200 DAVIS 



same powers, and receive the same fees and emoluments as the 

 clerks and collectors of the county tax of the state of Maryland 

 are entitled to receive. 



In accordance with this enactment the Levy Court of the 

 County of Washington was organized and carried on its opera- 

 tions in accordance with the Maryland system. On July i, 

 1812 (2 Stats. 771), Congress conferred certain specific pow- 

 ers upon the body, or " the board of commissioners or levy 

 court for the county of Washington," as the language of the act 

 is, and provided that thereafter the board of court should be 

 composed of seven members to be designated annually by the 

 President from among the existing magistrates of the county, 

 two to be from the county east of Rock creek and outside of 

 the city of Washington, two from the county west of Rock 

 creek and outside of the city of Georgetown, and three from 

 the city of Georgetown. "Taxation without representation" 

 still pursued the city of Washington ; for while it had no repre- 

 sentative in the Levy Court, it was required by the same act to 

 bear one-half of all the general county expenses and charges 

 other than those for roads and bridges. But in 1848 (9 Stats. 

 223, 230), this was righted by the provision by Congress for 

 the appointment annually of four additional members of the 

 court from the city of Washington, so that thereafter the court 

 should consist of eleven members. 



The Act of August 11, 1856(11 Stats. 33), authorized the 

 Court to appoint School Commissioners, and provided fully for 

 a system of schools in the county, prescribing the powers and 

 duties of the Levy Court in relation thereto. By Act of May 3, 

 1862 (12 Stats. 383), the Court was given further specific 

 powers, and the requirement that its members should be ap- 

 pointed from among the justices of the peace was repealed. 

 And by Act of May 3, 1863 (12 Stats. 799), entided " An Act 

 to define the Powers and Duties of the Levy Court of the 

 County of Washington, District of Columbia, m regard to 

 Roads, and for other Purposes," which was in effect a code in 

 relation to the county. Congress made full provision for the 

 Court, defining accurately its jurisdiction and duties and reduc- 

 ing the number of its members to nine, who were provided to be 



