Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-05

GOVERNMENT, ETC.
So many inquiries are made by visitors Just
now In regard TO the status of District affairs
the mode of government here. and the relations
of the national city 10 the general government
that the following statement OF the situation
here viii he found of interest:
The District of Columbia. the scat Of govern
uent of the United ~tats>. i situated on the
lett bank OF the Potomac river, 100 miles from
Its mOgth.
1t was provided for rs the seat of government
BY acts of Congress approved July rs. 1870
and March . 1871. pursuant 20 the following
provision couta ned iB the S'h section Of the
Isl article oi the constitution o. the United
States, enUmcrItir- the powers OF Congress :
''Tn special exclusive LEGISLATION in all cases
Whatsoever. over such district mot exceeding
ten miles >qH1rcl a. may. by cr>Sion Gi partl-
cular States, and tie acceptance Of Congress-
becom" the seat 0t government Of the United
States. and To- exercise like authority over all
places purchased by the consent 90 the ieElsii-
tuTe OF the state in which the same shall he
Tor the erection of fort-. MAGAZINES. ar-cnais
d0ck yards. and other n.cdiut buiidIn@N-
The requisite territory was offered 70 the
United State for the purpose 10y the states of
MARYLAND and Virginia. ana was located 10y
proclamation Of President George Washington,
March 80. l1@l. partly ia Maryland and partly
In Virginia Ii Was originally ten miles square,
pursuant To- act Of Congress OF July -. 1SiG II.
:. stat. at L.. vol. O. r. &l of the portion coded
by that state, il was reduced To its present area
OF about >cVenjy-tWO square miles.
1t was divided into two counties, named
AltNIEltrlH
former II which lnclHdet the territory reccd"d
To Virginia, leaving the either the only present
county subdivision ~ The District of Columbia.
For tHe purpose OF local administration the
District contained three municipal corpora
tons Nl': Tho city of Washington. the city OF
CTcur.e .pWil and the Levy cour; of the county
OF Washington. The charters of which were
revoked and tine municipal affairs cuni-ded toa
single government jun :. ISL, under the
name If the District ot Columbia, by the act of
Congress Ot February 2f- fS.I
THE CITY OF WASHINGTON
Che Federal city was Laid out 10y direction of
President Washington pursuant To said act of
July Is. 1890, ON lands purchased from the
pruprieIorS the sites. and i first referred To
as the city of Washington in the preamble to
an act of the assembly OF Maryland OF December
10. I.9l. Th- first local authorities OF Washing
ton were the SideHJ and three cummi. SiOnerS
appointed 10y the President under said act al
July rs. 100. they and thcjr~ Ucrc>SorS who had
In general the Same iunc. ions continuing until
June ]. l@u2. when the office Of >upcTintend-
ent having charge of public buildings and
grounds was substituted Tor the commission
er>. ana the Inhabitants Of the city first incor-
pCTated by act of g. I-Te>> g.! May ., 1902. as
the city at WASHINGTON. with city council
elected ty the people, and mayor appointed
by the President.
The first MAYER was Robert Brent. who was
appointed in June. lSu2- and was Te-a! point
Ell annually. and served until the second Mon-
day Ot dune. 1872. when by an act of
Congress uf MAY i, 1872. the duty of electing
the mayor devo5vrd on The city council.
and so continued until the first Monday 81 June,
erc>s Of May 10, l~2u. The mayor was elected
by the per} = for terms of two years until June
/, 1871, when the charter OF the corporation
was revoked by act 81 February II, 1871,
aforesaid, and only its name retained.
THE LIST OF MAYORS.
The following is "a list If the names and terms
Of mayors OF the city of Washington:
Robert Brent. appointed by President annu-
ally, served from June. 1902. until June. 1912.
Daniel Eaptre. elected by the city councils
annually, served from June, 1912, until June,
ISIS.
james IT, Blake. elected by city councils
annually. served from June. 1913, until June,
Eenfamfn g. Orr. elected by city councils an
1919.
samuel y SnaIlwood. elected by city coun-
ellis annually, served from June 1919, until
June. $50.
samuel y. SrhaIlwood elected by people bfen-
ni1l ', served from June. lo2O, until June,
Thomas Carherry. elected by people. served
from June lo22 until Hume. 1924.
samuel y. ~maw"pd. elected bv people,
served rom June, 1921; died Sep. so, 1921.
