of the District of Columbia,
made in pursuance OF tue provisions OF the ac'
of Congress approved June ilth. 1875; anu CT
tain acts Of Congress having relat."H " III An,
cir al affairs in the District OF Columbia, I9p
tains several amendments TO the present laws
among which we note the most lHlpoItauo:
Under the head OF = Disabilities 10 hol1 oLiCt,
it is provided that. II aDJ civil officer shall re-
ceive directly or Indirectly, at any time qarihS
the period for which he was appointed. .he
profits, or any part OF tie profits or any oilicS
held by any other person, his appOiltiiel anu
commission shall be void and the person So
offending shall be disqualified forever alte IVA I'll
from holding any Office OF trust or profit in this
District under the laws thereof. Ii any person
shall give any britra or reward or any promise
or security for the payment or delivery Of any
money or any other thing, TO be appointed to
any office OF profit, both the person giving and
the person receiving the same. upon conviction
thereof. shan be forever disqualified from hold
ing any Office OF profit or trust under the laws
of his District.
Upon the matter of property subject 10 tax
alton, section IS provides that the undivided
real estate of a deceased person may be assessed
10 his heirs or deyiSeeS. without designating
any Of them by name, until they have given
notice 10 the treasurer and assessor OF the d.
vision Of the estate, and the names or the sew
eral heirs or deviseeS. Section IS provides that
the real estate OF person deceased, the right
or title TO which is doubtful or unaSceftalned
by reason Of litigation concerning the will Of
the deceased or the validity Thereon, may be
assessed in general terms TO the estate OF the
deceased: and said tax shall constitute lien
upon the land so assessed, and may be enforced
by the sale OF the same. or a part thereof, as
provided for enforcing other liens for taxes on
real estate. Section 90 makes IL the duty OF the
collector of taxes in said District TO prepare
complete list OF all taxes on real property upon
which tile same are levied. in arrears on the
first day OF July annually, including all arfear-
ages OF taxes.
Under the head OF New Assessments" sec
ton 50, authorizes the commissioners TO order
a new assessment OF the value of all the real or
personal property or both, In the District liable
10 taxation hereunder. in any year they deem
advisable: and the officer designated shall, be-
fore the first day OF August, in the year in
which the assessment is ordered, assess the
value Of all the real or personal property, Or
both. liable TO taxation. and shall annually as
SeSS the value of all buildings erected or
rooted. improved, or enlarged. and not there
tOfOTe taxed; and shall state the same in Sepa-
rate books, and such value for taxation shall be
the true value IN lawful money or the tinted
States The assessed value shall have refer
enCe 10 the date OF the first day Of July. in the
said year. except as to stock in trade. which
shall be the average value OF the stock of mer-
chandise or other articles kept on hand during
the year ending June seth preceding. Said Of
fiCer shall, between the 1SJ day OF August, in
the said year, and the Goth day OF August, in
y
the purpose OF equalRtng the assessments there
JOfOTe made by him, and for the purpose OF
hearing and determining any and all appeals
from the valuations Heretofore made And
during said period said officer shall have mower
to revise Assessments made by him, b. either
Justly increasing CT Justly diminishing any par
ticular assessment. In case said officer snail
fail TO complete any OF the duties in this chap
ter To be b. him performed, the taxation pro-
yided for shall not by reason thereof be invalid,
but said officer shall proceed with all reason
able diligence TO complete such duties aud his
acts in this behalf shall be valid as il performed
within the time fixed therefor
Under the head OF ''OfficerS and duties" after
enumeTating the various officers OF the District
section 95 states land such other employees and
clerks, messengers and Watchmen, subject to
the limitation as TO compensation prescribed
by law, as the commissioners may, from time
10 time. IND necessary TO carry into effect the
laws OF TIE District of Columbia"
In mixing the duties of certain officers it is
provided that II shall be lawful for the coroner,
whenever he shall deem it promotve OF the
ends OF justice, 10 call 10 his aid, in making his
inquest over a deceased person, some sktllful
ply Sican, whose duty IL shall be to attend such
inquest and make post mOrtem examination
OF TIE deceased; for which service said physi-
clan shall be paid by the marshal OF the Dis
trlct SUM not exceeding $50, which shall be
allowed said marshal in the settlement of his
accounts with the Treasury In case of The ah-
sence or Inability Of the coroner any Justice OF
the peace being duly certified OF any dead BODY.
shall be authorized 10 perform the duties OF the
COfOHtf prescribed III Jll1S cHdDter. The COrO-
ner'S jury III all cases shall consist OF six per-
sons OF legal qualifications.
Under the head OF duties OF the surveyor il is
provided that the surveyor shall perform such
othef duties as may be prescribed by the Com
missioners, and the compensation therefor
shall be fixed by the commissioners.
Among tle duties prescribed for the school
trustees section 2l2 provides that the graduates
OF the Miner normal school shall in like mad
ner have preference in all cases when appoint
inents OF teachers Tor the colored schools are TO
be made.
Section 229 provides that no further street
railroads shan be laid down in the city OF Wash
lEgt0n Without the consent of Congress- and
Wien constructed Shall be 10 accordance with
leg ulaGoils to be prescribed by the Commits
s1oneIs- Section 232 provides that if any per-
son shall remove or lnjure any pavement or
other public work III the District, and Shall fail
TO replace the same, and make good tbe damage
10 the satisfaction OF the Commissioners within
reasonable time, to be by them prescribed he
snail De subject TO penalty OF five dollars for
every days delay after notice, aud shall pay
the costs CT replacing the same; the whole to be
recovered before any court in the District
having competent jurisdiction SECTION 233
declares that the Commissioners shall have
power 10 eStapuaD, by general order, the grades
or the streets and avenues in the District
winch said order or orders shall be published in
one newspaper published In the city OF Wash
lngton; aid the grades so established i'm con
Jointly with the provisions of this section shall
not thereafter be changed. except By act of Con
greSS.
foii tLN h'lici VI SlIott lights section
provides that the avenue and street lamns in the
city OF Washington shall be kept Hgnfad with
such burners and for such number OF nights in
each month as the Commissioners NAV order
and determine.
The building regulations ordered b. the Com
miSsi0EeTS in pursuance OF act of Congress OF
June 1ith ISIS. are incorporated in this code OF
laws, ano In section 29l, paragraph 3, il is pro-
Vlded That In addition to the proceeding before
the police court by information, the supreme
court OF the District OF Columbia or any Justice
thereof, either in term time or vacation. shaIl
exercise equity powers for the enforcement of
mOyal, within a time fixed by the court or the
acting Justice, OF any building or structure. the
1lllDg up OF any vault or area, and the abate-
ment OF any nuisance of which complaint shall
lie made as violation Of these regulations or
any part thereof
Throughout the chapter relating to public
health, In the enumeration or the various nuS-
aECes declared to be injurious to health the
phrase land TN AWFUL is Incorporated: as in
the clause which occurs quite frequently, stare
LEI eby declared nuiSanceS injurious to health :,
the wo1dS land unlawful" are appended
Throughout.
Section 3l4 provides that When any person.
whether owner or tenant, using any drain pipe
SCH pipe, passage OF connection between any
sewer and any ground, building, or place OF
adequate size to allow the full passage of All
that enters or should enter the same. and pro-
vide them with proper sewer traps, and who
shall fail. after notice duly served on him. tn
supply such pipes OF adequate size snail ha
deemed guilty OF maintaiIip~ n,;s.,nas 4. l.,
ri0us to health and uEavful. and snail he min
laheG pyh fne OF not less than five nor no.