Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-10
proving Of great advantage in encouraging invest


improvements. The law provides that In no case
shall the annual tax assessment exceed $50 On
the 500 valuation OF city property and 81 per 500
valuation on agricultural lands Thus the property
holder knows exactly what he has to expect from
the taxgatherer and is in no fear that his estate
VIII be conflscated or reduced in value by heavy
assessments for special or general Improvements.
forbidding any addition to the present indebted
ness OF the District. Any violation of this section
OF the permanent government act is punishable
Dy imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten
years, and by fine of not exceeding ten thousand
dollars. 1t Will be seen that the guaranty against
oppressive taxation Is ample.
THE LATE ENGINEER COMMISSIONER,
whose recent untimely death all who have had
personal or official relations with him deeply re-
greet was the first ofcer detailed to that position
under the law establishing the permanent form of
government for the District Major w. j. Twining
was an intelligent, efficient and conscientious off,
GER 1t will be fortunate, indeed, for the District
ana country II his successor shall bring the same
qualifications to the discharge OF his varied and
responsible duties, and prove himself as deserving
OF public confidence
word about the machinery OF the District gov
eminent may not be out Of place here. The police,
schools, health, charities, fire, taxation public
works and other branches are under the direct
control OF the Commissioners. The revenues of
the District from all sources required to be de-
posted In the Treasury Of the United States, and
the management OF the District debt is In the
hands OF the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Treasurer OF the United States, who Is ex-off1cio
t6ree OF the sinking fund One Of the
corps OF the army. who is detailed for that duty,
and who Is assisted in the important engineering
work of the District by two other engineer officers
While these officers have the immediate supervis-
ION OF the Improvement Of streets, avenues and
sewers all contracts therefor are required to be
properly advertised and awarded to the lowest re-
SponSible bidders, and made and entered into only
by and with the official unanimous consent OF the
commissioners.
The trustees of public schools serve without
compensation.
Estimates for the expenses Of the District gov
eminent are first prepared by the Commissioners
ana then revised by the Secretary Of the Treasury
before being transmitted to Congress.
SHOULD BE NATIONAL, AS WELL.
clause in the bill under consideration provides
that only one OF the Commissioners need be
resident Of the District when appointed. AS
Congress provides for one-half Of the expenses it
Is thought proper by the committee that the
country at large should, in the discretion OF the
PRESIDENT, be given representation upon the Com
mission. 1t is for the interest OF the District
as well as OF the country that the board should
have national, as well as a local character.
The committee will bear in mind in considering
this bil it differs in one important particular
from loCner regular appropriation bills The
committee on appropriations is limited in the
total amount to be disposed of by the provisions
os sae na act Having
LOT me coming nscal year an equal amount is
added for the governments share of the expenses,
and this gross sum is fixed limit which we cam
not exceed. We do not have the Treasury to
draw on at our discretion, but must appOrtiOn
THIS speclflc amount so as best to meet the wants
OF the different branches Of the District govern
ment.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE DISTRICT.
Coming now to the details of the BILL the COM
mlttee will observe that, apart from the provision
for the District debt, much the largest channel of
expenditure is for the support of public schools
The total appropriation under this head is 1926 O5
OF which sum 1896 1926 goes for the salaries of
teachers and s25 900 for care of school buildings;
500 600 for new buildings, and the remainder for
fuel, rent repairs, eto< 1t has been thought best
by the committee to disregard the classification
and salaries OF teachers In the estimates and to
Slmpry the appropriation under this head by
making 1t In one gross sum, specifying only the
total number of teachers to be employed and the
average salary. This does not increase the sal
aries and grades of teachers, but leaves their
schedule. The schools OF the District, may add
are objects of just pride to the citizens, and are
regarded by the leading educators of the country
as occupying high rank in comparison with those
OF other cities. 1t is the aim OF the District
authorities, and believe the desire of Congress-
that they should reach the highest practicable
standards OF efficiency and excellence, and serve
as models OF the free educational system, which Is
the only safe basis for republican Institutions
THEIR UNPARALLELED GROWTH.
The growth of the public schools in the District
OF Columbia scarcely has parallel in the country
In 1861 the whole number of pupils enrolled for
that year in the public schools did not exceed
s5,OO0; the number OF teachers employed was about
Co. and the annual expense of the schools was less
than s35, COO There were at that time no public
SCHOOLS FOR the cOlOred children of the District
ana none for the white children residing IN the
county. In 1864 public schools were established
1Or the coored children of the District and for the
white children OF the county. The following tables
give the
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND NUMBER OF TEACHERS
EMPLOYED FROM 1872 TO 1881 INCLUSIVE