Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 3.djvu/624



“,” and the, in the year one thousand eight hundred and four, and the act, entitled “,” and all other acts, or parts of acts, inconsistent with the provisions of this act, be, and the same are hereby, repealed: Provided, however, That the mayor, the members of the board of aldermen, and the members of the board of common council, of the corporation of the said city, shall and may remain and continue as such, for and during the terms for which they have been respectively appointed, subject to the terms and conditions in such cases legally made and provided; and all acts or things done, or which may be done, by them in pursuance of the pursuance of the provisions, or by virtue of the authority, of the said acts, or either of them, and not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, shall be valid, and of as full force and effect as if the said acts had not been repealed.

. And be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of the city of Washington shall continue to be a body politic and corporate, by the name of the “Mayor, board of aldermen, and board of common council, of the city of Washington,” to be elected by ballot, as hereinafter directed, and, by their corporate name, may sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, grant, receive, and do all other acts, as natural persons; and may purchase and hold real, personal, and mixed, property, or dispose of the same, for the benefit of the city; and may have and use a city seal, and break and alter the same at pleasure.

. And be it further enacted, That the mayor of the said city shall be elected on the first Monday in June next, and on the same day in every second year thereafter, at the same time and place, in the same manner, and by the persons qualified to vote for members of the board of aldermen and the board of common council. That the commissioners hereinafter mentioned shall make out duplicate certificates of the result of the election of mayor; and shall return one to the board of aldermen and the other to the board of common council, on the Monday next ensuing the election; and the person having the greatest number of votes shall be the mayor: but in case two or more persons, highest in vote, shall have an equal number of votes, then it shall be lawful for the board of aldermen and the board of common council to proceed forthwith, by ballot, in joint meeting, to determine the choice between such persons. The mayor shall, on the Monday next ensuing his election, before he enters on the duties of his office, in the presence of the boards of aldermen and common council, in joint meeting, take an oath, to be administered by a justice of the peace, “lawfully to execute the duties of his office, to the best of his skill and judgment, without favour or partiality.” He shall, ex officio, have and exercise all the powers, authority, and jurisdiction, of a justice of the peace for the county of Washington, within the said county. He shall nominate, and with the consent of the board of aldermen, appoint to all offices under the corporation, (except commissioners of election,) and may remove any such officer from office at his will and pleasure. He shall appoint persons to fill up all vacancies which may occur during the recess of the board of aldermen, to hold such appointments until the end of the then ensuing session. He may convene the two boards when, in his opinion, the public good may require it; and he shall lay before them, from time to time, in writing, such alterations in the laws of the corporation as he may deem necessary and proper; and he shall receive, for his services, annually, a just and reasonable compensation, to be allowed and fixed by the two boards, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during his continuance in office. Any person shall be eligible to the office of mayor who is a free white male citizen of the United States, who shall have attained to the age of thirty years, who shall have resided in the said city for two years immediately