Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-31
District Flnamces.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AND THE CERrIFI.
Gates KNOWN AS "GREENBACKs.n

SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AND THE cERr1FI-
GATES KNOWN AS "GREENBACKs."
resolution was passed by the Senate
April 10th directing the District Commits
sioners to communicate to the Senate the
amount OF certificates OF Indebtedness COM
monty called "greenbacks" issued In pursu-
ance OF the acts OF the legislative assembly
OF The District and of Congress; also, the
amount OF assessments made by virtue OF
said acts to secure the payment OF such Ger.
tincates OF Indebtedness; the amount of such
assessments collected and the amount out
Standing unpaid, II any, and the reasons
why the same have not been collected and
whether or not any legislation is necessary
A copy OF the resolution was referred to the
attorney for the District, who. under date of
which was published in THE STAR OF the
STATEMENT OF THE sISKING FUND COM
MIS5IONERS.
IN reply to a communication from the Dis
trict Commits sioners upon this subject the
com miss toner's OF the sinking fund inclose a
statement marked GA )" showing the amount
or eight per cent. special Improvement cer-
tihcafes issued under the act OF assembl of
June 26, 1873, confirmed by act Of Congress- of
June 20, 1874, outstanding March 81, 1876,
with the amount Of interest due there On to
ssme date, making total OF 81 ,315 O95 20;
also, statement showing the amount of
special Improvement taX-lien certificates
received from the deputy controller, and
amount paid to March 81, 1876, together with
the interest due on amount outstanding to
which are over due. as follows: Amount of
certificates received, S1,0i1, 978 4S; amount of
same paid; 1924 2F "a; outstanding April /,
1876, SSH 1904; interest due to March 81 1876
SIPS 33S 81; making q total OF S9I6, O69.I5'
In reply to the inquiry why the assess .
ments have not been collected, they state
been collected, as evidenced by the amount
OF eight per cent. certificates retired and cam
celed. VI the entire amount in arrears on
31st March last only one third had been due
months. hnt hv,o
accompanying exhibit, footing up as fol-
lows Overdue, 1874. S23 5s1 SO; do, 1873.
1892 60. &c; do, 1876, sl3,olO.0l; making in ali,
Until recently the collections on this ac-
count have been highly encouraging, and in
their Judgment 1t did not seem wise to re-
sort to any hard measures to enforce pay
ment by requiring sale of property of those
In arrears; especially In view of the fact that
no formal demand had been made by holders
Of the eight per cent. certificates; that they
shall now deem IL their duty to call upO,
all In arrears for immediate payment of over
dine assessments. and in cases Of default to
by law. But If all tax lien certificates in
their custody were paid the proceeds would
not suffice to meet the outstanding eight per
cent. certificates by $500 ,O26. IS, and that an
additional amount will be required to sun
ply this deficiency. Whether any further
legislation is necessary to ensure the pay
measures Ofknowing what amount of avail.
BILE tax lien certificates they may DEPEND
upon, nor the extent to which those now an
nsnd, , ana Ihose yet TO De received may be
THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
IN tnelr answers to the resolution to trans
init copy OF the report OF the commission
ers of the sinking fund, and say that sin
their report the remark is made that IL all
the assessment certificates in their CUSTODY
S we're o paid the proceeds would by the sum OF
ing certificates of indebtness known as
.ereenbacks' the original issue Of which was
5000, 600. But referring to the engineers
and Teno 1n oe fba last ses pages
sfoners and accompanying documents) it
Will be seen that on account OF expenditures
me engineer estimates that there will be
chargea6le to private propertyby way Of
easements the sum OF S2,O7S, G55 GO.
These asse, sments are being, and win De
made some OF them will doubtless be
mess: nan,a are are RECEIVABLE for such
the amount of such certificates outstanding,
and will make the whole fund held in pledge
~ the sinking fund applicable to the re.
naming certificates Of Indebtedness. For
such future assessments as shall not be paid ,
assessment certificates will be issued and
transferred to the commissioners of the sink.
Ing fund by way Of increasing the fund held
In pledge for the certificates of Indebtedness,
These assessments and the assessment Ger.
tifcates remaining to be made or issued will
Ia rgely exceed the aggregate of the outstand-
thereon, and the advances from other fnnds
1, 1874. " '"A'
was also transmitted to the Senate. COM
mittee.
The Commissioners In conclusion saw
we have no doubt that the collection of
quent redemption OF the certificates of in
de6tedness 1.-THE latter now representing an
Indebtedness OF 81 ,3l5, o95 20, which, in de-
iault Of the payment OF the assessment GER
tincates, may have to be borne by the whole
District DE instead Of by the property benefit-
dited by legislation validating the assess Ss
ment certificates as against purely technical
objections, and at the same time afording
sessment an easy opportunity for the correc-
lion of errors"
PROPOSED BILL FOR PAYMENT OF THE
DISTRICT "GRRENBACKs."
The Commissioners also transmitted a
draft OF bill "to provide for the eight per
cent. certificates Of Indebtedness issued for
work done under the direction OF the board
OF public works, and chargeable to the prf.
waite property benefited thereby" II pro-
v1des that In order to carry out the provis-
interest of the certificates OF indebtedness
known as "greenbacks," the proper authori :.
ties OF the District OF Columbia are reouest-
en 20 promptly m enforce the collection or Ger.
purposes aforesaid according to existing
provisions OF law; and all certificates of as.
sessment for special improvements issued
under the act Of Assembly of August 10, 1871,
are hereby in all respects validated and
legaltzed Is charges upon the property bene-
ntted by the improvements in respect OF
which the assessments were made. Provided.
however, that upon specific complaint, in
any instance, being made to the Commis-
sioners of the District, of excessive charges
In respect OF any Of said assessments, said
commissioners are hereby authorized to
revise such assessments, and to correct the
same If any error be found, by deductine
therefrom the amount of such error; and
such action OF the Commissioners OF the Dis
trict shall be final, and not revisable by any
authority or proceeding whatever.
This bill was introduced in the Senate to-
day, by Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine.
CLOSE OF THE NEW YORK INvEsrIaA-
TIoN.-The subcommittee of the Congress
i0nal Committee on the Judiciary closed
It's sessions In New York city Yesterday az
terpOOn, and In the evening all its members.
Washington. VIM. K. Dodge, OF Phelps.
Dodge q Co., testified to settling with the
government for $3.50 900, to which was added
81 600 for expenses, none of which was poid
BY Noah Davis, nor one dollar given To