Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-16
THE DISTRICT ESTIM4TES.
Letter of Secretary Sherman.


a letter transmitting the estimates Secretary
Sherman says:
"SR: AS required by section Of the act .'pro-
viding permanent form of government for the
District Of Columbia" approved June II, 1878,
GO Stat, 1887 have the honor to transmit here
with through the medium OF the Commission
ers OF the District Of Columbia, the estimates of
appropriations required for the service of the
government Of the District OF Columbia for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1881, as originally
submitted by the commissioners, together with
detailed statement OF the amounts approved
by me, and the fund or purpose to which each
item belongs. as follows:
improvements and repairs, to be expended as
may be directed by Congress, S64S $50. For Or
dinary care OF Benning's, Anacostia, and Chain
bridges; replankfng and painting Anacostia
bridge; repairs to NJ street bridge, Sl1 800. For
maintaining institutions Of charity, reforma-
tories, and prisons: Washington Asylum, s3s, 200;
Georgetown AlmshOuse, 81 800; Government
Hospital for the Insane, 500, ,46O transportation
Of paupers, 81 500: Reform school, $25, 600; relief
OF the poor, $15,000-in all SITS, 1850. For engi-
neertng, maintenance and general repairs OF
the Washington Aqueduct, $4,000. For general
salaries of auditor and cOmptrOller's Office,
SIS, ,400 salaries Of old records division, 81 100;
salaries OF special assessment division, 81 200;
salaries OF treasurer and assessors Office, s1s5O0;
salaries of collectors office, $1,000; salaries of
sinking fund Office, $2.4OO; salary Of coroner,
$4,000; salaries and rent Of attorneys Office,
IL Of
office, 81 ,621 salaries of divisions Of streets,
alleys, and county roads, S. 900; salaries of in
spector Of gas and meters, 8, 600; salary Of har
OF weights ana measures $50; salaries of engi-
neers Office, s29,o5o; contingent expenses OF
District offices, 81 ,o3s1in all sl5s, POI.
mission, and street lamps, s2ss, ,755; for public
schools, $400, for Metropolitan police, $780,,
OOO; for fire department and fire alarm, S105 900;
all sls,93s; for markets, s10,375; for miscellane-
Gus expenses, $s0,300; for health department,
s2l ,06O; for interest and sinking fund: interest
and sinking fund on the funded debt, exclusive
Of water bonds 81, ,l55, ,5s3.55; amount necessary
to pay principal and interest of the Lnth1cum
loan, S42, 400; outstanding coupons upon city of
Of Congress, approved July 9th, 1868, $40
in all S1,19s,O73.55; total, s., ,434, ,312.55:
These estimates are In excess of those submit
ted by the Commissioners in the sum of sl1s,9 900,
as follows: Government hospital for the insane,
SGT, ,46O principal and interest OF the Lfnthicum
loan, 81, 400; outstanding coupons 500; error In
extension, engineers office, $40. They are di-
mintshed to corresponding amount in the fol-
lowing items: improvement and repairs, s65 ,050;
health department, s., $40; contingent expenses
not otherwise sufficiently provided for, $4,000;
81, ,66S.14, made up OF the following items OF def
cheney for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1879,
which should be submitted in separate esti-
mate: Government hospital for insane, $4S4.S0;
health department., $1.1s3.s4.
The act of June II, 1873, herein referred to,
contemplates that the Commissioners shall
streets and avenues which ought to be improved
and repaired, stating the nature of the work
proposed, and the estimated cost thereof, and in
making the appropriation Congress should
specify the places where the money ought to be
expended.
The estimates submitted by the Commission
ers do not show in such detail as seems to be
required by the act In question the work pro-
posed to be undertaken by them under the gen
eral head OF improvements and repairs and 1t
is suggested that they be required to furnish
such statement to Congress
1t will be observed that the item for expenses
OF INDECENT District patients at the Government
Hospital for the Insane is much larger than the
sum estimated by the Commissioners. In ar
irving at this amount, the figures OF W.W.God-
ding, NJ. D., superintendent of the hospital.
have been adopted, which, it Is believed, repre-
while that OF the Commissioners represent only
one-half (See appendix "A"l.
