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

uay OF SuIy, 1874, footing up-District of Co
late corporation Washington bonds AZ 362 49,
interest, St3 $50 80; late corporation George
town onds, s25l $50; interest, s3, SIS 50; grand
total bonds, as, I'D, 6S4 interest, s256, 23S451
The statement of the revenues of the District
OF Columbia, estimated upon the tax levy for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1874, compared
made by the Legislative Assembly, at its third
regular session, is next given, and the report
says: From this table IL will be seen that the
total tax levied for the ordinary expenses of the
current year amounts to g, OsS, PSI O6, and that
the total OF appropriation Tor the like period
amounts to II ,sSl $3.50. OF these taxes there
are still due and unpaid about p, 900, goo.
There was due on account of sala-
r1es and employees, as stated In
detail IN another place. on Feb
ruary 1, 1874 MISREPRESENTATION. si9T SO 50
And estimated for ordinary pur-
poses, q June so, ls74.......... $50 900 90
Tota' ............. 81 ,347 $50 80
This aggregate Will, no doubt, be coDsiders-
hly increased to meet all the liabilities OF the
u strict government. A portion of the employees
pave nos received any pay since June /, 1873,
and none OF them have been paid siuee Novem-
Der i, 1878, as far as the committee could ascer-
tain. The only reaOurces of the District to meet
these liabilities are the unpaid taxes II is safe
TO assume that there will he a deficit on the 1st
OF July OF at least 100000 for the current
year.
This does not include debt of s4t0,GO0 and
interest secured by pledge of funding Dor Is,
sold.
The Governor of the District forwarded to
the committee carefully prepared est mate OF
the suns that will he required for the fiscal
year ending June go, 1915, which must be pro-
vided for if the present government is to con-
unue. The statement and estim ate, in detail,
are as follows: Here Is given the classifj xed
tabular statement for the appropriations re-
quired for the expenses Of the government OF
the District of Columbia for the appropriation
year ending Septem Der 80, 1915, giving the pro-
renuirHH N fhs
necessary revenues for the specific purposes for
each Of the LEGAL subdivisions upon the esti-
mated assessment of valuation for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1875, footing up to be paid
out OF TX revenues: Salaries of officers - 81
ll5; contingent expenses, 81, 1G2 gB3.GD def
cieneies for 1854, s2S2, 22I25. Total, 81 6O6,-
295 $751;
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 30 changing the form of govern
ment as TO make il 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, Cos, 295 S5
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-
Tenses necessary 10 maintain and
continue the Improvements begun
ana not yet completed, which NAV
be safely estimated at two hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars,
independent of the amount paid %
contractors, making the total esti-
mated cost for the year 1875. -. 81. 95S, 295 So
To which add the sum needed for
the current year ,34I so 30
Making q total sum Of ............s4 500, lG6 II
Add interest on proposed bonds. $4,000 90
Total ;................... .....s 900, loo II
which viii be necessary To maintain tue Dis
trict government to june 80, 1875.
To meet this sum there will probably he real
lied within that time, from taxes already due
and unpaid, enc million dollars. There will
also be collected from licenses and exc sss
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
I, OnOmical administration.
The committee recommend tax upOn real
estate OF per cent. in the city of Washington,
~ Per cent. in Georgetown, and 9 per cent in
the county outside. On the basis of the present
valuation this assessment would amount to
-, slI ,5i3, OF which there ought to be realized
within the year about S2,OO0,00O. Receipts may
be thus stated
From delinquent taxes. 81 900 900
From licenses, &c..........--........ 100000
From taxes, 1900, 900
Total Neutrality-suspicious.. - 200 900
Leaving delcit of 81, I05,ico at the end Of
the wear.
There thouId be provided a sufficient sum n
pay the employ es 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:
For interest ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. s25S, 23S As
Expense of the District ,347 $40 81
Due laborers of Board OF Public
works and emplOyes.............. go, 900 90
Total. s54, los At
Thus making the fullest allowance for taxes
to be paid by July 1st there will be deficiency
at that time of al OOO, 600 at least The com.
mittee recommend, in view of ali the circ1In-
stances, that not less than the foregoing sum be
appropriated by Congress and disbursed as fol-
lows:
LIST. To the payment of interest on the debt
Of the District, due July 1; and the remainder
to pay employees and laborers, whether of the
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 adj ustment 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 a table of taxes pro-
duced, at rates from one-fOurth of one cant up
to two dollars on each one hundred dollars, on
estimated valuations for the assessment made
on the real estate and Improvements in the
cities OF Washington and Georgetown, and the
county OF Washington, comprising the District
OF Columbia, for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1875. 1t foots up for two dollar tax on each
slOO, as 1OllOWs: washington city, valuation,
$50 O2 COO; tax SO 357 ,1G7 80. City OF George
town, valuation, $685., 300; tax, SS05, I27 is.
Washington county, valuation, S9,i46. 500; tax
: ,229 SOS ST. Aggregate valuation, SOS, 81 ,iOO
tax, 81, 1871 ,S53 2C.1
The test. mony Giscloses that the District
treasury is practically exhausted in all its de-
partments.
Your committee, therefore. recommend the
abolition OF the Executive, tue Secretary of the
District. the Legislative Assembly, the Board
of Pub lie Works, and the office OF Delegate in
Congress. They do not mean, by recOrnmend-
ing the abolition OF the legislative assembly to
preclude the idea that there should not De some
representative body in the District OF Columbia:
but they believe the one now existing, with the
powers conferred, Is not such a one as il con-
templated by the Cons titution, or, as the wants
Of the District require; and, inssmuch as the
next assembly will be elected before the next
session of Congress, they think 1t unnecessary
TO incur tie expense Of electing legislative as
semb!y, which, If not abolished now, would /
likely be abolished at the next session. From /
What has already been said, we think It clear !
that the Board of Public Works, as now organ |
ICED 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 !
ioOr to make such criticisms as he might deem
upon the form of government which |
hey have raised q committee to provide for and !
report upon.
The committee recommend the appoiptmant |