Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-03
The District .Appro,riations /,

wise TIE paper oosvsot be SEM.
The District "Appropriationso
In the recent debate on the PrejIdent s
message accompanying his approval of the
sundry civil appropriation bill we dad the
following
Mr.. Rainfall. He 1.-THE Pre.iIentI COMPLAINS in a
measure Of our seton toward the District of Colum-
District Of Columbia We have a iyanced r. the
people Of this District o6J0, to pay the interest
Mr. Poster Who did that,
dr. Randall And there are various other mat
tiers IN which have taken the interest Of this Dis
Mr.. FOste--Was that done by this Houses
MI. kindall-le e, SIR And IN addition we have
erty and money 70 the amount Of S2JOt -. We have
fsGn IN District p9Ser ent1ing ~ to anticipate
without interruption in all is necessary functions
Now what are the facts? The 81 ,O6O 900
appropriation was made by the last Con-
Gress as follows:
TO pay on behalf Of the United States as a por-
lumbis TO be expended 81 the Commssioner. of aid
only be drawn as needed for immediate use
IAet making appropriations for sundry civil ex
Snne o $50, and for other purposes. Approved
No part OF this appropriation was intend
ed to be used In the payment of interest on
The 3 o5 bonds Of the District, but the whole
ROoSos
changed by the present Congress. When the
District authorities called upon Congress to
provide for the interest on the 3-65 bonds
due February LIST last, instead Of so provid-
Ing IL required the payment to be made out
OF the s1,06O,OoO appropriation, and other
revenues OF the District, and thus took from
such authorities that amount of money
which could have been profitabiy applied to
the use OF the District. The truth Is, the
present Congress has not advanced one dol
lar To the District authorities for the general
nses OF the District. All 1t has Contributed
forDistrict purposes proper has been $50 600
one half OF the cost for m in.ainlng the Do
lice department, which Is sj5 go less than
was appropriated last year; sis $40, one half
OF the cost for maintaining the health
department, and SIS 900, say about one
fourth Of the cost for maintaining the
IRE departmental all sl9l,67O. II has re-.
fused TO appropriate out of the United
states funds for the District govern
ment any money even TO pay the interest on
re 3f5 bonds, due August 1st. All that it
Las done In this regard is to authorize the
secretary OF the Treasury to reserve of any
81 the revenues OF the District of Columbia
Lot required for the actual current expenses
O. schools, the police, and the IRE depart
nent, sum sufficient to meet the interest
sccruing on the SOS bonds OF the District
during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1876,
aid apply the same TO that purpose, and in
Case there shall not be q SUN Gent sum of
said revenues in the Treasury Of the United
States at such time as said interest may be
due, then the Secretary Of the Treasury Is
authorized and directed To advance from
any money In the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, sum sufficient to pay said
interest, and the same shall be reimbursed
10 the Treasury OF the United States from
time TO time, as said revenues may be pail
Into said Treasury, until the full amount
shall have been refunded; the effect of which
will be 10 make the District debtor OF thu
United States for the amount SO advanced
by the Secretary, TO be paid out OF District
moneys proper, collected from taxes and
other revenues not including appropriations
by Congress.
Mr.. Randall refers also TO the authority
given the District authorities to anticipate
The revenues OF the District 10 carry on the
government until the LIST OF Decsm Der, when
The taxes are payable. WHAT Is this? Why,
simply that the District may use Its own
money TO defray the expenses Of the govern
ment; that Is, II may borrow, at not more
than per cent. interest, q certain amount of
money TO pay the expenses OF the schools,
The police and IRE department. and other
current expenses, which 1t must pay out OF
taxes hereafter collected. In all this the
United States does not contribute one dollar
towards keeping up the District government
and ena bling II to pay its current expenses. |
Now, what Is the actual result of the acts |
and the manifest policy OF the present Con- |
gress? 1t Is to compel the taxpayers OF the |
District TO pay all the expenses OF the Dis |
frict government, including the m skiug OF |
all necessary improvements and the pre-
serving OF all existing Inn proyements streets 4
avenues, police stations, &C., &C towards |
which the United States will not contribute |
pne dollar, although the United States owns |
at least four tenths in value of all the real |
property OF the District. Is this fair or Just? |
Why should the United States not pay an |
nually Its proportion OF the expenses OF the |
District government, as any private real
estate holder, out Of Is own money In its
own Treasury?