Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-03
The District Estimates.
-TIoN OF TIE SECRETARY OF THE treasury
THIKEON.

approval their estimates f9,r the support OF the
government OF the District OF Columbia for the
fiscal years ending June 80, 1919 and June 30.
1850 which were submitted to him under the
act OF Congress OF June II, 1873.
FISCAL YEAR 1919
In returning the estimate for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1879, which footS up S. az, 3i7 40
the Secretary says: "The estimate, as approved
Is $50 500 in excess OF the amount submitted nv
the commissioners, that being half OF the
amount appropriated by Congress by the act OF
June 20, 1873 for the workingmen OF the Dis
trtct.
AT the last session of Congress the Commits
sloneIS were authorized TO issue properly-pre-
pared bonds OF the District Of Columbia to the
amount OF $2Sl,I50, for the redemption of the
ten-year bonds issued by the corporation of
Washington under an act of Congress approved
FEBRUARY 2ith. 1865, amounting to s219, 80 also,
10 redeem the Georgetown steam force-pumn
bonds, amounting to 3, 500, issued under the acC
on the general assembly OF June 18th, 1873; said
bonds TO De payable thirty years after date in
sums OF $1,000 each, and bearing such rate OF
interest, not exceeding per centum, as shall
be approved by the Secretary of the Treasury
" The commissioners thought it not expedient
to advertise these bonds, and the Secretary
recommends that the amount OF the debt
accrtling as aforesaid be paid, and held and
accounted for as part OF the sinking fund; that
the five per cent. bonds, authorized by that act.
be issued to the Treasurer OF the United States
as a part OF the sinking fund.- and, that the
Treasurer he authorized not only 10 purchase
bonds due, but to purchase bonds accruing With
such funds as may be appropriated for the
sinking fund CT with the interest accruing
thereon.
From this estimate the Commissioners have
omitted the appropriations made by tue act OF
June 20, ISIS, for Columbia Hospital and Child
ren's Hospital, on the ground that those hos
pitfalls are not such charitable institutions as the
law ContemplateS shall be supported BY the
District OF Columbia; but inaSmuch as that at
directs these e. appropriations 70 be charged
against the District they are submitted for the
furJhpr consideration OF Congress -
FISCAL YEAR 1850.
This estimate as returned by the Snera; Try
foGfS UP S2,6l5,4l5.3I. and he says: THE est
mate of the commissioners for the sinking fund
is increased S56,221 %, to meet its requirements
as stated by the treasurer OF the United States
WHO'S the commissioner Of this fund. The sink
ing fund OF the District is part OF the cOntracf
MADE with the creditors of the District and
should te maintained inviolate. as TAR as the
executive officers are concerned. The Score
tary feels that he has no right to approve an
estimate for a less amount than the law requires
Tor this purpose. II Congress should see ft ~
legislate upon the subject. and reduce the aggre-
gate annual contribution TO this fund in a Way
not to impair the credit OF the District and the
same time provide certain specific fund wlifh
Will redeem the debt of the District within n
reasonable period. not to extend beyond thn
Gate of the maturity OF the fhree-SiXfy-f
bonds such proposition would have his cor
dlal support: but, until the law IS so modified
the annual appropriation to the sinkinr-tr1ud
should Ge maintained"
TIRE SUPPLEMENTAL ESTIMATE pESAPPRovEp.
lie Secretary. after careful consideration.
II E0t abe 10 approve the supplemental est
mate OF the commissioners of Fl $50. SSH II, for
replacing the wooden payenentS and for Other
improvements during the fiscal year ending
June 81, $50. This estimate COntemDlateS a
very extensive system Of Improvements, iaclud-
ING the replacing CT all the present wooden
PaVementS OF the city and the construction of
auxiliary sewers. involving an expensive rn1di-
cation III the plan OF the sewerage Of a large
scion OF the CITY the greater part OF this
in 10 inlIl ,-
made by the board of public works which have
been completed within period OF five years.