Under the head Of public schoals there Is esti-
mated for salaries OF superintendents, teach
ers. jaDitors, and sweeps, including additional
teachers, and increase of teachers pay for
continuous service, S3OS, 600. This does not seem
such M an itemized statement and estimate as the
law contemplates. The Commissioners have
been requested to furnish the details of this
estimate, but have omitted to do so.
The act Of June Il: 1878, already referred to,
abolished the Eoard of health of the District OF
Columbia, and provides in lieu thereof for a
health officer and a reasonable number of sani-
taIy M inspectors, not to exceed six. 1t also pro-
reasonable number Of clerks; but that no
greater number shall be appointed, and no
more persons shall be employed under such
and the appropriation shall justify. 1t further
provides that the salary Of the health officer
shall be three thousand dollars per annum and
the salary OF the sanitary inspectors shall not
exceed the sum Of one thousand two hundred
dollars per annum each; and the salary of the
clerks and other assistants Of the health officer
seven thousand dollars" In view of this pro-
vision of law, am unable to approve any esti-
mate Tor employees under the health officer
which contemplates possible expenditure in
excess of the sum which that act authorizes.
The estimate of 81, $50 for contingent expenses
is approved. with the suggestion, however, that
the words ''laborers under pound-master" be
stricken out
By the act Of the legislative assembly of the
District OF Columbia, approved July 20, 1871 the
governor was authorized to issue the bonds
Known as the Water-stock bonds, and by by section
6 OF said act there Is ''Set apart, pledged and
appropriated out Of the water fund" such sum
as as may be necessary to pay the interest on said
lars to be set apart annually for the payment of
said bonds by their gradual redemption.
Under the terms OF this law the United States
are not properly chargeable with fifty per centum
OF the interest accrutng on these bonds; but it Is
believed that it would be better for the interests
OF the District If estimates were required to be
made FOR these In like manner as for other items
OF expenditure. would therefore recommend
to Congress that the law governing the case be
SO mod11ed as to meet this requirement. Atten-
the letter and estimate of the Treasurer of the
United States, eX-OfficiO commissioner OF the
District sinking fund. (See Appendix marked
"B.D
The Commissioners have been written to for
information regarding the nature of expendi-
lures contemplated under the item for ''Gen-
eral contingent expenses OF the District of Co
lumbia not otherwise sufficiently provided for
and Temporary employees not to exceed $4,000,
the excess to be used In replacing rotten wood
pavements $50, Co.," and they nave so far failed
to furnish any reply to the inquiry.
Estimates for contingent expenses have been
approved as follows:
For district offices, $21 ,03S; current work Of
streets, alleys, and county roads, including la
Dor, cart-h1re, materials, inspection, and mis-
@ cenaneous items. $50 900. parking commission,
$l3 400: public schools, $25.000 Metropolitan po-
nee $6 469; f1re department, s21 ,76O; courts, g.
SOO markets, 1850; miscellaneous, Sc, ,79S07;
health department, s., $50; In all $195, $780,
AS a very liberal contingent fund is thus pro-
v1ded f0r, am constrained to withhold my ap-
proyal OF the item OF $50, 600 above referred to.
statement of the estimated revenues of the
District OF Columbia for the next fiscal year has
Deen submitted by the Commissioners, and is
printed In appendix
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE ESTIMATES UNDER EACH
HEAD,
as approved by the Secretary and the amounts
appropriated for the same purpose last year:
improvements and repairs $64S, $50 against $780,
600 last year; constructing repairing and main
tanning bridges, $11, 500 against $40, 200; Wash
lngt0n Asylum, $3S, 200 against S45, ,160 George