IL ger e. "eieht!aan, elected by city councils
served from Ortphsr-i. 1921. until June 500
Koger :. NciTht;nai, elected by people
served from June, 1876; resigned July
81. 1927.
Joseph Gales. ir.. elected by city councils.
served from July 81. 1Sz.. until June, 1928.
J"serh Gales. jr.. elected 10y people, served
from june, Is2S. unit! June, 1880.
John u. Van Ness. elected by people, served
from June. 1880. until June. 1881.
WuI. \. Bradley elected 10y people. served
from June 1881, until -Tune. 1886.
Peter Force, elected by people, served from
June. 1886, until June, 1910.
VIM. ". ScJtOu. elected by people, served
from June 1910. until June, 1850.
Waiter L"noX. elected by people, served from
June. 1850. until June. 1852.
John W. Naury. elected bv people served
from June 1852. until June. 1881.
john I. Towers elected by people, served
nom June. ISL. until June. 1SJ6.
W m. Is. NlGZrEdeT. elected by ppODlp served
from June 1e16. until June, 1888.
James q. Bcrret. elected by people, served
from June ISIS. until August 2i Is6i
Richard " 1llach, elected by city councils pro
temp"re. served from August 20, 1851, until
Richard wallach, elected by people, served
from June So, until June. 1s6e.
Sayle>J Bowen, elected bypeople, served from
June. 1865. until June SO
Matthew g. Emery. elected BY people, served
nom June : 20 until June. ISL.
The city Of Georgetown was laid out pursuant
u an act OF the province of Maryland dated
May -, ls3l. and was Incorporated in 1883
and is generally supposed to have been
named in honor OF King George H. the
then reigning sovereign OF Great Britain. some
however claim that it originally called
Georges town. from George Gordon and George
Bcall. the owners of the site when the town was
laid out. II had developed into Il city OF nearly
10000 inhabitants. governed by a mayor and
CITY council elected by the people, when its char
t"r was revoked by the act OF February y,
Isl as aforesaid and only its name retained
a. In the case OF the city of Washington, for
which no reason was given in either instance.
LIST OF MAYORS OF GEORGETOWN
Robert Peter. elected by city councils annually.
served from 17S9 until I79S
lloyd I:calI elected by city councils annually
served from 119S until 1903
Daniel Rented. elected by city councils an
nu:1lly. served from 1SOJ until 1903.
Thomas Corcoran. elected bv city councils An
nutllv. served from 500 until SOC
Daniel Rented. elected 10y city councils an
nually. served from I~J6 until ISOS
Thomas CpTco~:iu. elected Ivy city councils an
nuI'y- served from SOS until S1I.
D1V5tN lleE.elected by city councils annually
served from ISL until 1872.
Thomas CorcoGa1f. elected by city councils an
nu;gliy. served from SIP until 1918.
John Peter elected by city councils annually
served from 1913 until 1918.
IE1iUts tf''t' n. elected by CITY councils an
nE:t.i=- service, from ISIS until 1910
Horny F"NaH. elected by city councils an
nuHiiy, served from 1919 until 1921.
john Peter. elected hy city councils annually
served rom 1s21 until 1S22.
John t0y. elected boy city councils annually
served from 1~22 until 1881.
John cox. elected by the people bienniaIlv
served from f~.'f until - -.
Henry td1l>"u. elected by the people bien-
ni.lly. served rom ISIS irti Isj1
Eiclard IL; Crawford. elected ~ the people
biennial y. served from So until 1859
Henry Adi--un. elected bv the people bicn-
nially. served from so until 1857
Charles D. Va. ."i elected bv the peoule bier-
nitlly. served from $50 uufil $50
Henry VI sweeney. elect "a bv the peOple bien-
MA ly; -erved from l~GG until ISL
Tie Levy Court 81 the county of Washington
WaS provided for 10y a'' O. Congress of March =
1Nol, aud under tjsit and subsequent laws
Ia roof sr-s