St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-26
RULERS OF CAPITAL
HOW DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA is
GOVERNED.
City Under the Direct Control of Con-
gress-Was Incorporated in 1902
with Population of Only
5000.


ferent from the present form.
It's charter provided for a mayor, to
be appointed annually by the presi
dent, and for a city council of II mem
bers, 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 slight change was made,
the mayor being selected by the quail
fed voters. This act also gave en-
larged powers to the corporation. 1t
Is 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the charter was revoked and new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-
ell 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 no COM
pensation for the land taken for
streets, the title to which should be
in the United States.
Second-The president was author
lied to retain as many squares as he
thought necessary for public improve
ment or other public uses, for which
land they should receive $G6 2-3 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 to be used in paying for the land
taken for public use and in erecting
public buildings. Other land was OBJ
tanned by condemnation.
The changes made in 1871 provided
municipal government for the entire
district. The executive officer was a
governor, appointed by the president,
for term of four years. The legisla-
tive. body was an assembly composed
of a council and a house of delegates,
the members of the former being ap-
pointed by the president, the mem.
bers of the latter elected by the quail
fed voters.
The district was allowed a delegate
in the house of representatives who
was 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 pub
lie works, composed of the governor
and four other persons, which had au
thority to make building regulations
build bridges and sewers and to per
form other similar duties.
In the District of Columbia all real
and personal property, except the
property of the United States and the
District, property of foreign govern
ments used for legation purposes
church property, property used fol
educational property and farm lane
are taxed at the rate of one and one
| half per cent. Land used for farming
/ purposes is taxed at one per cent. The
law provides that to the extent con
gress shall approve the estimates
made by the commissioners it shall
appropriate one-half thereof from thu
! revenues of the District OF Columbia
and one-half from the treasury of tht
| United Statestso that the general gov
eminent pays one-half, the other hal
being raised by taxation.
The district has no delegate in con
| gress as the territories have. Th'
commissioners appear before the com
| mittee of the house and the commit
tee of the senate on the District o
Columbia to urge the legislation the.
| think necessary, and before the appro
| Driation committee to explain thu
/ financial needs of the district.
The schools are under board @
education appointed by the judges Q
the supreme court of the district, ant
| consisting of nine members, three o
whom must be women. There are 1.
medical inspectors for the schools
working under the health officer of tn
district.
The judiciary of the District o
Columbia consists of a court of ar
| meals. which is composed of chic
| Justice and two associate justices;
supreme court, composed of a chic
| Justice and five associate justices;
poliee court of two judges; justices o
the peace and several United State
commissioners. All of these judge
and justices of the peace are appoint
ed by the president. The judges ar
continued by the senate, and hold OF
| Zee during good behavior. The jus
tees of the peace are appointed for
term OF four years.-Ohio Magazine.