National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-06
THE VIEW DISTRICT CODE.
Some of the Points of the bill Prepared by
the Sub Committee.


the Sub Committee.
The subj Committee of the House District
Committee intrusted with the duty Of coli
flying and revising tho District laws have
nearly completed their lnbors, and the code
will soon be presented to the full committee.
The only sections which have not yet been
prepared are those referring to the license and
personal tax The sections embraced In the
code provide stringent regulations governing
tho qualifications of office .holdors, no person
guilty of multeasance or misfeasance in oflice
being eligible.
The various officers created by the bill are
the same rs at present, the Commissioners be.
Ing empowered TO create such additional offices
rs may be required. The coroner is required
to summon twelve men who shall have the
qualifications prescribed for petit jurors to at
tend an inquest, from which number six shall
be selected by lot for Il jury each Of whom
shall bo compelled TO attCud under penalty of
$40, aud each juror shall receive compensation
Of 81 day. Physicians to the poor are ro-
CURED TO make quarterly reports to the Health
Officer instead of the Commissioners.
The bond OF the Surveyor has been increased
from 5000 10 $4,000 and his fee for setting
out and making boundary lines and furnish.
ing certificates, &c, fOt the Same arc increased
from = 10 $3.50 Tor each
In the Fire Department all appointments
shall be made by the District Commissioners
instead Of by the board, but the latter body
or chief engineer shall have power to dismiss
Tor cause, aud in trial of such cases the board
may summon and compel attendance Of wit
ncsses. For engines the force is not increased,
but for each truck there shall 10 ono foreman,
one tillcrman, one hostlor aud nine pnyates.
The board may prescribe rules governing the
iorco but shall not DC enforced unless approved
FIRST by the District Commissioners.
The Commissioners are TO control the light.
Of .Fa al oil la Ia IL
Under tho mead Of bg!lling regulations the
bill provides that in the condemnation of
building the owners may appes from the dc.
cislOn 10 the case within iorty-oight hours TO
the Commissioners, who shall direct it to be
submitted to the arhltIpmCut of three disinter-
ested, competent citizens aud practical build
ers, ono selected by the Commissioners, one by
tho appellant, aud one by these two, tho deCi
| sion Of the majority to be- binding, The iu-
spGctor is required to inspect every dwelling
house IN the District occupied 10y three or
more families, hotels, mills factories &C., and
see that they are properly strengthened from
| accident and fro.
Stringent precautionary measures concern
| ing awnings. signs, stoCplCs, walls &C., are
| made, aud IL is required that hereafter the
roof Of every new house constructed shall be
| OF non-comhustibe material, Ia addition to
| the Police court proceedings, tue District of
! Columbia Supreme court, or any justice
| thereof either in term or vacation, shall CXcr-
| else equity powers for the enforcement Of tho
regulations for tho removal of buildings.
| In time of danger from opilouCs, &c, the
! Health officer shalt issue orders governing
| the same and advertise his Instructions, said
| Instructions to remain in force until revoked
| by him.
! In the issuing Of marriage licenses the clerk
Of the court will he required to state name,
age, color, occupation, birthplace and place OF
| residence, and also name OF party to whom is
sued and each Clergyman marrying parties
| shall report the same to the Health Officer
| within forty.cisht hours. The same section re.
! qusre5 the prompt reporting OF births, deaths,
! sc.
| Tho Commissioners are authorized to fix the
| water rates in conformity with law, when
necessary, provided they are announced three
weeks in advance through the newspapers.
| Policemen in the discharge of their duty are
granted the power to cntor any house when
an ailTdy is in progress, or into which per-
! SONS run TO avoid arrest. No person shall as
sumo the duties Of police detective without
| having first received a specific appointment.
Penalties are provided for Furnishing officers
| for accepting brides on becoming parties TO
| fcIonies Rules are also made governing the
Washington Asylum and providing for the
punishment aud dismissal from office OF the
! intcndaAt, if he is ever convicted of selling,
directly o. indirectly, goods intended for use
in the asylum. Any person about the
| institution detected in carrying or allowing to
boclrried there Intoxicating liquors shall be
liable to a fue OF $50. Injury to baggage by
cEprlssmon or others is punishable by u fine OF
$50, Bili-posters are required to deposit as q
license $50 q year. No new burial ground
shall be located within the corporate limits oil
the District. The system Of allowing moieties
Of fines TO witnesses acting as iulorncrs ut tho
Police court IN cases relating to buildings, S;c.,
/ is abolished, The laws regulating the shoot.
ing OF game are slightly changed, and neces-
sary precautions are provided for tue sulc and
storage OF guupOwdor A haclyman is posi-
lively required 10 show to each passenger his
card OF rates and to conform to the same
strictly. The crying for sale of articles Oh the
streets on Sunday, except newspapers, auc
newspapers after 10 a. M, ispyhbitcd under
penalty UiSlO.