"tnngleSS has provided very liberal fund for
tie support OF the District by the assessment of
tax OF one and one-half per cent upon the
real and personal property in the District, sup
piemented by license and other taxes. apd by
Treasury OF the United States; but in doing 50.
has enacted that there shall be no increase of
me present amount OF total Indebtedness OF the
District OF Columbia and has imposed severe
penalties for violations of this enactment, SEQ
ton I3 act June Is, 1s1S)
The policy is thus clearly Indicated that
under no circumstances is the debt OF the Dis
tr1ct TO be increased: and ii would appear from
the experience of the past few years that this is
safeguard which should be adhered to with
out qualification or condition. / cannot, by ap-
proving such an estimate, recommend TO Con
SresS the abandonment OF policy it has wisely
prescribed. or permit il to be defeated By al
proving estimates for Improvements 10 be made
IN advance OF the receipt OF the necessary
revenue. No circumstances are stated which
would justify an expenditure larger than the
revenues provided. or authorize an increase of
Tie burdens now resting upon the people OF the
nited States. by either advancing money 70
or paving larger sum for. the government OF
tie District than the liberal allowance made by
law.
THE improvements proposed are. no doubt.
proper, and may be demanded by the convent
ehce and comfort Of the citizens, and would be
beneficial TO the city: but by extending their
construction over period OF three or four years.
The Whole can he executed in more iudiClOJS
ard economical manner than if forced into a
single year. No great injury can result from
THIS delay. Those improvements which are for
any reason. most urgently demanded, will no
doubt. be executed first, and those OF a less ur-
gent character be postponed until subsequent
years
1T is believed that the streets of this city, as
a general thing, are now in better condition
than the streets OF any other city in the United
states, and the large sum that may be annu-
ally set apart for their gradual repair will soon
place them In as good condition as can be de-
sired. It would, therefore, seem to be neither
lust nor polite TO require the people of the
I inled states TO assume this large expenditure
for the District at a time when they are seeking
10 reduce all expenditures, and when apprOpri-
atoms for necessary objects are curtaifed. On
the other hand, the citizens Of the District,
when their burdenSome special improvement
taxes are considered. feel that the present tax
is as much as they should bear.
The true method for the improvement of the
District, In the opinion of the Secretary. Is to
apply TO that purpose all the annual surplus
revenue available. Thus the economy exer-
clSed In other branches OF expenditures will
inure to the general improvement OF the Dis
trlct.'
ELECTIONS OF OFFIcERs- The contributing
members OF the Chiidren'S Hospital last eve
ming elected the following board of directors
DR.. Grafton Tyler, Il. e. Fox. Thomas J. Fisher
vice George Lowry. reSigned,} and Nj W Gait
20 serve until 1SS2; Dr. j. c. Hall. j. H. Sayilla
IL. Sem6en. and Reginald Fendail vice John NJ
Brodhead, resigned,) to serve until 1888; {. NJ
Matthews ito ill vacancy OccaSiOned b. the
death OF Mr.. Fitzhugh COyle) and Dr. " s Lin
coin 10 III vacancy OccaSiOnel by the reSirna-
ton OF Dr.. c. IL. Lieberman.)
Inc Following directors were elected at the
meeting last evening of the Masonic Hall ASs0-
cldllOn:-P. H. Hooe, y. ID. Iarner, W. H. Goods
Up. Wtlletj and |. l.. Johnson
The Anglers Association of Washington last
evening elected the following officers TO serve
Tor The ensuing year:-Dr. Smith Townshand
president; Jacob Scheiitey, vice president: Thee
FreibuS, secretary and treasurer L. Opnen
heimer, John Hancock and n. Sardo, executive
committee.
THE ANNUAL REUNION OF the class association
OF the advanced grammar school (claSS OF 1879
took place last night at Pollock hall Twenty
three OF the pupils and Mr.. Edward A. Paul.
their teacher, We're present, and Howard L.
HodSkins presided. After interesting musical
and literary exercises, ID. W. Clum delivered
his Grafton on 1.-The Glass;" after which all re-
paired 10 the dining hall and partOok of COLA
ton. During the evening officers were elected
Tor the ensuing year, as follows: ChaS. A. Bar
ker president; Howard l.. HOdgkinS, first vice
president b. Thompson, second vice president:
Geo. Provost, third vice president; II. W. Seely,