Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-26

During the first quarter Of the next fiscal year
Commencing LIST Juy,) the receipts OF the Corpo-
ration may be estimated at $4,000, which will
be sufficient TO pay of the Indebtedness and meet
the expenditures necessary this fall
Every effort has been made during the past year
to keep the expenditures within the receipts, and
no improvements Of streets have been made ex-
cept such as have been specially directed to be
executed by law, or TO aid In removing nuisances,
or TO preserve streets which have been heretofore
partially executed and there Is but one reason
why the present Indebtedness exists viz: that the
revenue of the year has not been sufficient TO meet
the usual regular expenditures Of the Corporation,
and liquidate the whole Of the debt with which the
year was commenced. Whilst the want Of means
to execute highly desirable and In many instances
essentially necessary improvements has been a
source Of great Inconvenience to the citizens In
terested-notwithstandin the large increase In
the value OF real estate as returned ut the last
general assessment-still the gratifying fact is de-
monstrated that, 30 rapid and extensive is the
growth Of the city, the increasing revenue is not
sufficient TO keep pace with private Improvement
and enterprise.
But when the current receipts shall become APP
plicabe Only TO the current expenditures, INSTEAD
Of being absorbed BY the payment of debts Of pre-
vious years they win without doubt be sufficient
20 enable the Councils 70 meet the reasonable re-
quirements Of the people. The finances Of the city
are at present In an infinitely better condition than
they have been since the commencement Of the
Improvement Of the Washington canal, In 1850, TO
which work great part Of the present indebted
ness from then till now may be properly charge.
able; and, during the next fiscal year, las Il has
been In the presently my first effort shall be so TO
conduct It's Affairs TO be enabled 70 report at its
close that every fund 10 In credit, and not dollar
OF outstanding debt To accomplish this object
the assistance Of the councils Is requisite, and
confidently rely upon their aid and support
T3y reference 10 the Receipts Of the Corpora-
tions aforementioned, II viii be perceived that
estimate Il made Cor receipt from the Surplus
Fund" Of $500. In order TO make this available
Il win be necessary TO authorize transfer Of that
amount from the surplus 10 the general fund. The
surplus fund amounts at present to about ss 900,
and n made up % the excess OF purchase money
for property cold for taxes beyond what IL claimed
BY the Corporation, and d subject 70 be drawn by
the person 20 whom the property belonged when
cold, and consists Of small sums which have been
accommodating Tor several years. An examination
of the state 81 that fund for some years past win
.how large unclaimed balance In its favor, from
year 10 year, the most of which win never be sp-
Piled Cor By any one having the legal right 20 claim
Il. In the event, however, thai there should be a
claim against thst fund beyond the money TO IL
credit, authority should be given. TO pay the
amount from the general fund. | therefore re.
commend that authority be given 10 make the
transfer accordingly.
There u another subject which | deem Of suii-
cicnt Importance 70 ssk your consideration Of AZ
this tlme--the mode q accounting Cor and paying
out money received for special tstes They are
now accounted Cor n part of the receipts Of the
several wards, ssd are paid out a. part Of their
erpeudlturr, thereby tending greatly 10 mslesd
members 81 ths Councils and the citizens gene
rally IN reference 10 the receipts Of the several
Wards applicable 10 expenditures, a. vel as rem
derinr Il exceedingly difficult 10 ascertain whether
az cod the fund. Of Ward are In q condition 10
execute l.~ ordering an improvement The
AMOUNTS paid Cor special taxes are but dposife'
Nth The Cerps.slon 10 take up bills In the hands
a. the contractor, or fcr = certificate Of special
s,ock which has been issued 10 him, for paving
footssys, c.riagcvsys sneys &e., and form no
psrt Of The receipts Of Ward applicable 10 en-
pepdIturc, and are drawn out By the holders Of the
bnk OF special stock o. the contractors almost q
soon e paid