Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-12

How III. Constituted.

Por the Information OF many persons who
nave m clearly defined idea as 10 how our local
Government is constituted, The following, fur
ntshed by District Secretary VIM. Tindal In
response 10 inquiries from correspondent, is
succinct description:
The District OF Columbia has no local legis-
Iature- The form OF government for the Dis
frict OF which the Legislative Assembly" was
3 feature was abolished by the act of Congress
entitled AN act for the government OF the Dis
friCt OF columbia, and for other purposes"
approved June 20, 1874, and there has been no
legislative branch OF the District government
since. The Congress OF the United States Is
now the eIclIisire law-making power for the
No national or municipal elections are held
In the District The privilege OF voting for
certain local officers and upon certain local
subjects which Congress haI delegated to the
District. was Withdrawn by said act OF June
90 1874.
June 20, 1874, aforesaid, abolished the once
OF governor also, and provided for the appoint
uent OF three commissioners, to be vested
with and to exercise the powers, &C.. OF
The President Of the United States ap.
pointed commissioners under this law, WHO
held Office until July l. ISIS, when
the present. form OF government went In op-
Grafton In pursuance OF the act OF Congress
entitled IAN act providing a permanent form
OF govern ment for the Di1tric5 OF COLUMBIA"
approved June II, ISIS. Tie executive auth IT.
en- FORM Is vested Ia a board OF commissioners
composed OF three members two OF whom are
from civil life. and the other IAN officer OF the
corps OF engineers OF the u. y. army whose
lineal tank shall De above that Of captain
The Commit ssioners now In office are JOSIAH
Dent. Thomas z. Morgan and Major Wm. j.
TwiIilg, L. ). A, the first named Deiny 80
president OF the board. having heen selected rs
such by his colleagues, under a provision of
the last mentioned Law which requires the
commissioners to annually elect one OF their
number 10 that p0Sitif u. The salary of each
OF the commissioners Is 5000 per annun.
They have been generally appointed without
reference TO their political opinions. The term
OF Office of the two Commissioners from civil
life Is three years, unless sooner removed by
The President OF the United States. That OF
The president OF the board will expire June 30,
1852. The term OF the Engineer Commissioner
depends upon the pie lSure OF the President of
the United States, who Is authorized to detail
an officer OF the requisite rank for this duty,
from time TO time, as he shall deem expedlent
It Is proper to add that Major Twining, the
present Engineer Commissioner, was the first
officer assigned 10 this duty, and that he has
continuously discharged IL since.
The act OF June 20, 1874, which abolished the
office of Governor and the legislative assembly,
delegate from the District Of Columbia
IN the House OF Representatives after
the expiration OF the term ne was then serving
In the 49, Congress- viz: March Sd, 1875
The population OF the District Of Columbia
according TO the 10th census QSS0) Is 171.63S.
The statute limitations in the District are re-
gaIding judgments, twelve years: regarding
notes, three years; regarding open &C counts,
three years.
The District has no revised code, although
the commissioners, under authority Of law
have caused cOd1tcat1on Of the laws in force
and. IN contemplation (and the Court proceed
urel to De prepared and submitted to Congress.
IL has not been acted upon py that body whose
approval Is necessary To give Ii effect