Evening star., 1876-12-02
DISTRICT AFFAIRs.
Annual Report Of the Ce.mis-ion,
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS
or THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
WASHINGTON, u. c., Dec. 3, IssS

To fhs Presids7lf,-In our last annual report
We invited the attention Of Congress to seve-
raj matters of interest TO the District, reouir-
ing legislation, on which no action was had,
| some of which we again respectfully submit
| for its consideration.
The commissioners of the sinking fund. in
| their report for 1875, in referring to the near
| completion of their labors connected with
| the preparation and issuing of the SOS bonds.
| and the relief they would experience when
done, as the entire supervisiono OF them would
| thereafter devolve upon officers OF the Treas
| ury department, except the registration OF
/ coupon bonds, which. as the law now
stands, requires their aid, say that 'sunder
these circumstances we recommend a trans
| fer, by appropriate legislation, of the func
| tlons OF The sinking fund commissioners To
| Cncers OF the Treasury department, To BE- de
| signated for that purpose, and we believe
this would be in strict harmony with the
| spirit of recent legislation under which Con-
| gress has assumed its direct control of the
| affairs of this District" Concurring in this
| recommendation, for the reasons given, as
| well because the proposed transfer Of the
| functions OF the commissioners OF the sink
| ing fund 10 the officers of the Treasury de-
| partment would simplify the financial Sys-
| tenn of the District and lessen the public eN-
pense, We invited the favorable consideration
| 10 the recommendation, which we now re
| new.
The municipal ordinances of the District,
| consisting OF the ordinances of the city of
Washington, the city of Georgetown, and the
| Levy Court of the county of Washington.
| which had jurisdiction over that part of the
| District outside of the cities Of Washington
| and Georgetown, differ widely from each
other, and I'm many respects are contrad ctory
| and incomplete. They need revision and
| amendment Ii is believed that a single
| statute might he drawn applicable to and
uniform throughout the whole District. and
comprising all the necessary provisions Of
ordinary municipal regulation relative Ia
the preservation of order and protection OF
properly.
Legislation is needed for the better regula-
| ton OF sales of property for tax arrearages, to
subleci the owners of property purchased by
the District government To like penalties az
N the property were purchased by a private
person, and give the District absolute title in
the property 10 purchases within a reaSOna-
Die time without right OF redemption thereaf-
| ter, TO the owner or his legal representatives
This is important, as under existing law, the
owner has little inducement 10 pay the tax I'm
arrear, and redeem his properly, while the
| District is deprived for an indefinite time Of
revenue from the property either from the
tax IN arrear or the Interest upon IL, which is
no less unjust 10 the property owners who
| pay their taxes promptly than embarraS Ssing
| 10 the administration of the finances OF the
| Dlstrlct. We renew our recommendation for
| such legislation as will remedy these evils
| Will clearly define the rights OF delinuuent
| Taxpayers and enable the District govern
| ment TO enforce the prompt payment Of taxes
| And, in this connection, We recommend the
| legislation asked for by the collector in his
report of 1875, TO simplify the advertisements
for the sale of property in arrears for taxes
SO that they shall require only an intelligible
| description of the property. TO whom a.
Sessed and the time when the privilege Of re-
| demption Will expire.
We join the collector also in his recon-
| mendation for such legislation as will make
| illegal any subdivision of real estate on
| which due taxes are unpaid, or the entry of
| such subdivision in the public records of the
Office of the surveyor. Such a law would
| secure the full payment of delinquent taxes,
| when the holder in default would want TO
subdivide his property for sale, or otherwise
| Property holders who pay their taxes as re-
quirod by law are entitled 20 the fullest prac-
ucable protection against the burdeas result
ing from the non-pa yment OF taxes OF other
property holders.
/ In our last annual report il was shown thai
| the annual rent and cost OF repairs of the
| rented buildings for the public schools were
estimated by the trustees as S25 C35, more
| than six per cent. interest on S4cOOO0, the
amount they estimate as sufficient to pur-
chase sites and erect all the buildings re-
quired TO meet the public school wants of the
4 District The conditions OF the schools in this
| since the date Of that report, and we venture
| 10 renew the inquiry, whether, under the cir
| cumStances, 10 Is not wiser policy TO abandon
| the use OF all rented school buildings and
substitute therefor houses erected and owned
by the District. To accomplish this, Congre>-
| sional appropriation will be needed in aid OF
| the District resources.
| The apportionment OF the school fund be-
| tween the white and colored schools, as pro-
| vided by law, ought not to be disturbed, No
complaint OF IL has been made. 1t is based
II
| zens OF the District, without regard 10 race or
color, equal privileges in the public schools
Under its operation both white and colored
schools have prOspered, and now justly rank
among the best public schools of the country
| In addition TO the recognized claims of all
| public schools upon the states and munici-
palities where located, the schools OF this
District have peculiar claims upon the favor
able consideration OF Congress, as the Iegis-
lature OF the District, growing out Of the fact
| that about one-third OF the school population
| Is colored, who have come into the District
since the beginning ef our late civil war, and
who contribute little TO our school revenues,
while about thirty per cent of the enrolment
| OF the white schools is composed of children
whose parents. or guardians are i'm the service
| OF The United States, from whom little is re-
celved for the support Of the public schools.
Congress having established the policy of
making liberal endowments of public lands
to the public schools in the states and terrific
ries of the Union, its attention has been fire.
Quently called by the trustees OF the District
schools TO the claims of the District for like
endowment OF the schools here.
We venture to join the trustees in asking
the favorable consideration of Congress TO
their request in this regard, unless il shall be
lts pleasure 10 make an equivalent money
appropriation 10 aid in the purchase of sites
ard the erection OF suitable buildings for the
present and future accommodation of the
school youth OF the District and for the per-
nanent maintenance of the schools now and
that may be hereafter organized in the Dis
trict.
Whatever form of government shall be
4.
thority, under proper restrictions and cOndi-
lions, should be given the executive authori-
ties To purchase sites and erect suitabl build
lngs for school, police and fire department
uses, and TO sell properties now owned by the
District and held for like uses but not suita-
bic Tor them, such as the central guard house
and lot on Louisiana avenue and the police
station house, corner OF X and 9Th streets. and
all other real estate owned blythe District moi
needed for government purposes.
In their accompanying report the commits
sloners OF the fire department renew their
recommendation for the organ ization of two
additional engine companies, with the neces-
sary apparatus, and one additional hook and
ladder company, equipped, at an estimated
cost OF S63,Oi5. In view OF the steadily in
creasing population OF Washington the
large number OF buildings erected during the
past three or four years, and the pressing
want OF additional means for the eXtinguish-
ment OF fires in the portions OF the city where
IL Is proposed TO organize and locate the
three additional companies, we Join in these
recommendations of the fire department. and
again invite the favorable attention of Con-
gress TO them. Unaided by Congressional
appropriation, or by increased revenue from
taxes, the revenues of the District are MOI
equal TO the expenditure required for the adj
dltional facilities to the fire department
-. In this connection il is proper TO add, that |
the emclency OF the fire department is graft |