New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-05
DEBT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

THE DEPUTY CONTROLLER DENIES CERTAIN STATE
MENTs-THE FACTS MAIcIoUsLY DISTORTED.
WASHINGTON, Aug. &c. p Hopkins, Dep
uy Controller OF the District OF Columbia writes TO The
Washington DAILY Chronicle Of to-day to make public
correction OF the statements OF the fiscal af-
fairs Of the District" published in Forneys Sunday
Morning Chronicle The following is the substance Of
his communication:
The funded and bonded debt OF the District OF Column
ba including the debts OF the late corporations per
s9236,s9l 90 OF this sum the Commissioners OF the
Sinking Fund command available resources for the re-
ducton thereof during the current fiscal year. including
the Sinking Fund tax laid and now due, and such
purchases as the Commissioners have already
Will be held and strictly applied to the reduc.
ton OF the debt as required ny. law, no one
the members OF the Sinking Fund Commission can
doubt The Commissioners are men wen versed IN
eced for their responsible offices without regard TO po
htca considerations, Under the various acts OF Con-
they have the entire control and management Of the
funded and bonded debt OF the District subject 10
Tue several acts OF the last Legislative As
sembly OF the District authorized additional issue TO
sources placed control OF the Commissioners TO de-
tue debt together with those already at their
disposal amounts 10 the OF s6OOOO-the difference,
s42lGOO being extreme limit of increase authorized
during this fiscal year. which added to the present debt
will make III round numbers at the close OF TINS fiscal
year, 20 several hundred thousand dollars less
than the amount limited by act Of Congress.
Board OF Public Works TO levy special taxes Tor certain
public improvements against the property Denented
thereby, and authorizing the Board 10 anticipate such
taxes the issue OF their certificates bearing lower
of interest than the which the certificates
OF the Board based is founded upon an erroneous
assumption OF law and facts. The most malicious
distortion Of facts by Forney's Sunday Morn
make this portion OF the deDt OF the District. The
ganc act of Congress expressly prohibits the Board OF
Public Works from mourning liability against the Dis
trct This dsposes Of the following DEBT, as stated IN
The Sunday Morning Chronicle: $4,000
Certificates Of
Certificates for extension oftime for payment Of spe-
cia tar OF the Board ZoVoOOO
Certificates based 2OOOOOO
Certificates Of 5bOOOO
Neither Is it that these certificates
only much taxes to become due to the Board TO be
used for completing the public improvements and are
as much resource Of the Board as debt The hnal
and ineXcusabe misstatement, that the general
appropriations made by the last Legislature were in
excess current to the extent OF 100000,
is incredible of all when taken In connection
with the grauitOus advice that committee OF expert
accountants would probably hnd the figures as
stated short OF the amount by over 100000 The
facts quite the contrary. and from carefully
pared by OF the most accurate bookkeep
ers the Controllers Office II IL shown that the current
sufficient TO meet all the appropriations OF
the last Legislative Assembly The fact should not be
lost sight that provision by law has been made Tor
making available not only the taxes In arrears hereto
fore assessed upward OF 100000 but also the arrears at
the close OF each fiscal year. Under the operation OF
this law we available resources for the fiscal year
ending June go 1874, as follows: 100000
Tar real estate
Licenses miscellaneous. ZzoOOO
TIes In oVVvVo
40 .oS 900