Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-01-22
DISTRICFGOT FINANCES
Estimates Of Receipts and Expenditures,

LETTER OF TIE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS TO
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF TUE1
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON, January 81, 1875.
Hon. Join ID. c. Atkins, Chairman Commit
Tee on appropriations, House 81 Representa-
SIR: We have the honor of submitting the
accompanying estimates of receipts and ex-
penditures of the District government for the
eight months ending June 50, 1873, and for the
ment having grown out of the making up our
annual reports to the 3lst October, we submit
these two estimates in order TO conform the
reports hereafter to the operations OF the Dis
Irict government for the year ending the 30th
.lune-the close OF the fiscal year OF the gov
eminent as established by law.
In the preparation OF these estimates we
nave included in the receipts all revenues from
regular and ordinary sources, as We have done
IN our annual estimates heretofore. The de-
ductiOn OF % per cent. from general taxes for
deltnfiuencleS IS based on the tax returns of
the last year.
Accompanying this communication win be
found statements OF the District Engineer,
prepared under our direction, in answer to an
enquiry of the Senate committee on the Dis
trict- explanatory of the items of expenditure
relating to the resurfacing and improvements
Explanation of the item of Sis 600 for the Fire
Department is given in our last annual report
ana accompanying reports of the officers of
that department.
Ii is only just to the holders of tax lien
certificates enormously issued by the late Dis
trict government, that is, issued against prop
efty exempt by law from tax, or on which a II
taxes were paid. the proceeds of which passed
into the District Treasury, that they should be
paid the sum due thereon, amounting, as
estimated, to $4,000. Equally pressing are the
demands for the payment of judgments
against the District amounting to $37, goo None
OF these claims originated under the commits
sion government.
We make mention of the proportions paid
directly by. the United States through the
Secretary of Treasury, for the maintenance of
the police board OF health and gas inspection
We submit no estimate of the cost of pur-
chasing sites and erecting buildings for school
purposes, to which our attention has been
called by the school trustees, having already
communicated To the District committee of the
House on that subject.
A misrepresentation having prevailed as to
the proportions paid respectively by the
United States and the District for the support
OF the present commission government, which
was organized under act of June 20, 1874. we
nVfe Your attention to the accompanying
statement of the District Auditor and Comp
trOller on the subject.
The great burden upon the District is it's
enormous debt, the annual interest on which
exceeds million of dollars. This is equal to
nearly tWO-thIrdS OF all the present revenues
OF the District 1t is not practicable to in
crease the income from local sources without
seriously expressing the tax payers and lessen
ing the values OF the real property in the Dis
trIct. The debt of over twenty three millions
OF dollars was incurred, in large measure, in
the Improvement of the streets and avenues of
Washington and Georgetown, and of the sew
erage oil the two cities; promoting the health
and convenience OF the official representatives
OF all the country, as well as of the permanent
residents Of the District. Every consideration
OF wise economy and enlightened a,lmniStra-
ton combine with what seems to us Justice to
the property holders, and proper regard for the
maintenance of the national capital in man
ner to render it worthy of the nation. in
urging upon Congress the importance of
promptly recognizing the obligations of the
United States to the District in some perma-
nent settlement of the financial relations be-
tween them, as will relieve the District of Co
Mmbia from the oppression of this debt
Respectfully, w. DENNIsON,
:. l.. PHELPS
THOS. b. BRYAN