Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 2.djvu/763



a justice of the peace, for the recovery of any fine or penalty arising or incurred for a breach of any by-law or ordinance of the corporation, upon a return of nulla bona to any fieri facias issued against the property of the defendant or defendants, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the circuit court for the county of Washington, when required, to issue a writ of capias ad satisfaciendum against every such defendant, returnable to the next circuit court for the county of Washington, thereafter, and which shall be proceeded on as in other writs of the like kind.

. And be it further enacted, That unimproved lots in the city of Washington, on which two years’ taxes remain due and unpaid, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay such taxes, may be sold at public sale for such taxes due thereon: Provided, that public notice be given of the time and place of sale, by advertising in some newspaper printed in the city of Washington, at lest six months, where the property belongs to persons residing out of the United States; three months, where the property belongs to persons residing in the United States, but without the limits of the district of Columbia; and six weeks, there the property belongs to persons residing within the district of Columbia or city of Washington; in which notice shall be stated, the number of the lot or lots, the number of the square or squares, the name of the person or persons to whom the same may have been assessed; and also the amount of taxes due thereon: And provided also, that the purchaser shall not be obliged to pay at the time of such sale, more than the taxes due, and the expenses of sale; and that if within two years from the day of such sale the proprietor or proprietors of such lot or lots, or his or their heirs, representatives or agents, shall repay to such purchaser the monies paid for the taxes and expenses as aforesaid, together with ten per centum per annum as interest thereon, or make a tender of the same, he shall be reinstated in his original right and title; but if no such payment or tender be made within two years next after the said sale, then the purchaser shall pay the balance of the purchase money of such lot or lots, into the city treasury, where it shall remain subject to the order of the original proprietor or proprietors, his or their heirs or legal representatives; and the purchaser shall receive a title in fee simple to the said lot or lots, under the hand of the mayor and seal of the corporation, which shall be deemed good and valid in law and equity.

. And be it further enacted, That the said corporation shall in future be named and styled “The Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council of the City of Washington;” and that if there shall have been a non-election or informality in the election of a city council on the first Monday in June last, it shall not be taken, construed or adjudged, in any manner, to have operated as a dissolution of the said corporation, or to affect any of its rights, privileges or laws, passed previous to the second Monday in June last, but the same are hereby declared to exist in full force.

. And be it further enacted, That the corporation shall, from time to time, cause the several wards of the city to be so located as to give, as nearly as may be, an equal number of voters to each ward: and it shall be the duty of the register of the city, or such officer as the corporation may hereafter appoint, to furnish the commissioners of election, for each ward, on the first Monday in June annually, previous to the opening of the polls, a list of the persons having a right to vote, agreeably to the provisions of the second section of this act.

. And be it further enacted, That so much of any former act, as shall be repugnant to the provisions of this act, be, and the same is hereby repealed.

, May 4, 1812.