National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-11

SIR: The value oft property owned by the
Government of the United States in the Dis
trict of Columbia, at the valuation placed upon
that of the private citizens, Is, in our opinion,
as follows: In parks and reservations, 81 159, 800
square feet, S2S, 592 ~ A. In streets and ave-
nues, liz, Az, 040 square feet, S33, TAI ,012 In
public buildings, cost 1885, ls7 ,aO7 l8; in county
of Washington, Oncluding deaf and dumb asy-
lum,) $4,000: in Georgetown, S15,55S; sg-
gregate, S96, 0S5, $500. The value Of private
| property, at the same valuation, as taken from
the books, is 800 1873 orr.
Respectfully submitted.
WILLIAM MORGAN,
Superintendent of Assessments District of Col
| WIN. FORSYTH,
Surveyor, District of Columbia.
Hon. A. r. SHEPHERD, Governor of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. ...
WASHINGTON, February ., 1873.
SIR: The amount of area added to the Unit
ted States Capitol grounds by inclosing A street
north and A street south, and intersections, at
the appraisement of the United States Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia, of the
squares purchased by the United States Gov
eminent, is as follows: 39I $50 square feet, at
| 81 .45, S5i6.056. B..
| Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM MORGAN,
Superintendent Of assessments.
WM. FORSYTH,
Hon. A. r. SHEPHERD,
Governor Of the Distric. of Columbia.
The sum of s49T ,s1O32 is stated on the
amount due to officers aed employees of the
District government.
The Governor then says:
"Avaiiing myself of your request for any
other information, explanations, or suggestions
| that may seem to me important, beg to ask
your attention to the following reasons why
the financial condition of the District is not as
iattering as could be desired.
"First. At least one-half of the real estate
that owned by the United States-pays no taxes
whatever.
"Second. OF the remainder, about one
fifteenth, as will be seen from the following
report Of the superintendent of assessments,
has been specially exempted, by an act of
Congress approved June II, 1870, from either
general or special taxes" -.. ..
The report shows that church and school
property exempted under the law amounts to
81. Isl, 232
Independently of these considerations, the
law for the collection of general taxes is in my
opinion very defective. In most other cities
the taxes become due on a certain day, and, in
default of payment at that time, heavy pen
atty is imposed for each month they may re-
main unsettled. In this District, however, by
an act of the Legislative Assembly, we have in
operation sliding scale of abatemerts equal
to threefourths of one per cent. per IN nth, or
nine per cent. per year. As hlkher rate than
this can be obtained for money in the ordinary
demands of business, the payments are deferred
until the last moment, and in the mean time
the government is without means to meet its
actual necessities. am convinced that, in the
absence of heavy penalty for failure In prompt
payment of taxes, it will be impossible for the
District government to meet its current ex-
penses as they become due.
In this connection reference may be properly
made to the fact ELECTED in the report of the as
SCISSOR ofthe Board of Public Works, that the
humber taxpayers have met their special as
sessments uncomplainingly, and that ten
twelfths of the entire amount paid have been
received from this source. This strikingly IL
illustrates the popular character of the improve
ments and the Willingness of the masses of the
people to meet the burdens necessarily imposed
upon them.
The fact is exhibited in the accompanying
report of the superintendent of public schools
that of those who attend the public schools of
the District only 81 per cent. are the children
Of taxpayers.
While almost every State and Territory has
been favored by Congress with liberal dona-
tions in public lands for educational PURPOSES
we, at the seat OF Government, with q large
transient population, have received from the
nation no aid whatever. The burden of
thorough public-school system, necessarily ex-
pehsive, but absolutely essential, has been
borne exclusively by our own citizens, not
merely in the interests of their own children,
but for the benefit of the children of others,
who, coming to this city to remain only so long
as they may find service under the National
Government, contribute nothing toward the
support of our educational institutions.
In view of the immense value of the Govern
ment buildings in the District, it can hardly be
- olA 1.t.
by Congress toward the maintenance of the fire
department, the appropriations for which, as
made by the Legislative Assembly, aggregate
$165, % for the current year. Care has
been taken by the local authorities to make it
adequate for the protection of both public and
private property, and to keep it in state of
efficiency commensurate with the magnitude of
the interests it is designed to protect. Thus
far, however, Congress has made no appropria-
ton in aid Of this important branch of our
local service.
The small amount contributed by the Govern
ment toward the lighting of the avenues and
streets is shown in the report of the superin-
tendent of lamps and gas, who states the total
number of lamps in Washington and George
town to be ,223. OF this number $3.50 have
been paid for by the District, and only 1O3 have
been supplied by the General Government.
While the annual cost to the former of light
ing and repairs has been $130, 9O93, the cost
per annum to the United States has amounted
to only s. ,95O1S. --.a..r. 70
In fact, as regards the current expenses of
the District, the only aid granted by Congress
is the appropriation yearly made toward the
support of the Metropolitan police. In this
particular the National Legislature has &C
knowledged and met its just share of the ex-
penses incident to a suitable police force, and,
it is hoped, will without delay adopt q similar
course in regard to the schools, the fire depart
ment, and the lighting of the two cities.
1t is respectfully suggested that the bonds at
present outstanding Numbering INVENT -one
classes be funded as soon rs possible into one
consolidated loan, bearing fair rate of interest
The sanction of the General Government to
this plan and a recognition of its Indebtedness
10 the District would Immediately place our
securities at par. In the existing anomalous
condition of our affairs, with one-half of the
property within the limits exempt from taxa
lion because owned by the National Govern
men., and one-fffeenth of the remainder
granted immunity by special legislations of
Congress, and with an inefficient tax-law, it
needs hut little argument to show the diff
Guilty, If not the impossibility, of making the
receipts meet the necessary expenditures.
A part Of the debt of the late corporation of
Washington, aggregating some S550, 900, fell
due in August last, and was paid BY Temporary
loans. Provision had been made by law for
funding the same into 80 year bonds and ne
gotiatiOns for the same were pending when the
financial disturbance took place. The payment
of portion Of these loans, and Of the interest
maturing, which was necessary for the protec-
| ton of the credit of the District, has absorbed
! almost the entire revenue from taxes paid since
that time. s.i..,l o. ts =.2al -. =f'.>.
It may be proper for me to state that, after
having met the interest due In January, ar
engagements were made for loan upon tAx-lien
<sOF kzAz SEuAnw