The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-24
THE DISTRICT GoYERNMENT 7.
Changes Through which II Has Pass
ed Since First Established.

ed since First Established.
The municipal government of washing
ION has passed through several impor-
tant changes since the Incorporation of
the city. As at first organized the mu-
n, ipality was governed like other cities;
later the District, including the cities of
Washington and Georgetown, had a terri
tOriai form OF government, and finally the
present system, in which affairs are man
aged by three Commissioners appointed
by the President.
The city OF Washington was incorporat-
ed by act OF Congress approved May 3.
1902. It's City Council was elected by tie
people and the Mayor was appointed by
The President. The first Mayor was Rob
ert Brent who gas appointed in June,
1902, and served ten years, being reap
pointed annually BY act OF Congress, APP
proved May 4. 1912, the appointment Of
the Mayor by the President ceased, the
duty of electing him to Office devolving
upon the City Council. The second Mayor.
Daniel Rapine was so elected in June,
1872, serving one year. He had three sue
cessors, James H. Blake. who served from
June. 1913, to June. 1917; Benjamin G. Orr,
who served two years, and Samuel N
OtttaiiNOCus elected ii JulGs 1917
Pursuant to the act of Congress OF
Nay Is. 1920. the Mayor was elected by
the people to serve two years. Mayor
Sm2ilwOOd was elected and took the oath
of Office on the first Monday of June, 1920.
He had fifteen successors down to Mat
thew G. Emery, installed in Office in June.
1886
Owl ing to election disturbances and 9th
er causes which adversely affected tire
a. ,yxf
gross percmptorily brought it to an end
by the act of February q. 1871. when the
charter of the corporation was revoked
During this period the territory Of the
District outside the cities of washington
and Georgetown was governed by the
Levy Court which was provided for in the
act of March 2, 1901 It. too, was abol-
ished by the act of February p. 1911
Georgetown. prior 10 1871, was a sePa-
rate corporation and governed b. its Own
Mayor and City Council The act OF 1871
revoked the charters Of Washington and
/ Georgetown and abolished the Levy Court
Of tie county Of Washington, and estab-
/ lished a single municipal government for
all three, named the District OF Columbia.
/ Valid laws. however, and the old ordi-
nances of the three separate governments
were continued in force, many of them 70
| The present day The District Govern
aAttLLs d AEtS COuSLlLELEts was GOtltt'JSt
Of a Governor Board of Public Works a
Secret ary. and Board Of Health appointed
/ by the President; s Legislative Assembly,
consisting OF council appointed by The
/ President and house OF delegates elect
ed by the citizens of the District. A rep
resentative also elected by the people had
q seat in the lower house of~Congress-
Another and final change was enecte ty
act of Congress approved June 20. 1874.
The territorial form OF government es-
1abiished in 1871. was swept away and
with il passed the SURFACES Of the citizens
OF the District. Municipal government
was vested in three Commissioners ap-
pointed by the President and confirmed by
the Senate. This form Of government was
made permanent by the act of June Il,
1873. and amplihed into the present mu-
nicipaI rule Under the law Of 1873 the
three Commissioners have equal powers
Two of them are chosen from civil life and
che IS an Army engineer With rank not
less than captain They must be Of three
years continuous residence in the District
to be eligible. Their terms are for three
years. the salaries are each s. 900 per an
mum, and the entire municipal authorit5 is
vested in them
There have been twenty Mayors Of
Washington and two Governors OF the Dis
tricJ. Under the temporary government
from 1871 to 1878 six Commissioners
served and since that time fifteen from
civil life and els.en engineers Of -the Ar
ny