226 THIRTIETH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 42. 1848. respectively, shall be register, collector, or surveyor, as the case may be; but in case two or more persons highest in vote shall have an equal number of votes for either of said offices, then it shall be lawful for the Board of Aldermen and Board of Common Council to proceed forthwith by ballot, in joint meeting, to determine the choice between such persons; and the said register, collector and surveyor shall re- Term of office. spectively hold their offices until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, unless sooner removed from office; and full power and authority are hereby granted to the Corporation of Washington to pass all such laws as may be necessary to define and regulate _P0wer—¤ and du- the respective duties, powers, and authority of the said register, col- “°’· Iector, and surveyor; and also to prescribe the amount of bond and security to be given to the said corporation by each before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, and generally to pass all such laws as may be necessary to insure an efficient and faithful discharge of the duties of their respective offices, by the said register, collector, and surveyor; and in case the said officers, or either of them, shall fail or refuse to comply with any law, resolution, or order of the said corporation, or shall fail or refuse to obey any order of the mayor of the said city, or shall fail to discharge the duties of their respective offices with fidelity and a strict regard to the interests of the said corporation, or shall prove unable or incompetent, from any cause whatever, to discharge such duties, or shall be guilty of any malversation in office, or shall be convicted of any high crime or misdemeanor, it shall be lawful for the majority of the Board of Aldermen and Board of Common Council, by joint resolution, to remove such Vacancies- officer, and to order an election to fill the vacancy ; and in case of the refusal or failure of any person elected to either of said offices to accept of the same, or to give such bond and security as may be required by said corporation within twenty days after his election, or in case of the death, resignation, or removal from the said city of any person elected to or holding either of said offices, it shall be lawful for the Board of Aldermen and Board of Common Council to declare said office vacant, and to order an election to fill the vacancy. And in all cases where it shall become necessary to hold an election to fill a vacancy in either of said offices, the same regulations shall be observed as to the .appoiutment of commissioners to hold said elections, and as to holding the elections and the returns of the same, as are observed at the regular elections: Provided, That authority is hereby given to the mayor of Temporary up- the said city to appoint temporarily, under such regulations as the said p°"m°°"t‘ corporation may prescribe, some discreet person to discharge the duties of such vacant office until an election can be had and a successor duly elected and qualified to enter upon his duties. F Eight of suf? · Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That every free white male citm`°€' lZ€Il Of the United States, who shall have attained the age of twenty- one years, and shall have resided in the city of Washington one year immediately preceding the day of election, and shall be 'a resident of the ward in which he shall offer to vote, and shall have been returned on the books of the corporation during the year ending the thirty-first of December next preceding the day of election as subject to a schooltax for that year, (except persons nan compas menlis, vagrants, paupers, or persons who shall have been convicted of any infamous crime,) and who shall have paid the school-taxes, and all taxes on personal property due from him, shall be entitled to vote for mayor, members of the Board of Aldermen and Board of Common Council, and assessors, and for every officer authorized to be elected at any election under this act, or the act or acts to which this is amendatory or supplementary: Provided, That if, during the year ending on the thirty-first day of December next preceding the day of the first election after the
