Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-18
The District Estimates.

THE COMMISSIONERS FORWARD THEM TO CONGRESS.
The District Commissioners this morning
transmitted their estimates OF District expenses
for the year ending June 80, 1881, to Congress.
The statement that the Secretary of the Treas
ury had forwarded the estimates of the District
commissioners, together with his own revision
OF them, to Congress, is an error. His duty under
the law is. after making such suggestions and
alterations OF the estimates as he may deem
best. to return them, with his suggestions, TO
the District commissioners, whose duty it is to
forward them TO Congress. The estimates with
modlncatlons suggested by the Secretary OF the
treasury, were returned to the District Com
m1ssloners yesterday, and to-day the Commits
sioners forwarded all the papers in the case to
congress, LOT such action as that body may see
proper to take.
IN THEIR LETTER OF rRANsATTTAL.
the commissioners state that in obedience to
section OF the act providing permanent form
Oh government govern Tor the District of Columbia,
mates, together with the estimates as received
oy the Secretary OF the Treasury, in accordance
Win the same provision of law. These eSti-
mates mat We're submitted to the Secretary on the
18th OF November, and returned to the Commits
sloners ON the 18th inst They say:
The only changes in the estimates suggested
Dy the Secretary, TO which we invite the atten-
ton OF Congress relate to the government asy-
lum for the insane and the appropriation for
contingencies. The total expenditures for
patients committed to the insane asylum by
authority of the Commissioners which in our
Judgment, includes all who have any claim to be
provided for at the expense of the District of
Columbia, for the year ending Both June, 1879,
was S17. 4S4:S0. Our estimate for the year end
ing June 80. 1881, is $4,000. The letter of the
SUI erintendent of the asylum on which the
Sci rotary bases his estimate, includes all the
patients committed by the Secretary of the In
terror, for whom we think the District of &C .
lumb1a Is not properly chargeable. The esti-
mate Of $4,000 for contingencies is intended to
meet any OF the emergencies to which every
municipal government Is necessarily exposed
such as riot, pestilence, &C., which do not admit
of delay; and to cover any temporary increase
OF clerical force rendered necessary at the time
OF taxes, and other emergent occasions of the
service. which cannot be provided for economic
cally In any other way"
THE LETTER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREAS
which accompanies these estimates. land has
been published In THE starr requires some ex-
PLANTATION. The estimates submitted by the
commissioners on the 9Th of December, 1878,
estimates therefor, which, in their opinion, re-
quired immediate action. These estimates were
or course greatly in excess Of the amount which
could i De supplied for this purpose from the cur
rent revenues of the District, and could only be
provided Tor by advances from the Treasury of
tne United states, which the Commissioners
thought 1t possible Congress might authorize,
revenues OF the District. 1t was hoped in this
way TO accomplish more speedily the replace
ment OF the Gecayed and impossible streets,
:" I'LL. ehiO al "ilCl lIOu dQInln-
1strations:. This suggestion, however, was not
approved by the Secretary Of the Treasury or by
and the Commissioners therefore
proceeded within the limits of the means at
their disposal to improve such streets specified
In the schedule as to them seemed most fmpor-
tant to the general interests and convenience.
A similar schedule accompanied the report of
the commissioners submitted to Congress on
the first instant, Of which fact the Secretary
was probably not aware. The estimates now
transmitted are made for such amount OF street
improvement as the revenue will justify, the Sc
lection to be made, as heretofore, by the Com
m1ss.oners from the schedule referred to, unless
Congress Shall otherwise direct.
BY letter OF the DIST of November, the Secre-
tary requested a more detailed estimate OF the
expenses OF the public schools and of the sink
ing fund. anc an explanation of the character of
Inc contemplated expenditures under the head
1f general expenses. the Information which
could DE obtained from those having charge of
me pubic schools, who alone could supply the
required details, was furnished on the s4th of
November; o n together with the needed explana-
ion In regard to the estimate for the sinking
und. The request for information, which IS
herein supplied, as to the estimate of $50 900 for
contingencies, seems to have been inadvertently
overlooked"