The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-02
HOW WASHINGTON
 IS GOVERNED Incorporated in 1902 With aPopulation ofOnly
 About 5000. MANY CHANGES MADE. The Present System Is Less Than Thirty Years
 in Operation.
MANY CHANGES MADE

The city of Washington was not in corporated until 1892, at which time it's population was only about 5000. The government then was entirely different from the present form.
 Its charter provided for mayors to be appointed annually by the Presi- dent, 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 to levy taxes, provide police, health and building regulations, to maintain and repair streets, and to do other things usually done by municipal corpora tons.
 In 1872 a slight change was made, tho mayor being selected by the qual- flied voters This act also gave en- larged power to the corporation. It 1t interesting to note that prior to 1912 neither the mayor nor the members of the council received any pay for their services.
 Slight changes were again made in 1920, from which date until 1S71 when the charter was revoked and a new form of municipal government was es- abolished, the mayor was elected by the vote of the qualified electors. The board of aldermen and common coun- oil elected by the taxpayers continued to 1egislate for the city.
 Considerable diplomacy had to be used in securing the land necessary for the city, says the Ohio Magazine. Nineteen of the proprletors, in consid- eration of the great benefit they ex- pected to derive from having the federal city laid off upon their land, finally agreed to convey all their land to the resident or the commissioners appointed by him under these condi- tions:
 First-They were to receive no con- pensation for the land taken for streets, the title to which should be in the United States.
 Second-The President was authorized to retain as many squares as he thought necessary for public improve ment 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 Unit- ed States was used in paying for the land taken for public use and in erect ing public buildings. Other land was obtained by condemnation.
 The changes made in 1871 provided a municipal government for the entire district. The executive officer -was-~a governor, appointed by the President, for a term of four years. The legisla- tive body was an assembly composed of council and a house of delegates, the members of the former being ap- pointed by the President, the members of the latter elected by the qualified electors.
 The district was allowed a delegate in the house of representatives, who was also elected by the qualified vot- CTS, and who was a member of the committee on the District of Columbia of the house of representatives. There were several boards provided, the prin- cipal one being the board of public works, composed of the governor and four other persons, which had author ity to make building regulations change the streets and grades, build bridges and sewers and to perform other sim liar duties.
 Under the lead of Alexander R. shep- herd, who was first member of the board of public works and subsequent ly governor the most radical changes were made in the streets and grades. A uniform system of grades was adopt ed, which necessitated deep cuts in some places and heavy fills in other localities, the streets were improved by patent pavement of wood or con