Term of office. cies. Proviso. mentioned in this act, who, unless sooner removed by him, shall hold the same for a period of two years, and until their successors are appointed and qualified, and Filling of vacan- he shall fill all vacancies which may occur in any of said offices by removal or otherwise: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to enable any of the officers who may be appointed by the Governor to continue to hold the same during two years, if prior to the expiration of said period any of such officers should be made elective. To be eligible, persons must be resi. voted in, the Dis trict. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That no person shall dents of, and have be appointed to perform the duties of any of the offices herein created, unless he be a resident of, and shall have exercised the right of suffrage in, the District of Columbia. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act be, and the same are hereby, repealed. Repealing clause. August 22, 1871. Fiscal year to commence on the first Approved August 21, 1871. CHAP. LXV.-An Act fixing the time for the commencement of the fiscal year of the District of Columbia. Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the District of Columbia, That the fiscal year of said District shall comday of July of each mence on the first day of July in each and every year until otherwise provided by law. year. ་ August 22, 1871. Approved August 22, 1871. CHAP. LXVI.-An Act for the relief of William Beckett. Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the District of Appropriation to Columbia, That the sum of one hundred and eighty-seven services as dollars and fifty cents be, and the same is hereby, appro pay William Beckett for watchman. August 22, 1871. priated for the relief of William Beckett, for services rendered as watchman at the Executive office, District of Columbia, from the first day of May, eighteen hundred and seventy-one, to the fifteenth day of July, eighteen hundred and seventy-one. Approved August 22, 1871. CHAP. LXVII.-An Act for the relief of Harvey Fowler. for the relief of Harvey cents be, and the same is hereby, appropriated out of the Appropriation general fund, to refund that amount to Harvey Fowler, Fowler. being the amount of an over assessment paid by him for sewer tax on part of lot eight in square forty-two. Approved August 22, 1871. August 23, 1871. Hackney carriages and other vehicles for hire to be num bered. Penalty. CHAP. LXVIII.-An Act regulating hackney carriages, cabs, and other vehicles for the conveyance of passengers in the District of Columbia. Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the District of Columbia, That every licensed hackney carriage, or other vehicle for hire, shall carry a number in silver figures upon a black ground, on the center of each side of the driver's box; such figures to be always kept exposed and uncovered; and for each and every violation thereof the person so offending shall pay a fine of two dollars, and if the owner or driver of any hackney coach, or other vehicle used as aforesaid, shall have a number thereon without having first obtained a license therefor, he shall be fined in the sum of twenty dollars. All drivers, as aforesaid, number of license. shall wear conspicuously on their right breast the number of their license, said number to be made of white metal on a dark back-ground, and to measure not less than one and a half inches by two inches in size, in the shape of a shield. Any person violating this provision shall be fined Penalty. five dollars for each and every offense. Drivers to wear stands. Position of vehicle Driver to be near. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the location of Location of hackhack-stands shall be designated by the Board of Public Works, as in their opinion the interests and convenience of the public demand; and whenever any hackney coach or other vehicle for the conveyance of passengers for hire when at stand. is upon such stand, it shall be placed lengthwise the street or the avenue, at least fifteen feet from the curbstone, and not in contact with the street crossings, and the driver of said vehicle shall, at all times, be in the immediate vicinity thereof, where he can have full control over his horses, that is to say, within five feet of the curb-line, and shall not annoy any person by boisterous or riotous conduct, or create any unnecessary noise or tumult; and that at all railroad stations, wharves, theaters, and other public places, drivers of hackney carriages, and other vehicles for hire, shall remain upon their box, or within five feet thereof, and shall take up passengers upon the line assigned to And to be quiet. Penalty. Vehicles not to stand upon street herein provided. them, under penalty of a fine not exceeding ten dollars, nor less than one dollar for each and every offense. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That, except as provided or avenue except as for in section four, and the necessary time consumed in putting down or waiting for a passenger, no hackney coach or other vehicle, as aforesaid, shall be permitted to stand upon any street or avenue except at the places designated from time to time as hack-stands by the Board of Public Works. Police to regulate than ten are at one place. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That when more than vehicles when more ten hackney coaches or other vehicles are assembling or assembled together, and a police officer be present, it shall be the duty of such officer to regulate the manner of the arrival and departure of the same, and their position while standing, and the peaceable and quiet demeanor of the drivers thereof; and any driver who shall obstruct the officer in the performance of his duties, or who shall refuse to obey the orders so given by him, shall be fined not exceeding ten dollars. Penalty for obstructing police. On public occa riages to be subject SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That on all public occasions private car sions the owners or drivers of private carriages shall be to same regulations. placed under the same regulations and subject to the same penalties as the drivers of hackney coaches under the provisions of the preceding section. Rates of fare or charges. Between 5 a. m. and 12.30 a. m. