Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 3.djvu/625



his election, and who shall be the bona fide owner of a freehold estate in the said city; and no other person shall be eligible to the said office. In case of the refusal of any person to accept the office of mayor, upon his election thereto, or of his death, resignation, inability, or removal from the city, the said boards shall assemble and elect another in his place, to serve for the remainder of the term, or during such inability.

. And be it further enacted, That the board of aldermen shall consist of two members to be resident in, and chosen from, each ward, by the qualified voters therein, and to be elected for two years, from the Monday next ensuing their election: and the board of common council shall consist of three members, to be residents in, and chosen from, each ward, by the qualified voters therein, and to be elected for one year, from the Monday next ensuing their election; and each board shall meet at the council chamber, on the second Monday in June next, for the despatch of business, at ten o’clock in the morning, and at the same hour on the second Monday in June, in every year thereafter; and at such other times as the two boards may, by law, direct. A majority of each board shall be necessary to form a quorum to do business, but a less number may adjourn from day to day; they may compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties, and allow such compensation for the attendance of the members, as they may, by law, provide; each board shall appoint its own President, who shall preside during its sessions, and who shall be entitled to vote on all questions; they shall settle their rules of proceedings, appoint their own officers, regulate their respective compensations, and remove them at pleasure; and may, with the concurrence of three-fourths of the whole, expel any member for disorderly behaviour or malconduct in office, but not a second time for the same offence; each board shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and the yeas and nays shall be entered thereon, at the request of any member; and their deliberations shall be public. All ordinances or acts, passed by the two boards, shall be sent to the mayor for his approbation, and, when approved by him, shall be obligatory as such. But, if the mayor shall not approve of any ordinance or act, so sent to him, he shall return the same, within five days, with his reasons in writing therefor; and if two thirds of both boards, on reconsideration thereof, agree to pass the same, it shall be in force, in like manner as if he had approved it; but, if the two boards shall, by their adjournment, prevent its return, the same shall not be obligatory.

. And be it further enacted, That no person shall be eligible to a seat in the board of aldermen, or board of common council, unless he shall be more than twenty-five years of age, a free white male citizen of the United States, and shall have been a resident of the city of Washington for one year next preceding the day of election, and shall, at the time of his election, be a resident of the ward for which he shall be elected, and be then the bona fide owner of a freehold estate in the said city, and shall have been assessed on the books of the corporation, for the year ending on the thirty-first day of December next preceding the day of election. And every free white male citizen of the United States, of lawful age, who shall have resided in the city of Washington for one year next preceding the day of election, and shall be a resident of the ward in which he shall offer to vote, and who shall have been assessed on the books of the corporation, for the year ending on the thirty-first day of December next preceding the day of election, and shall be a resident of the ward in which he shall offer to vote, and who shall have been assessed on the books of the corporation, for the year ending on the thirty-first day of December next preceding the day of election, and who shall have paid all taxes legally assessed and due on personal property, when legally required to pay the same, and no other person shall be entitled to vote at any election for members of the two boards. And it shall be the duty of the register of the city, or such officer as the corporation may hereafter direct, to furnish the commissioners of election in each ward, previous to