Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 3.djvu/626



opening the polls at every election, a list of the persons having a right to vote, agreeably to the provisions of this section.

. And be it further enacted, That an election for members of the board of aldermen and board of common council shall be held on the first Monday of June next, and on the first Monday in June annually thereafter; and all elections shall be held by three commissioners to be appointed in each ward by the two boards in joint meeting, which appointment shall be at least ten days previous to the day of each election. And it shall be the duty of the commissioners so appointed, to give at least five days’ previous notice of the place in each ward where such elections are to be held. The said commissioners shall, before they receive any ballot, severally take an oath or affirmation, to be administered by some justice of the peace for the county of Washington, “truly and faithfully to receive and return the votes of such persons as are by law entitled to vote for members of the board of aldermen and board of common council, in their respective wards, according to the best of their judgment and understanding; and not knowingly to receive or return the vote of any person who is not legally entitled to the same.” The polls shall be opened at ten o’clock in the morning, and be closed at seven o’clock in the evening of the same day. Immediately on closing the polls, the said commissioners for each ward, or a majority of them, shall count the ballots, and make out, under their hands and seals, a correct return of the persons having the greatest numbers of legal votes for members of the board of aldermen and for members of the board of common council, respectively, together with the number of votes given to each person voted for; and the persons having the greatest number of votes for the two boards, respectively, shall be duly elected; and, in all cases of an equality of votes, the commissioners shall decide the choice by lot. The said returns shall be delivered to the mayor, on the day succeeding the election, who shall cause the result of the election to be published in some newspaper in the city of Washington; a duplicate return shall, together with a list of the persons who voted at such election, also to be made, on the day succeeding the election, to the register of the city, who shall preserve and record the same; and shall, within two days thereafter, notify the several persons, so returned, of their election. And each board shall judge of the legality of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members, and shall supply vacancies in its own body, by causing elections to be held to fill the same, and appoint commissioners to hold the same, and such commissioners shall give at least five days’ public notice of the time and place of holding such elections; each of the members of either board, shall, before entering on the duties of his office, take an oath or affirmation, “faithfully to execute the duties of hid office, to the best of his 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 the corporation aforesaid shall have full power and authority to lay and collect taxes upon the real and personal property within the said city; provided that no tax shall be laid upon real property, at a higher rate than three quarters of one per centum on the assessment valuation thereof, except for the special purposes hereinafter provided; and that no tax shall be laid upon the wearing apparel, or necessary tools and implements used in carrying on the trade or occupation, of any person; nor shall the same be subject to distress and sale for any tax; and, 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; to establish a board of health, with competent authority to enforce its regulations, and to establish such other regulations as may be necessary to prevent the introduction of contagious diseases, and for the preservation of the health of the city; to prevent and remove