Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-06-25
THE EVENING STAR.
MAYOR WALLACH'S ANNUAL MES.
SAGE

MAYOR WALLACH'S ANNUAL MES.
SAGE.
The following is the annual message OF the
Mayor of Washington submitted to the Board
of Aldermen and Common Council at their
meeting last evening:
MAYORS OFFICE, June "a, 1867,
To the Board of Aldermen and
Board Of Common Council:
Gentlemen: l transmit to you, as have
heretofore, Immediately after the inauguration
tail as possible, of what has been done during
the past year in the several departments OF The
city, and for your guidance and advisement,
such information as is in my power to give OF
the condition OF things appertaining to the
city
will not lay before you any new schemes
Tor the expenditure Of money, our real wants
being already so great that the most watchful
economy must be exercised nor attempt to
bring 10 your notice all matters requiring your
attention, or renew 10 you any but one Of the
very many suggestions deemed important to
the interests of the city, which, though invited,
failed to receive the attention OF your prede.
cessors. To such matters as are, however, here.
IN referred to, invite your attention, particu.
larly TO The financial condition OF the city,
which it is believed will not only compare ia
yorably with that OF our sister cities, but be
found in a more healthful state than could be
expected.
BY the charter OF this city no officer of the
corporation is permitted, or can receive dol
lar OF the moneys accrnIng 10 Ii, except the
Collector. who receives all real and personal
taxes, ana the w ater, Registrar, the water tax
both of whom are bonded officers; the otner
moneys OF the corporation accruing from Ii
censes, and all other sources, except taxes, are
deposited 10 the credit of the corporation in the
City Treasury, the Bank of Washington. and a
certificate OF such deposit, in lieu of the money
delivered to the Register of the City
All moneys Of the city are placed in the
Bank of Washington, and are in the custody
which can be drawn therefrom except upon
his warrant, expressing on its face the particu-
lar fund from and the purpose for which it
was given, with The name of the party receiy.
ing, and countersigned by the Mayor.
So particular are the requirements of the
charter Of this city in this regard, that not q
dollar can be or has been received or expended
from its earliest existence to this time that it
cannot be readily ascertained from what source
it was received and to whom and for what pur-
pose and under what authority expended.
ssBy section 10th, OF the act Of June Sd, 1853,
ii is made the duty of the Register 10 prepare
and lay before each Board OF the City Councils
annually, on the first Monday of July, a state.
ment OF ali the receipts and expenditures of
this corporation whatever for the year ending
the Both OF June preceding, in which statement
shall be shown the receipts and expenditures
on account of the general fund, and each OF the
ward and other funds respectively; the amount
received from each separate source of revenue
and the amount expended for each separate
subject of expenditure being designated under
appropriate heads and also a general con.
densed statement OF the whole. exhibiting at
one view the aggregate receipts and expendi-
lures OF the corporation for the year under
their respective heads -
This statement of the Register, made annu.
ally in conformity TO law, and involving an
exact account of every dollar received and ex-
pended, is published and within the reach of
all.
In addition 10 this information furnished by
the Register in his annual statement, commu.
nication is made at the commencement OF each
fiscal year from this office, giving TOR the in
formation OF the new and incoming Councils,
statement of the financial condition OF the
corporation, and in detail what has been done
during the past year, with an exact account of
all moneys received and expended, and pub.
Ushed in all city newspapers.
While, therefore, ignorance might be pre-.
tended, 1t is impossible to conceive that the in
telligent property owner Of this city, with such
ample sources of information al command, and
such evidences OF prosperity and Improvement
as meet him al the corner OF every street, should
~'not know how the moneys OF the city are
spent"
In reviewing the administration of this office
in relation TO the finances of the corporation, 1t
may be well to remind you OF the tendency of
all munlclpal corporations TO an annually in
creased indebtedness, usually, and in other
cities, under ordinary circumstances, only in
proportion TO their growth.
II will therefore, be appreciated as req ulring
much wholesome restraint TO keep city's ex.
pend1tures within its means, especially at
Time when the acquisitions upon every loyal
city for money anu the means 10 raise men for
the suppression OF the rebellion have burdened
sister cities with debt and taxation. The me-
cessity for gradual increase of Indebtedness,
before said, usually in other places only in
proportion TO their growth, has been, and al.
ways will be, in our city, extraordinary, in
owned by the General Government free from
taxation, property equally participant in the
benefits OF and yearly enhanced in value by ex-
pendiIures from fund to which il contributes
nehing, and which it il had been liable to the
same burden in the same proportion and for the
same objects as that of individuals would have
yielded an amount equal to, If net more, than
the whole debt OF the city
Not only Is the Government property in this
city (nearly onehal) exempt from taxation
and consequent obligation to con rr butte towards
the support Of the municipal government. but
alike exemption to hold property free from
taxation, as well as nearly all valuable and
right to bridge the Potomac, inherently the
property OF the city, and which would have
yielded thousands of dollars, has been granted
by Congress, without consideration. to rich
monopolies.
Laid out for the permanent seat OF the Gen.
eral Government, with view 10 the growing
magnitude unparalleled, with streets and ave.
nues OF width and ex tent greater than the ne
cessities Of its Inhabitants, will for years to come
demand, and what is more extraordinary, and
consequently burdensome, with a greatly larger
area of land appropriated for streets and ave-
nues and reservations for public uses than re-
quired, and still requires, means beyond its
ordinary resources OF taxation TO fill up so great
plan, and reach, with the usual improve
ments, (miles OF grading, paving and curbing)
over and by unimproved property, scattered
settlements In its extremes.
Nearly tour ffths Of the soil upon which this
city stands was originally, and much Oft still
is, the property OF the General Cover nment;
property, however, which, as has before been
said, does not carry with it a corresponding
obligation to improve it, or to furnish an equiv
alent therefor in the way OF taxes, given to 1t
by the original proprietors, not alone beca use
OF the benefits expected TO be derived from
having city laid OF on these and their own
lands, but likewise in expectation that the por-
ton OF II reserved for the purposes and uses Of
the General Government would be improved
and beautihed by that Government, at least to
the extent OF what was realized from the sale
OF the 1916 or fifteen hundred acres OF build.
ing lots.
Not only has this reasonable expection not
been realized, but all Improvements in front OF
the very property Of the United States, until
recently, have been made At the expense and
from taxes accruing from the properly Of indi.
viduals.
With q rate Of taxation for general purposes
limited by the charter to three. quarters or one
per cent. on the one hundred dollars, precisely
the same as that levied on properly in the
rural portion Of the District Of Columbia be.
yoHd the limits VI the cities Of GEORGETOWN ana
a Washington, the Capital of the nation has
ALI