Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 2.djvu/761



rules necessary and requisite to enable itself to come to a just decision in cases of a contested election of its members; and the several members of each board shall, before entering upon the duties of their office, take the following oath or affirmation: “I do swear, (or solemnly, sincerely and truly affirm and declare, as the case may be) that I will faithfully execute the office of to the best of my knowledge and ability,” which oath or affirmation shall be administered by the mayor or some justice of the peace for the county of Washington.

. And be it further enacted, That in addition to the powers heretofore granted to the corporation of the city of Washington, by an act, entituled “,” and an act, entituled “,” the said corporation shall have power to lay taxes on particular wards, parts or sections of the city, for their particular local improvements; that after providing for all objects of a general nature, the taxes raised on the assessable property in each ward shall be expended therein, and in no other, in regulating, filling up and repairing of streets and avenues, building of bridges, sinking of wells, erecting pumps and keeping them in repair; in conveying water in pipes, and in the preservation of springs; in erecting and repairing wharves; in providing fire engines and other apparatus for the extinction of fires; and for other local improvements and purposes, in such manner as the said board of aldermen and board of common council shall provide; but the sums raised for the support of the poor, aged and infirm, shall be a charge on each ward in proportion to its population or taxation, as the two boards shall decide. That whenever the proprietors of two thirds of the inhabited houses, fronting on both sides of a street or part of a street, shall, by petition to the two branches, express their desire of improving the same by laying the curbstone of the foot pavement, and paving the gutters or carriage-way thereof, or otherwise improving said street agreeably to its graduation, the said corporation shall have power to cause to be done at any expense not exceeding two dollars and fifty cents per front foot, of the lots fronting on each improved street or part of a street, and charge the same to the owners of the lots fronting on said street or part of a street in due proportion; and also on a like petition, to provide for erecting lamps for lighting any street or part of a street, and to defray the expense thereof, by a tax on the proprietors or inhabitants of such houses, in proportion to their rental or valuation, as the two boards shall decide.

. And be it further enacted, That the said corporation shall have full power and authority to erect and establish hospitals or pest houses, workhouses, houses of correction, penitentiary and other public buildings, for the use of the city, and to lay and collect taxes for defraying the expenses thereof; to regulate party and other fences, and to determine by whom the same shall be made and kept in repair; to lay open streets, avenues, lanes and alleys, and to regulate or prohibit all enclosures thereof; and to occupy and improve for public purposes, by and with the consent of the President of the United States, any part of the public and open spaces or squares in said city not interfering with any private rights; to regulate the measurement of, and weight by which all articles brought into the city for sale shall be disposed of; to provide for the appointment of appraisers and measurers of builder’s work and materials, and also of wood, coals, grain and lumber; to restrain and prohibit the nightly and other disorderly meetings of slaves, free negroes and mulattoes, and to punish such slaves by whipping, not exceeding forty stripes, or by imprisonment, not exceeding six calendar months, for any one offence; and to punish such free negroes and mulattoes for such offences, by fixed penalties, not exceeding twenty dollars for any