National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-12-01
Annual Report of the Commissioners.

The District Commissioners have completed aud
transmitted their annual report TO the President,
from which the following synopsis is made:
The receipts into the treasury Of the District of
Columbia from ali sources for the wear ending SOth
June, 1879 were s3lG7 GG5.j2. The expenditures
Oi7G5. wa ''''' '''''' "''' ''''''
Since July |, 1875, there has been total reduc.
ton of Slls,S26G7 in the principal of the District
bonded debt, and n total reduction OF SS30lI in
the annual interest thereon.
Tho Commissioners recommend that action be
taken in the matter of the unhIndcd debt of the
District, on the basis Of payment In 3.Gj bonds.
The total receipts OF general taxes under the act
OF SS o. Sgs z ls tr3 Sc assafe a 20
paid in drawback certificates leaving in Orfear on
The LIST of November, 1919. 81 202,095.47.
They recommend that the Commissioners be
authorized to appoint eight suitable persons with
the assessor Us presiding officer who shnll consti-
tute permanent board OF review to hear all com.
plants. and 10 revise, correct and equalize all
| assessments which, IN their judgment may require
correction. The revision of assessments for special
Improvements, directed BY acts Of Congress, APP.
proved June l9 1873. and June y, 1879, has been
pushed with all the force thai could be used effect.
| lively. but Is not yet completed.
| From July TO october |. 1870 the payments on
| account of special assessments have been Sl2O.
3Sg.94. There are eight per cent. certificates now
outstanding s6Sil50 ON which the interest csti-
Inemt Of which all special assessments EXCEPT those
for which lines are held by third parties, are
| pledged
The unpaid assessments thus pledged. less draw.
backs issued on account of reyisions, amount to
| 81 Oss, j96,06,
| The code of laws for the District have been pre-
| pared and will be presented TO Congress
| Attention is called to the railroad stations within
the city limits and near business centres, and their
| removal called for,
The necessity is shown Of the importance of
| adopting, AZ soon as may be, general and com.
pTchcnsive plan for the location of street railways,
\ to which existing companies should be required 10
conform in any extension oftheir lines which may
become necessary for the public accommodation.
The subject OF the Potomac river front is brought
MIA hNF
| which the flats can be removed and The com
mercal interests Of the city advanced The cost
ofthc improvement l. estimated at sl,SOOOo0
The report gives in brief the substance Of the re.
ports Of Engineers lIoxie and Greene, the public
school trustees, commissioner OF the Washington
Asylum and other officials and approves the rec
concentrations made in them.
| In their last report the Commissioners recon-
mcnded that sufficient sum TO entirely relay the
| impossible pavements of the city should be pro-
yided at once by direct appropriation or otherwise:
| This recommendation did not meet the approval
of Congress, and 1t simply remains to accomplish
the work as the surplus revenues VIII permit I'M
der these circumstances people residing upon
streets paved with wood will be- in many cases
compelled TO endure them for The next Two years
| resurvey OF the District is recommended, also
the purchasing Of the Tennallytown toll-road.
| II is recommended that cOrOners jury consist Of
six persons aud no fees be allowed
| They call attention TO the great need for addi-
tional school buildings and approve the suggestion
of the trustees that the school fund Of SIOG3Oi9
now invested In 1853 District Of Columbia bonds bC
devoted to The erection Of additional school houses
aud that the lots in square numbered iiG, pur
chased by The District for market be utilized II
the same way. These lots. since the erection by
private enterprise Of spacious market.house OF
square numbered SO are not required for the pur
pose intended, and the Commissioners are of TIN
opinion that the fund ana lots named could b.
, most economically aud benehcialy used 10 supply
IN part, the urgent need OF additional schoo
buildings.
They recommend that the Commissioners b
. authorized 10 appoint a board, consisting Of hy
citizens Of recognized integrity and intelligence
| TO serve without compensation who, subject " til
| control OF the Commissioners shall have powe
and whose duty It shOll be, TO visit inspect an
supervise all charitable, reformatory and pena
ms tiludons supported in whole or III part by tn
District Of Columbia, and under whose supervsio
aud direction also all moneys for the relief OF III
ipoor may be expended. The collections for tn
fiscal year were 81 Gl0 327 90. They call attentio
10 the imprscliCsblity Of enforcing collections
Z the dog tax under tho present law. since the d.
cisou OF the judge Of the Police court that o.
fonders under IL not liable 10 criminal acton
and 10 the necessity Of further legislation 70 max
the law effective az the collections under II hay
been greatly decreased by the influence Of that d
b CisOn.
The recommendation that provision be made f
+ disabled fremen Is renewed; also, that tho polio
force be increased, and some arrangement be mac
for taking care OF the inhrm and disabled polio
men.
.FH