Year: 1866




An Act to provide for the Public instruction of


Youth in Primary Schools throughout the
County of Washington, in the District of Colum-
bia, without the Limits of the Cities of Wash
ing ton and Georgetown.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives of the United States OF America in
| Congress assembled, That the Levy Court of the
county OF Washington, in the District OF Column
ba at their first meeting after the passage of this
act, shall appoint seven intelligent inhabitants of
the said county, who shall reside without the
| two of whom shall be residents ofthat portion of
the said county lying and being west of Rock
Greek, three between Rock Greek and the Eastern
Branch, and two east and south of the Eastern
Branch, to be Commissioners of Primary Schools
for said county, which said commissioners shall
hold their offices until the second Monday in
May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and
sixty three and until Others appointed in their
places and in case any of the said commissioners
thus appointed or to be appointed aforesaid
shall refuse to serve, or die, or remove from the
county, or become incapable of serving, the
cancy vacancies shall be filled by the Levy
Court as soon as practicable.


SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That each of
the said commissioners, before he enters upon the
execution OF his office, and within fifteen days
after notification of his appointment by the said
Levy Court, shall take and subscribe an oath be-
fore some Justice of the Peace of the said county,
in form following, that is to say: "1 --, do
solemnly and sincerei J promise and swear, (or
affirm, the case may be- that will in all things,
to the best of my knowledge and ability, well
and truly execute the trust reposed in me com
missioner of PRIMARY schools for the county,
without favor or partalty:" and every justice of
shall, without fee Or reward, certify the same in
writing, and, within eight days thereafter, trans
init deliver said certificate to the clerk of the
Levy Court for record.


SEC g. And be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of the commissioners of primary
schools, majority of them, to divid the coun-
ty into seven suitable and convenient school dis
trcts, two of which shall be located west of Rock
Creek, tire e between Rock Greek and the East
ern Branch, and two east and south of the Eastern
Branch, and to alter and regulate the
hereinafter provided. And it shall be the further
duty of the commissioners of primary schools
aforesaid, Immediately after the formation or al
teration of any such school districts in said Coun
ty, ts describe and number the same, and deliver
the description and number thereof, in writing,
TO the Clerk of the Levy Court, who is hereby
required to receive and record the same in the re.
cords of that court without fee or reward And
provided, That in laying off said school districts,
or in altering the same, no tracts. or parts OF
tracts, of land lying contiguous and forming one
farm, shall be divided SO that portions of the same
properey shall be included in two separate dis
tricts


SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the
said commissioners may alter and change the
school districts with view to their better
rangement and the more general convenience of
the people: Provided, however, That, unless the
trustees of the districts to be altered chang
ed shall assent thereto, no such alteration or
change shall be made.


SEC, 5. And be it further enacted, That 1t shall
be the duty of the county collector to notify the
different officers to be appointed, in virtue Of the
provisions of this act, of their appointments with
in ten days after his having received notice OF
such appointments from the appointing power,
whose duty it shall be to give such notice to the
county collector aforesaid.


SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the
said commissioners shall hold two stated meet
ings in each year. which meetings shall be held at
such place and at such times shall be determin-
ed on by said commissioners, and of which they
shall give public notice in each of ssid school dis
tricts and such other meetings as circumstances
may from time to time require; but if less than
three members attend any meeting no business
shall be transacted therea except that OF adjourn
ing to some time and place to be agreed on by
the commissioners present. and at all meetings
of said commissioners the treasurer of the school
fund of the county hereinafter to be appointed,
shall attend and lay before them his books and
accounts for their inspection and examination.


SEC. z. Aud be 1t further enacted, That the said
commissioners shall cause to be kept r, gular
record of all their acts and proceedings in abook
to be kept for that purpose, and said record, or
copy thereof, certified to be correct under the
hands and seals of a majority of said board of
commissioners shall be considered evidence of
their acts and proceedings in all judicial proceed
1ngs. And the board of commissioners aforesaid
snail nave power to appoint clerk, prescribe his
duties, and pay him salary, and also to allow the
treasurer OF the school fund, hereinafter to be ap
pointed, an annual compensation for his services
out of the general school fund, hereinafter to be
provided: Provided, That neither the said clerk
nor treasurer shall be paid more than one hundred
dollars per annum.


SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That on the
second Monday in May, in the year eig hteen hun
dred and sixty-three, and annually thereafter the