National Republican., 1876-12-04
THE DISTRICT TRruMv1R1.

for the Better Regulation of Taxes
Needed-The Outstanding Certifi-
Gates of Indebtedness.
Hons. ]. H. Keteham, VIM Dernison and S. L.
Phelps, Commissioners of the District OF Colum-
bia, have submitted their annual report to the
President of the United States. They concur in
the Recommendation of the commissioners Of the
sinking fund, that by appropriate legislation the
functions of the latter body should be trans
ferred to the officers of the Treasury Depart
ment.
THE MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES OF THE DISTRICT,
consisting of the ordinances Of the city of Wash
inGton the city Of GsopgesSTn and hiss ths Lew
jurisdiction that part of the District outside
Of the cities of washington and Georgetown,
spects are contradictory and incomplete. They
need revision and amendment. It is believed
that single statute might be drawn applicable
and comprising all the necessary provisions OF
ordinary municipal regulation relative to the
preservation of order and protection of property
TAX ARREARAeEs.
Legislation is needed for the better regulation
Of sales Of property for tax to sublect
the owners Of property purchased by the District
government to like penalties as if the property
eTe bsHn y private ,S person an6 gye sne
within Q reasonable time without right Of re.
demption thereafter, to the owner or his legal
IL,
isting law the owner has little inducement to pay
the tax in arrear and redeem his property, while
the District is deprived for an indefinite time OF
arrear or the it. which is no less un-
just to the property owners who pay their taxes
promptly than embarrassing to the administrs-
ton Of the finances ofthe District.
They renew their recommendation for such
legislation to remedy these evils as will clearly
sa. the Of
prompt payment of taxes. And, In this connec-
tion, we recommend the legislation asked for by
the collector in his report Of 1875 to simplify the
adyertisements for the sale of property in arrears
for taxes, so that they shall require only an in
telligible description of the property, to whom
assessed, and the time when the privilege OF re-
demption will expire.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
In our last annual report it was shown that the
annual rent and cost Of repairs of the rented
buildings for the public schools were estimated
by the trustees as $685., more than six per cent
interest en- $500 600, the amount they estimate as
sufficient to purchase sites and erect all the
buildings required to meet the public school
wants Of the District. The conditions of the
schools in this respect have not been materially
changed since the date of that report, and We
circumstances, it is not wiser policy to abandon
the use of all rented school buildings and substi
tute therefor houses erected and owned by the
District. To accomplish this Congressional ap-
preparation will be needed in aid Of the District
The apportionment of the school fund between
the white and colored schools, as provided by law,
ought not to be disturbed. No complaint of 1t
has been made. 1t is based on the Just principle
Of securing to all citizens Of the District, without
regard to race or color, equal privileges in the
public schools. Under its operations both white
and colored schools have prospered, and now
justly rank among the best public schools of the
We Join the trustees in asking Congress for an
endowment of public lands for public school pur-
poses.
AUTHORITY TO ERECT PUBLIC BUILDINGS RE-
QUEsTED.
Whatever form of government shall be per-
manently established for the District authority,
under proper restrictions and conditions, sh 1uld
be given the executive authorities to purchase
lice and fire department uses, and to sell proper
ties now owned by the District and held for like
uses but not suitable for them, such as the Gen.
tral guard house and lot on Louisiana avenue,
and the police station house, corner Of X and
Ninth streets, and all other real estate owned by
the District not needed for government purposes.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
In their accompanying report the commission
mendatiOn for the organization of two additional
engine companies, with the necessary apparatus,
and one additional hook and ladder company,
equipped, at an estimated cost of s53,075 In this
request the Commissioners concur.
CHARITIES.
Weagain invite the attention of Congress to
the matter of the reorganization of the public
charities of the District, to the end of having
them put under the control Of q commission, to
to which shall be intrusted the disbursement of
all moneys appropriated by Congress or contrib
tiles, and which shall account for the same to the
District authorities, under such regulations as
shall be prescribed by law.
They ask that the official term Of the assessors
be extended.
OUTSTANDING CERTIFICATES oFTHE LATE BOARD
OF AUDIT.
They call attention to the outstanding certih-
Gates of Indebtedness not acted upon by the,
Board of Audit, and that immediate action be
The amount Of these claims, as estimated by
the engineer, is 81 043 subject to reduction
on account of errors and over payments of the in
debtedness reported by the Board Of Audit.
FOR THE PAYMENT OF SAID CERTIFICATES
and outstanding certificates of the late Board of
Audit, convertible on their faces into 365 bonds,
but the conversion of which is prohibited by law,
amounting, and reported by the Board of Audit
and sinking fund commissioners, to $75s, ,23S. So,
the bill pledges all assessment certificates for
special Improvement, after paying therefrom the
debtedness, commonly called "greenbacks, issued
under an act of the Legislative Assembly of the
District Of Columbia, approved May %, 1873 of
which there are outstanding at this date, as re-
ported by the commissioners of the sinking fund.-
$685. 200. The surplus of the special improve
ment assessment certificates that can be SO ap-
piled is estimated, by the engineer in his report,
TO amout to $l,6S9,s447i. The account will stand
follows:
Estimated amount of assessment certificates
for special Improvements, after paying outstand-
ing t'greelbacks, 81 eSe, ,Si474 estimated amount
of claims covered by Senate bill $50, o4S42aS 81;
surplus of assessment certificates, &6I6, ,4l490.
The claims provided for by this bill are merlto-
rious and should be paid. The Commissioners
are without authority to pay any Of them out of
the District treasury or otherwise. They earn
estly hope the bill may become a law during the
coming SESSION Of Congress.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
The statement of receipts and expenditures is
as follows:
Total receipts to December l. 1876. 1851 s72 II
Total expenditures to December !,
1870, including warrants issued and
not presented. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 242s,sss 05
Balance. Observation-Disclosures. l22,9SI o5
Less deficit in account of J. S. Wilson,