New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-26
A DEFICIENCY IN THE DISTRICT
TIE ESTIMATES EXCEED THE PROBABLE RECEIPTS
BY 50 1916, 000-AS APPEAL To CONGRESS.
ley TELEGRAPH To THE ThIBUNE.l


BY 1896 000-AS APPEAL To CONGRESS.
ICY TELEGRAPH THIBCNE.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2J.-One is reminded Of ST.
Pauls definition Of faith" the substance of things
hoped for the evidence of things not seen by the
estimate OF receipts and expenditures for the current
and next fiscal years, contained in the report OF the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia 10 the
chairman of the House Committee on ApprOpri-
atoms.
The Commissioners estimate their receipts from
taxes etc. for the year ending June 30, 1oIo, at
81 $50, 313 CO, and for 1879 at 81 ,G6O, sl4 20
Total S3247,15S 80. The estimated total expendi-
lures including ordinary running expenses Of the
District Government aud outlay for necessary
repairs of streets, increase of fire depart
ment, etc., for the year ending June, 1875.
are $2,1G9, 4Os II. For 1879 1914 $50 G2.
Total 1854, 900 rs showing an estimated
exsess of expenses over receipts from taxes,
ETC., of S2.326,902 "A, which sum the Com
missioners hope VIII he provided for by Congress.
Included in this estimate of expenditures is an item
of $500 GOO due to the General Government. (Ih's
amount having been loaned to the District by the
last Congress), and $1,35O,O0O for repairs to
payements and work upon streets.
Every denizen of this District and even
temporary sojourners who may happen to wander
away from the newly paved avenues on 10 those
removed must earnestly hope that the confidence OF
the Commssoners in X providence OF Congress VIII
prove to be well founded.
The Commissioners say
The great burden upon the District Is It's enormous
debit The annual interest which exceeds million OF
dollars This Is equal to nearly twO-'hlrds OF all the
present of the District II j. not practicable 70
increase from local sources without seriously
depressing the taxpayers and le-senng the values OF
real property the District The debt OF over S23ooo
600 was incurred III large measlrcn the Improvement
OF the streets and avenues Washington and Georgetown
fhfe
convenience of the official representatives OF all me
country as well OF the permanent residents oi inc
District The CONSIDERATION OF wise c9ono,n, anu en
ligeucd administration combines with what seems 10
ms Justice to the property holders and proper regard 0r
the maintenance OF The National Capilhl IN manner 10
render IL worthy Of the Nation in urging upon congress
the OF prI n psrg IN some e
settlement Of the financial relations between them that
will relieve the District OF Columbia from the oppression
OF its debts
Appended to the report Of the Commissioners is a
statement from the District Auditor and Controller,
Mr. John T. Vinson. showing the receipts from
taxes etc. from June 20, 1874 lthe date of the or
| oanization of the Commissioners G0vernmentl to
have been 5000, 2Gs 81. The net appropriations
made by Congress for District purposes during the
same period, were = SIS, 786 49, the total receipts
being S1I ,lO9.OG5 If. During this period the cur
rent expenses of the Commissioners Government
have amounted TO - 30l $50 - paid ont on ac-
count of debts inherited from former District Gov
ernmcnts and obligations growing out OF same So
1OG,43j 81 total expenditures, YiV' 1o|,J'l -
MIR Vinson concludes his report as follows:
with no debt except Of their contracting. and no
assets from the former District Governments 70 'uihl-h
income, the Commissioners coma IRON We es'apsheh
0f the present Government have paid from current
taxes and other local revenue without money aid from
Congress all their current EXPENSE Intensive o. relaIs
said time ana paid for by them, ana they would now
have a large surplus III the Treasury