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the rates of fares or charges for the conveyance of passengers from one place to another in the District of Columbia shall not exceed the following: Any time between the hours of five o'clock a. m. and twelve o'clock and thirty minutes a. m., for one or two passengers in a one-horse vehicle, excepting buggies and photons, seventy-five cents per hour; and by the trip, that is to say, from one given point to any other given point within the limits of the District of Columbia, and not extending into the county, in a onehorse vehicle, for one or two passengers, seventy-five cents for the trip; and from one given point to any other given point within the limits of Washington exceeding one mile, one dollar, and for each additional passenger fifty cents; when the distance is one mile or less, one-half these rates; for one or two passengers from one given point to any other given point from Washington to or from Georgetown exceeding one mile, two dollars, and for each additional passenger fifty cents; when the distance is one In all cases where a Between 12.30 a m. and 5 a. m. allowed to have one Proviso. mile or less, one-half these rates. vehicle is not engaged by the hour it shall be considered as being engaged by the trip. Any time between the hours of twelve o'clock and thirty minutes a. m. and five o'clock a. m., fifty per centum over the rates before named may be charged and collected. The fare to any point outside the limits of Washington and Georgetown, and within the District of Columbia, shall in all cases, except where an agreement is otherwise made, be by the hour and any portion thereof, the same as provided for within said cities. Each passenger shall be entitled to have conveyed, with- Each passenger out extra charge, one trunk or other traveling-box or bag: trunk. Provided, That if any passenger or passengers have for conveyance more than two trunks or other traveling-box at any time, then for each trunk or other traveling-box above the said number of two the driver shall be entitled to twenty-five cents extra. Each passenger shall also be entitled to have conveyed bandboxes, canes, umbrellas, or be conveyed with such other small packages as can be conveniently carried within the vehicle wherein the passenger is seated without extra charge. The driver shall load and unload all charge extra for luggage, and so forth, without any extra charge whatever. ing SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That if any driver or owner of a hackney carriage, cab, or other vehicle for the take less than legal conveyance of passengers for hire, agrees beforehand to take any sum less than the legal fare, he shall be subjected to a penalty of ten dollars if he demand more than the Penalty. amount previously agreed upon. Small packages to out extra charge. Driver not to loading or unload If driver agree to fare, cannot demand more. SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That any person hiring Penalty for refus a vehicle as before named, and who shall refuse to pay the ing to pay fare. legal fare for the same, except as provided for in section seven, shall, upon proper evidence, be arrested without warrant by any police officer, and be compelled to pay the full amount, together with one dollar and fifty cents per hour, or such part thereof, for all time lost by said driver. Vehicle engaged SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That when a vehicle, as before named, is engaged by the trip, and the passenger by the trip shall, if reaches his destination, the driver shall stop, if required, minutes at destina required, stop ten tion without extra ten minutes without extra charge, but if beyond that time charge. he shall be entitled to receive the legal fare per hour, counting from the expiration of the before-mentioned ten minutes. Speed. Disposition of property left in vehicle. Penalty. Vehicle to be engaged by the hour or by trip. of engagement may hereinafter described. SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That drivers of all vehicles, as before named, shall, when conveying passengers, drive at a reasonable and proper speed, not less than five miles an hour, unless in cases of unavoidable delay, or when required by the hirer to drive slower. SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, That any property left in any vehicle, as before mentioned, shall be deposited by the driver or owner at the police headquarters within four hours after being so left, if not sooner claimed by the owner, such property to be returned to the person who shall prove to the satisfaction of the officer in charge at the police headquarters that the same belongs to him, on payment of all expenses incurred and of such reasonable sum to the driver as the officer may award; but if the driver fail to comply with the before-mentioned conditions, he shall be liable to a fine of twenty-five dollars for each and every offense, and to restore the money value of the article or articles so left in his vehicle. In default of prompt payment thereof, he shall forfeit his license, and be prosecuted as for any other debt made and contracted. SEC. 12. And be it further enacted, That when a person engages a hackney coach, cab, or other vehicle for the conveyance of passengers for hire, he shall state whether it If by hour, time be by the hour or by the trip; and if by the hour the be noted on ticket time of engagement may be properly noted by the passenger and written upon the back of the ticket hereinafter named and described, and in the event of any supposed imposition on the part.of the driver, the passenger In the event of may hand the ticket to a police officer or deliver it to the supposed imposition officer in charge of any police station, when the complainant and the driver complained of shall be summoned to appear before said officer, which officer is hereby authorized and empowered to dispose of the case without delay; or that, in a case where a passenger is about to leave by railroad, stage, or steamboat, and a dispute arises as to the amount of fare, he will have the right to call upon any police officer on duty at such place, and the said police officer shall settle the claim in accordance with this act, subject to an appeal to the superintendent of police. police to be appealed to. Description of tickets to be fur SEC. 13. And be it further enacted, That the printed form nished drivers by Of ticket which shall be furnished to each driver, as aforesaid, by the register, at the actual cost of production, shall be of paper, and measure five inches long and two inches the register. |