Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-07
A NEW GOVERNMENT
PROPOSED ELECTORAL ADMINS
TRATIoN FOR DISTRICT.
Bill Introduced Today by Senator Ma
son-Provides for Mayor and
Town Council.

A bill to establish representative form
of government for the District of Columbia
has been introduced in the Senate by Mr..
Mason by request. 1t Is similar to a bill
introduced in the Senate last year by Mr..
Penrose.
1t recites that the government of the
United States owns more than one-half of
the real estate located in the District of
Columbia it is deemed Just and equitable
that the United States shall continue to
pay, as it now does, an equal share of the
taxes now levied upon the real estate sit
uated in the District of Columbia with the
citizens of the District. That is to say,
that when the total amount of the annual
assessment on real estate situated in the
District is made each year, an equal sum
shall be appropriated from the treasury of
the United States and paid out for the
local expenses of the District in the same
manner as Is now provided for by existing
laws
The bill provides that the power of max
Ing laws for the local government of the
District shall be vested in two legislative
bodies to be known as the boards of
aldermen and common council of the Dis
trict Of Columbia Immediately after the
organization. of the board of common coun-
Gil the first business that shall be in order
will be the making of estimates of the
moneys required to defray the expense of
the District for the ensuing fiscal year
This shall be done by a committee of the
common council. to be called the committee
on taxation, and which shall consist of at
least seven members, who shall be appoint
ed by the presiding officer of the board Of
common council.
Questions of Finance.
These estimates, after being voted favor
ably upon in the board of common council.
shall then be transmitted to the board of
aldermen and mayor of the District for
their approval They shall then be trans
mitted to the committees on the District Of
Columbia of the United States House of
Representatives and Senate of the United
States in the same manner as the esti-
mates prepared by the Commissioners are
now prepared and presented. After these
committees have favorably acted upon
these estimates they shall then be trans
mitted to the United States House of Rep
resentatives and United States Senate for
final action.
All moneys raised by taxation or other
wise from the citizens of the District or
appropriated by the government of the
United States for the benefit of the Dis
trict shall remain in the custody of the
United States treasurer, and shall be dis
bursed by him on proper vouchers. in the
manner now provided for by existing laws.
The board Of aldermen shall be composed
of eleven members, to be selected by the
people of the District.
Councilmen, Aldermen and Mayor.
The board Of common council shall con-
sist Of twenty-five members, being one
from each Of the twenty-five legislative
districts. Eleven of the members of the
board of comm on council shall be appoint
ed by the President of the United States
and confirmed by the Senate of the United
States.
The boards of aldermen and common
council of the District shall constitute the
legislative body for the enactment Of all
local legislation for the protection and well
fare Of the citizens of the District of Co
lumbia, and also for the protection of the
interests of the government of the Unit ed
States The members Of the boards of al
dermen and common council shall be COM
posed of persons who shall! have been resi-
dents Of the District for at least three
years previous to their election or appoint
ment
Members of the board of aldermen and
common council are to receive salaries of
$500 annually. mayor is to be elected by
citizens of the District. who shall have
been a resident of the District for at least
five years,