The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11
RULERS OF CAPITAL
HOW DISTRICT or COLUMBIA Is
GOVERNED.
City Under the Direct Control Of Con-
gress-Was Incorporated In 1902
with . Population Of Only
1000.

- PoPui&uoH Was only dDOuL o,VUv,
The government then was entirely diff
ferent from the present form.
Its charter provided for a mayor, to
be appointed annually BY the presi,
dent, and for a city council of IL mem
beers, to be selected by the white male
Inhabitants who had paid taxes the
previous year.
q 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 1912 a slight change was made,
the mayor being selected by the quail
fed voters. This act also gave en-
IarSed powers to the corporation. 1t
is interesting to note that prior to 1872
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 1871, when
the charter was revoked and a new
form of municipal government was es-
tablished, the mayor was elected by
the vote of the qualified electors. The
board of aldermen and common coun-
Gil elected by the taxpayers continued
to legislate for the city.
Considerable diplomacy had to be
used in securing the land necessary
for the city, Nineteen of the proprie-
tors, in consideration of the great
benefit they expected to derive from
having the federal city laid off upon
their land, finally agreed to convey all
their land to the president or the com
missioners appointed by him under
these conditions:
First-They Were to receive mo com
pensation for the land taken for
streets, the title to which should be
in the United States.
Second-The president was author.
ICED to retain as many squares as he
thought necessary for public improve.
ment or other public uses, for which
land they should receive $6G % an
acre.
Third-The balance was to he laid
out In lots, half to 20 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 to be used in paying for the land
taken for public use and in erecting
buildings. Other land was OBJ.
tained by condemnation.
The changes made in 1871 provided
municipal government for the entire
district. The executive officer was a
governor, appointed by the president,
Tor a term OF four years. The tegisla-
i've body Was an assembly composed
# a council and a house of delegates, |
he members of the former being APP
by the president. the mem
hers of the latter elected by the quail
led voters.
The district was allowed a delegate
n the house of representatives, who
vas also elected by the qualified
and who vas a member of the
on the District of Columbia
Il the house Of representatives. There
several boards provided. the
n being the board of pub
ic works, composed of the governor
nd four other persons, which had au-
to make building regulations.
uild bridges and sewers and to per.
orm other similar duties.
In the District of Columbia all real
nd personal property. except the
roperty of the United States and the
property Of foreign govern
used for legation purposes,
hurch property, property used for
EDUCATIONAL property and farm land
re taxed at the rate of one and one
alf per cent. Land used for farming
urposes is taxed at one per cent. The
lw provides that TO the extent con-
shall approve the estimates
lade by the commissioners it shall
appropriate one-half thereof from the
venues of the District of Columbia
nd one-half from the treasury Of the
States, SO that the general gov
pays one-half, the other half
ling raised by taxation.
The district has nc delegate In con. /,
'ess as the territories have. The /,
'mmissioners appear before the COM '
ittee of the house and the commit
G of the senate on the District Of
to urge the legislation they !
ink necessary, and before the appro- :
committee to explain the =
needs of the district. :
The schools are under a board Of !
ucation appointed by the judges of
Q supreme court Of the district, and
insisting of nine members, three OF I
lom must be women. There are IL Il
edical inspectors for the schools, :
under the health officer Of the 4
strict. n
The judiciary Of the District OF II
consists OF a court of ap- g
ais, which is composed Of a chief e
and two associate justices, a y
preme court, composed Of q chief a
,tice and five associate Justices; K
lice court Of two judges: Justices OF y
} peace and several United States 4,
mmissioners. All Of these Judges \
! justices Of the peace are appoint :,