Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-11-27


The fourth annual report of the Commits
sioners OF the District of Colu mbia, given
elsewhere, will be scanned with exceptional
interest at this juncture when the subjects
treated uccupy so much of the public atten-
ton. The Commissioners seem to have ap-
preciated the desirsbilify of making very
thorough exhibit of the condition OF District
affairs, especially In the matter of debt and
finance, in order TO supply the data for the
Congressional legislation asked by the citi-
gens OF the District. The document sets
forth very fully the details of District in
debteSness, bonded and floating. The total
debt is stated to be s23 ,310, 1i6iS; made up of
So. 10 Sl1.96 bonded debt, aud 81 1S7 ,2ei52
outstanding claims. This statement does
not include claims audited and allowed by
the Board of Audit, but not certified in class
6, relating TO private property taken by the
Board OF Public Works from the avenues,
streets and alleys of the cities of Washington
and Georgetown, amounting TO sI13,9j4.l4.
The Commissioners concur with the Board
of Audit in not regarding these claims
as constituting a portion OF the debt
of the District, but as means of the
property holders for extinguishing spe-
cial tax liens upon their property.
As an act of justice the Commissioners re-
commend the settlement of outstanding
claims, and If the whole amount of
clBlSt gANt u Is COuNcTItu lilIO QUO the
total amount of these bonds will be S14,9 $780,
45452. Among the important recommeuda-
tions made by the Commissioners are those
In behalf OF the public schools; fire depart
meDt; for the appointment OF a board of
charities; the abolition Of the sinking fund
board ard the transfer of their duties TO pro-
Per officers of the Treasury department.; the
revision and amendment of the municipal |
ordinances of the District the prohi biting of |
any subdivision Of real estate on which due |
taxes are unpaid; the comforting of proper |
authority upon the Commissioners by Con- |
gress TO enable them to erect suitable build |
ings for the police and fire departments, &C.,
&c; the making OF q new census IN the Dis |
trict, and a final commentator OF "the
interests OF The District to the careful at |
tenttOn and kind treatment of Congress"
Under the last head the citizens OF the Dis |
trict will note with satisfaction that the
Commissioners have made vigorous and
effective showing of District needs and bur- |
dens. Referring TO the fact that the attention |
OF Congress has been called by prominent
citizens, in a carefully prepared statement,
10 the importance OF permanent adjust |
ment of The proportional expenses of the |
District government that should be borne by |
the United States, the Commissioners again |
direct the attention of Congress to the prin- |
ciple involved, and to which they referred In |
their last annual report. That principle sis |
the duty of the United States to pay its just
proportion of the District expenses, as well
because OF its interest as property holder in
the District, as OF the extraordinary and ex-
ceptiOnal expenses incident to the mainte-
nance of the District government in its sew
eral departments, inclusive of its heavy
debt, incurred in the improvement OF its
avenues, streets, &C., all resulting in large
measure from Washington being the capital |
OF the nation" They add with just point:
"UDtil fair adjustment of the proportional |
contribution by the United States TO the sup
port Of the District be determined, the means |
OF the District TO maintain and make the i'm |
provements necessary to meet its wants, as |
the National Capital, will be, as now, made |
quate, and the ability OF the District govern
ment to perform its functions satisfactorily,
will be seriously impaired. When to these
considerations there is added the injustice to
the property holders in requiring them to
pay, OF these expenses, as they are now
doing, through taxes, general and special,
The proportion exacted from them, the Justice
OF the United States making early provision
for the permanent payment of its full proper
ton thereof is too clear for argument
The Commissioners in this carefully pre-
pared report have given a good account of
their stewardship, and have shown them
selves the thoughtful and vigilant advocates
OF District interests; as they should be.