to all offices under the corporation. All ordinances or acts passed by the city council shall be sent to the mayor, for his approbation, and when approved by him, shall then be obligatory as such. But if the said mayor shall not approve of such ordinance or act, he shall return the same within five days, with his reasons in writing therefor; and if three fourths of both branches of the city council, on reconsideration thereof, approve of the same, it shall be in force in like manner as if he had approved it, unless the city council, by their adjournment, prevent its return.
Powers of the corporation prescribed.Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That the corporation aforesaid shall have full power and authority to pass all by-laws and ordinances; to prevent and remove nuisances; to prevent the introduction of contagious diseases within the city; to establish night watches or patroles, and erect lamps; to regulate the stationing, anchorage, and mooring of vessels; to provide for licensing and regulating auctions, retailers of liquors, hackney carriages, wagons, carts and drays, and pawnbrokers within the city; to restrain or prohibit gambling, and to provide for licensing, regulating or restraining theatrical or other public amusements within the city; to regulate and establish markets; to erect and repair bridges; to keep in repair all necessary streets, avenues, drains and sewers, and to pass regulations necessary for the preservation of the same, agreeably to the plan of the said city; to provide for the safe keeping of the standard of weights and measures fixed by Congress, and for the regulation of all weights and measures used in the city; to provide for the licensing and regulating the sweeping of chimneys and fixing the rates thereof; to establish and regulate fire wards and fire companies; to regulate and establish the size of bricks that are to be made and used in the city; to sink wells, and erect and repair pumps in the streets; to impose and appropriate fines, penalties and forfeitures for breach of their ordinances; to lay and collect taxes; to enact by-laws for the preservation and extinguishment of fire; and to pass all ordinances necessary to give effect and operation to all the powers vested in the corporation of the city of Washington:Ordinances and by-laws not to be obligatory upon strangers but in certain cases.
How fines, &c. may be recovered. Provided, that the by-laws or ordinances of the said corporation, shall be, in no wise, obligatory upon the persons of non-residents of the said city, unless in cases of intentional violation of by-laws or ordinances previously promulgated. All the fines, penalties and forfeitures, imposed by the corporation of the city of Washington, if not exceeding twenty dollars, shall be recovered before a single magistrate, as small debts are, by law recoverable; and if such fines,Taxes may be collected by distress and sale of personal property in certain cases. penalties and forfeitures exceed the sum of twenty dollars, the same shall be recovered by action of debt in the district court of Columbia, for the county of Washington, in the name of the corporation, and for the use of the city of Washington.
No sale but upon previous notice.
No law to be passed subjecting vacant lots to sale.Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That the person or persons appointed to collect any tax imposed in virtue of the powers granted by this act, shall have authority to collect the same by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of the person chargeable therewith: no sale shall be made unless ten days previous notice thereof be given; no law shall be passed by the city council subjecting vacant or unimproved city lots, or parts of lots, to be sold for taxes.
City council to provide for the support of the poor.Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the city council shall provide for the support of the poor, infirm and diseased of the city.
Limitation of the rate of taxation on real property.Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That no tax shall be imposed by the city council on real property in the said city, at any higher rate than three quarters of one per centum on the assessment valuation of such property.
Commencement of this act and how long to be in force.Sec. 11. And be it further enacted, That this act shall be in force for two years, from the passing thereof, and from thence to the end of the next session of Congress thereafter, and no longer.
Approved, May 3, 1802.
