Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-01
The District E,tima,eS.
CHANGES MADE BY THE SECRETARY OF r

The District Estimates.
CHANGES MADE BY THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY.
The Secretary OF the Treasury has returned
TO the District Commissioners the estimat es
submitted by them for the expenses OF the
District Of Columbia for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1887, with his approval, but with GER
tain changes. The Secretary says:
These estimates differ from those submitted
by the commissioners in respect 70 the follow
Iacredse.-Government Hospita, for the In
sane, $50 $50; Reform School, Sc, 5419; expenses
OF aI the JAIL. s6o 600; Linthicum loan, sio,eOc.
Dec1ease.-Miscellaneou expenses OF Offices
$3.50: street lamps. $1,000; health department,
g. l4o; work on sundry avenues and streets
The reasons for the foregoing changes In the
estimates submitted by the Commissioners may
be stated as follows: The increase OF s59 $50
10 the estimate for the Government Hospital
for the insane is based upon a report made by
the superintendent OF the hospital, which is
transm1tted hereW 18th, as an appendix TO the
estimates. The increase OF Sc 70 fn the es-
innate for the Reform school is based upon
report made by the president of the board OF
trustees, which also accompanies the estimates
as al appendix. The estimate OF 500 GOO for
expenses OF the District jail, Is based upon the
cost OF maintaining said institution during the
last fiscal year, and Is included In these esi-
mates for the reason that the act establishing a
permanent form OF government for the District
OF Columbia clearly requires that the cost OF
maintaining. the jail shall be Included In the
the maintenance OF all public institutions or
Charity, reformatorieS. and prisons belonging TO
or controlled, wholly or In part, by the District
OF Columbia, and which are now BY law sup
ported wholly or In part, by the United States
or the District of Columbia. An estimate of
$4,000, for payment OF the Linthicum loan, has
been added to the estimates submitted by the
Commissioners. Bonds issued by the District
loan are now selling In the market at pre-
mium and 1t is believed that the best interests
of the District will be subserved by the prompt
payment of this debt.
The reduction OF $3.50 in the estimate for mis-
cellaneous expenses Of the District Offices is
made so that the estimate may conform TO the
amount appropriated for the same purpose for
the current fiscal year. Congress- In making
appropriations for lighting the Executive Man
sion and public grounds for the fiscal year 1889,
provided that 60 more than twenty-five dollars
shall be paid per lamp for gas, and that, in case
contract cannot be made at that rate author
lily is given TO substitute other Illuminating ma
terlal. 1t Is believed that IL {. like provision is
adopted for the District of Columbia. a saving
OF at least 81 GOO can be effected In the cost or
street lamps The estimate for this object has
~ geen 3 redreea 70 tnaI extent Inc
in the sum OF Sc, 40, In order that the estimate
for employes under the health officer may not
exceed the amount which the act OF June H.
1s1S authorizes TO be expended for that pur-
pose.
The remaining reduction OF $l5l, ,3l4l9 In the
estimates for improvements Of sundry avenues
and streets Is rendered necessary to enable the
Secretary to limit the total OF the estimates to
an amount which will equal the revenue it is
estimated by the Commissioners will be derived
by the District from all sources during the year,
and like amount to be appropriated by Con-
gresS as the prOportiODate share OF the United
states towards defraying the general expenses
OF the District. Should Congress, however de-
eide that the expenses OF maintaining the Dis
tLct jail are not a proper charge against the
District, or that the Increase recommended for
the government hospital for insane and reform
school is not advisable, the amount to be ap
piled to the improvement OF streets would re
main substantially the same as recommended
Dy the commissioners, and would meet the ap-
proyal or this department.. This recommenda-
tion is In accordance with the views heretofore
expressed by the Secretary. that the true
method to be adopted in regard to improve
mepts in the District is to apply to that pur-
pose the surplus revenue available after ali ne
ceSsary OBJECTS OF expenditure are provided for.
IL Is the purpose or the Secretary, in accord
ance with the recommendation OF the first con
tToller, TO call the attention OF Congress to the
manner In which the assessment and collection
OF taxes and other revenues are at present made
In the District, and to the duties required OF the
treasurer and assessor and OF the collector I'm
connection Herewith. IL appears that the
treasurer and assessor, as assessor, does no.
turn over his books to the collector upon the
completion or the assessment, but retains them
in his possession. making out the bills for taxes
as they are called for by the taxpayers who
present them to the collector, and paw the
amount thereof to him. The collector paws
over daily to the treasurer and assessor as
treasurer the amounts thus collected, taking
his receipt for the same The treasurer him.
SELF 1t would appear, also collects a portion OF
the revenues. such as those received for build
Ing permits. market-rentS, zines in the police
court, &c, and deposits the same together with
the sums received from the collector with the
treasurer OF the United states, Is required by
law.
1t would thus seem that the Office OF trea.
surer OF the District is an unnecessary one and
that the collector should make all collections
and deposit them daily with the Treasurer or
the United States; that the assessment books
should De made up by the assessor and de
livered to the collector before the first halt OF
The yearly taxes becomes due; that the colec-
tor should be required TO receipt for the amount
OF taxes shown by the books Of the assessor.
ana should be charged Herewith in his account:
tnat all taX-bills should be made out In the
Collectors Office, and that he should be held
responsible, under his bond. for all taxes ex-
ceRt sucn as he may not have been able TO
coliect a1ter FULLY complying with the reouire-
ments OF law. These changes would neces-
sarliy involve redistribution OF the force
allowed for the offices OF the assessor and col
lector, and IT is believed that reduction in the
numper OF those employed under the present
system could be accomplished.
Very respectfully, JOHN SHERMAN. Sec,y.