The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-28
HOw WASHINGTON rs RULED.
TT Present system 10 Less Than Thirty
Years old.

porsted until 1902. at which time its popu-
lation was only about 5000. IN Govern
men then was entirely different from the
present form.
Its charter provided for a Mayor, 20 be
appointed annually by the President. and
for a city council OF twelve members. To
be selected by the white male inhabitants
who had paid taxes the previous year.
The corporation had authority 10 lavy
taxes. provide police. health and building
regulations. to maintain and repair streets,
and TO do other things usually done by
! municipal corporations.
/ In 1912 a slight change ws-s made. the
Mayor being selected by the qualified
voters. This act also gave enlarged power
TO the corporation. IL In interesting TO
note that prior to 1912 neither the Mayor
nor the members OF the council received any
pay for their services.
, Slight changes we're again made in 1920
from which date until 1871. when the char ter
was revoked and a new form of municipal
government was established. the Mayor was
elected by the vote Of the qualified electors,
The board Of aldermen and common council
elected by the taxpayers continued 10 lesis-
late for the city.
! Considerable diplomacy had TO be used
In securing the land necessary for the city.
says the Ohio Magazine. Nineteen Of the
proprietors, in consideration of The great
benefit they expected to derive from having
the Federal CITY laid on upon their land,
finally agreed to convey all their land TO
the President or the commissioner APP
pointed by him under these conditions:
/ First-They were to receive no compensa-
ton for the land taken for streets. the title
to which should be In the United States.
Sacond-The President Waa authorized to
! retain as many squares as he thought neces-
sary for public improvement or other public
uses, for which land they should receive
sixty-six and two-thirds dollars an acre.
Third-The balance was to be laid out In
lots. one-half to go to the United States. the
other half to the owners Of the land.
The money received from the sale of lots
belonging to the United States was used
in paying for the land taken for public use
and In erecting public buildings. Other
land was obtained by condemnation:
The changes made in 1871 provided a
municipal government for the entire Dis
trict. The executive officer was a Governor.
appointed by the President. for a term OF
four years, The legislative body was an
assembly composed OF a council and a House
of Delegates, the members Of the former
being appointed by the President. the MEM
bers Of the latter elected by the qualified
electors.
The District was allowed a delegate in
i bEIC AhOuDt VI 49,.
also elected by the qualified voters. and
who was a member OF the Committee on
the District Of Columbia of the House OF
Representatives, There were several boards
provided, the principal one being the board
Of public works, composed OF the Governor
and four other persons. which had
authority to make building. regulations,
change the streets and grades, build bridges
duties.
Under the lead Of Alexander r. Shepherd.
who was first a member Of the Board OF Pub
lie Works and subsequently Governor.
the most radical changes were made in
the streets and grades. A uniform system
of grades was adopted, which necessitated
deep cuts in some places and heavy fills in
other localities, the streets were improved
by patent pavement Of wood or concrete,
brick sidewalks were laid, parks were sodded
and trees planted.
The acts OF the board brought forth Bit
ter condemnation, which had much to do
with the abolishment Of this new govern
ment. The panic Of 1873 was also instru-
mental in causing the change. as the bonds
issued could not be sold and the board was
deeply in debt.
a temporary form established. IL was in
the hands Of a board Of three commissioners
to be appointed by the President. It was
followed by the present arrangement,
provided by the act Of June IL, 1878.
This form, which is a municipal govern
ment similar TO that OF 1871, has worked
well, and according to the majority opinion
is the best municipal government In the
United States. The board consists OF three
members, two Of whom are appointed
from civil life by the President. the third
being an officer from the Engineer Corps Of
the army not under the grade Of Captain.
In the District OF Columbia all real n
personal pr9gerty: snSePs the property
erty Of foreign Governments used for lega-
ton purposes. church property, property
used for educational purposes and farm
land are taxed at the rate Of one and one,
half per cent. Land used for farming
purposes il taxed at one per cent. The
law provides that to the extent Congress-
shall approve the estimates made by the
commissioners it shall appropriate one
half thereof from the revenues OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia and one-half from the
Treasury Of the United States. so that
the general Government pays one-half.
the other half being raised by taxation.
The board ORGANIZES by electing n
ally. or whenever a vacancy occurs. one OF
it's members as president. Their various
duties are divided into three groups. one
group being assigned to each commissioner
He has no absolute authority over matters
assigned to him, but must present all new
questions and all matters OF policy or ex-
pediency to the board OF commissio ners
sitting as such.
The District has no delegate in Congress-
az the Territories have. The Commissioner
appear before the committee Of the House
and the committee Of the Senate on the
District of Columbia to urge the legislation
they think necessary. and before the Appro-
priations Committee to explain the financial
needs of the District. L
The schools are under q board OF educa-
ton appointed by the Judges OF the Supreme
Court Of the District and consisting OF nine
members, three OF whom must be women.
There are twelve medical inspectors for the
schools, working under the health officer
OF the District.
The water supply il controlled by the
Government. II comes from the Potomac
River at Great Falls. about seventeen miles
north Of the city. the conduit being under
the charge of the Chief of Engineers of the
United States Army. The lighting system
is owned by private corporations.
geological park was established by
Congress- In 1889 and Ia under the direction
OF the Secretary OF the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition. Rock Creek Park. a reservation
lying north OF the city and containing 1000
acres. was laid out pursuant TO an act OF
Congress passed in 1890. IL Is under the
joint control OF the Chief Of Engineers Of
! the limited States Army and the Commits