Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-06-16

res ana employees. as stated In
detail in another place, on Feb
ruary l, 1s74 .........:..-....... sl97 SO 81
And estimated for ordinary pur-
poses, u june 30, 1s7I........... $4,000 90
Tota'. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. sI,3i7,o70 50
This aggregate Will, no doubt, be coDsiders-
tly increased TO meet all the liabilities OF the
u strict government. A portion of the employes
have Los received any paw since June 1. 1s13.
snc none OF them have been paid since Novem-
Der 1878, as far as the comm, ttee cOuld ascer-
tain. The only ources of the District to meet
these liabilities are the unpaid taxes It Is safe
TO as sumo that there will he deficit on the 1st
OF July OF at least 81 900 for the current
year.
This does not include debt of $4,000 and
interest secured by pledge of funding bor1s,
which must be paid, unless tue bonds can be
sold.
The Governor of the District forwarded to
the committee carefully prepared est mate OF
the sums that viii he required for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1915, which must be pro-
vlded for II the present government is to con-
time. The statement and estim ate, in detail,
are as follows: Here is given the classified
tabular statement for the appropriations re-
CURED for the expenses Of the government OF
the District of Columbia for the appropriation
year ending Septem Der 80, 1915, giving the pro-
portions of the tax leyies required to raise the
necessary revenues for the specific purposes for
each of the LEGAL subdivisions upon the est.
mated assessment of valuation for the fiscal
year ending June So 1875, footing up to be paid
out OF TX revenues: Salaries of officers, $751;
clencies for 1884, s2S2, 2I.25 Total, 81 ,6O6,
go 50.
The expenses of the current year, and the
estimates for the year ending June 80, 1875, as
disclosed in the foregoing tables, show the
necessity of so changing the form of govern
ment as to make it more simple and economical
in its administration.
Assuming their estimates to be cor
rect, IL will require, TO meet the
current expenses OF the year end
ing June 50, 1875, and deficiencies
in appropriations for the current
year, the sum of................S2 sos, 295 *
In this estimate there is not included
any sum for the repair and care OF
streets and avenues, which will
cost at least one hundred thousand
dollars, nor for the current eX-
renses necessary TO maintain and
cOntinne the improvements begun
and not yet completed, which may
be safely estimated at two hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars,
independent of the amount paid to
contractors, making the total esti-
mated cost for the year 1S75..... q, 95S, 2J5 SIS
To which add the sum needed for
the current year ,3iI $50 30
Making q total sum of...........Sl,3o 6, IG6 II
Add interest on proposed bonds $40, 600 %
Total Experimentation. .....s4 600, 166 IL
which will be necessary 10 maintain tue Dis
trict government to June 80, 1875.
To meet this sum there will probably be real
lied within that time, from taxes already due
and unpaid, one million dollars. There will
also be collected from licenses and excuses
about two hundred thousand dollars. From
this should be deducted what can be saved by
a Change in the form OF government and a more
e OnOmical administration.
The committee recommend tax uron real
estate OF per cent. in the city of Washington,
* per cent. in Georgetown, and per cent in
the county outside. On the basis of the present
this assessment would amount to
-, Sf1 ,5i3, of which there ought to be realized
abOut Et-
be thus stated
From delinquent taxes. 81 900 900
FROM hcenses, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2D,OO0
From taxes, 15.......................2 1900 900
Leaving dehcit Of 81. i05, ite at the end Of
There should be provided a sufficient sum to
pay the employees and labOrers of the Board OF
Public Works. This will require at least
$50 900. There is now due, and will be due
july LIST:
Expense Of the District. 81 $40 81
Due labOrers of Board OF Pubic
Works and employees. 100000 %
Total. sj4. nos ~
Thus making the fullest allowance for tsxes
TO be paid by July 1st there will be deficiency
at that time of Al 900, 600 at least. The com
mittee recommend, in view of all the circum-
that not less than the foregoing sum be
appropriated by Congress and disbursed as fol-
lows.
1st. To the payment of interest on the debt
OF the District, due July 1; and the remainder
Board Of Public Works or of the District gov
and that of this sum the interest
should he reimbursed, and the remainder
should await the proper adjustment of relative
payments as herein suggested. In this estimate,
no account has been taken of the necessary cost
Of funding the floating debt, or auditing the
accounts and Indebtedness antecedent thereto.
THE committee append table of taxes pro-
duced, at rates from one-fourth of one cent I'D
to two dollars on each one hundred dollars on
valuations for the assessment made
on the real estate and improvements in the
cities OF Washing-o and Georgetown, and the
county OF Washington, comprising the District
Of Columbia, for tine fiscal year ending June
30, 1875. It foOts up for two dollar tax on each
800, as follows: Washington city, valuation,
$50 1O2 Geo; tax SO 35T .1G7 80. City of George
town, valuation, s6,3S2, 300; tax, SS0j, l2T u.s.
: 22e 55s ST. Aggregate valuation, SOS, 81 100;
tax, AZ, 391, $50 pol
The test. mony uiscloses that the Distric,
treasury is practically exhausted in all its de-
partments.
Your committee, therefore, recommend the
abolition OF the Executive, the Secretary of the
District. the Legislative Assembly, the Board
Of Public Works, and the Office or Delegate in
Congress. They do not mean, by recommend
ing the abolition OF the legislative assembly, to
preclude the idea that there should not be some
body in the District OF Colu mbia
but they believe the one now existing, with the
powers conferred, is not such a one As Is con-
templated by the Cons titution, or, as the wants
OF the District require; and, inasmuch as the
next assembly will be elected before the next
session of Congress, they think il unnecessary
10 incur the expense of electing legislative as
sembly, which, If not abolished now, would !
likely be abolished at the next session. From
" hat has already been said, we think it clear
that the Board of Public Works, as now organ
Zed has powers, or at least has exercised !
powers, that ought not be committed TO anv
body or board. The committee have permitted |
the present Delegate in Congress TO continue
until the close OF the next session in order that
the District might have a representative on the !
loOr to make such criticisms as he might deem
necessary upon the form of government which |
hey have raised q committee to provide for and !
report upon.
The committee recommend the appointment |
of commission TO manage the affairs of the |
District, under limited and restrained powers
because there is not sufficient time to prepare
proper system of framework for the govern
nent OF the District, and have 1t fully dis
cusSed and passed upon at the present session of
Congress. The committee have placed the re- |
pair, improvement, and control of the streets |
under the management of an officer OF the en- |
yineer corps of the army, becau.e they believe
lnder such officer, whatever work Is done will |
be well done, and by an officer responsible to |
he Executive aud to Congress. They have also |
the raising of A committee 70 de- |
wise frame Of government and submit the |
same to Congress at it's next session, In order !
that permanent government may be estab- /
lIshtd with legislative control in Congress- |
49, H. 49,