Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28

the District Commissioners Office and enters the
tapitoi through the old pneumatic tube. Tie WORK
vision CT Mr.. j. J. Burrows. IN charge OF
street repairs, ana his corps OF worklnen.
Annual Report Of the District Commits
siOnerS.
THEIR RECAPITTLATIoSs AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The annual report Of the District Commissioners
submitted to the President to-day. contains a
recapituation Of facts and figures concerning the
administration OF public affairs in the District
during the last fiscal year, which have already been
given 10 the public in the reports Of the officers at
the head OF the various departments of the District
government. The total available revenues for
the year We're s4,1Si,376.23, and the expenditures
s.. ~. 1874.
The general arrears Of alta1eshas been reduced
sls.f}S IN amount during the year Yet there is
sun ute nearly three-quarters OF a million Of Old
taxes. Reference IS made to the completion OF The
labors OF the board OF assessors in adjusting the
relative values OF real estate In the Dstr obpl
ating. the report says the entirely Justahle COM
plants OF the unfairnesS of adhering TO
port says that among the payers OF per-
senal taxes in the District are TO be found a
net residents and who are sarily embarrassed
In determining what property Of theirs is taxable
here and what Is taxable elsewhere. An
the vexaiious and unjust features pertaining
in general TO personil taxation are aggra7
waited IN the District Of Columbia. So large a pro
portion OF the population of Washington are but
temporary residents that the imposition OF a per
sonal tax Is lnanifesty unjust to those permanent
Established here and compes the latter to submit
to an inp0St unfairly distributed. from which the
many escape and of which the few Dear the bur-
den.
The Commissioners are Of OPINION that the power
TO dispense with personal taxation altogether or 10
grade 1t to reduced percentage, should be accorded
TO them whenever. In their judgment the financial
SITUATION OF The District government shall permit
either to be done.
The aggregate collection on account of special
assessment taxes was Sis9.a5.ti the total amount
OIL Standing July 1883. revised being 1853 IlG S.
with accrued interest, estimated at s6GO0A0 OF the
former amount So}5 9t2 10 is charge bic against
street railroad eomoahes. The Commissioners be-
leve that the reductions made in the revision OF
these special assessments have eliminated every
feature OF The original assessments affcrding any
just cause OF complaint. aud that any further re-
duction must seriously impCril the redemption of
the out standing per cent certificates OF Indebted
hess impair the value OF the outstanding lien Ger
1iiica'fS, and ultimately neceSSitate cali upon the
current revenues OF the District tor the final re-
demDtlon or these liens. The Commissioners re-
commend legislation which will tend to enforce
prompt settlement OF these outstanding special
assessment taxes, with interest in full.
They ask that tie existing license laws be so
ainended as to embrace such pursuits and occupa-
tons as directly require tie supervision OF the
police ard sanitary authorities, and also include
others en'aiiing special charge ami expense. The
proposed method embracing IL its details largely
increased license tax upon the liquor traffic would
gfe2tiN augment The aggregate receipts from cen-
St1S he provisions OF the license law applying TO
The regulation ana control Of the wholesale and
retail liquor Traffic are defective and permit of
sion.
They ask for authority to appoint an inspector Of
charities, upon whose recommendation moneys APP
piciitat"d Tor charities may be paid withheld.
he report urges Increased appropriation for the
Industrial Uolae School, and that provision be
made lcr purchasing the tax liens outstanding
against the Columbia hospital property. The vaIf-
Gus recommendations OF tie intendent Of the Wash
Mgfon Asylum are approved.
II IS considered desirable to continue the poiicy
all rented premises can be dispensed with. The
Commit Sione's approve the Recommendation of the
Inaiorof police, that higher number OF police be
provided Tor.
II is suggested that defects in the law supposed
to suppress sunday traffic should be died and
the law permitting disCrderly and suspected per-
son, To avoid punishment by giving bond Tor $50
should be modified. Referring to The advertising
OF lottery companies which, the report SAYS '.ioId
ny ca,, , t NE c9pital the Comilisslonels
1slation that will e:fectually suppress the adveI
ti,ing Of and traffic In lotteries policy games gilt
enterprises and all other schemes and vocati0ns
declared 10y the statute TO he criminal.
Otbai recommendations OF the MAJOR OF police re-
gardps pawnbcokers, &c, are approved II is sug-
geSt'd that power TO Change and amend the ori-
nances OF the former corporation Of The District
and OF the legislative assembly solely wherein they
relate to police. health ard IRE regulations, and
nol directly enacted by Congress. would eGab,e the
commissioners to remedy Dlany minor evils. It is
Tecolc ildec that some provision be made for any
ffelG"n Nnc nay become permanently disabled by
accidents at ireS. Legislation Is asked fol con
Ief upon the District authorities such control OF
the movements of shipping inside OF the shin chan
nel as viii facilitate tie maritime movement of tie
port c. y ashinston.
They suggest that the District should be allowed
TO impose tax upon the Chesapeake i Ohio canal
sufficient f.. pay for the work OF maintaining
bridges &c, rendered necessary by its existence
referring &C tie embarrassment il. the WORK Oh the
bHIndir} street sewer, caused by the decision of
TIE nt, controller, that a contract involving a
future appropriation was Illegal. it is recon
mcnled 'hat the SUM Of $500, heretofore appro-
ptsat't for the last fiscal year, and Which Is now
"iLhh'i Htdei the opinion OF the first controller.
u appropriated 1T tho earliest date possible and
Chat congress ratiIy the contract declared Illegal
BY tie controller.
The schedule of street improvements submitted
10 IN Consideration OF Congress for the ac@l year
ending .iie 50 1S>5. aggregates si09 3D., L. divided
as follows. Replacement OF wooden pavclnents,
Slj9.ai3:A: replacement Of rough stone pavcmants,
$500 ~: uew pavenents, grading and regulating,
So. ,gH o.. table Is submitted showing that
during the last six fiscal years SeVenty-ttlree per
cent Of the expenditures for street improvements
have been made in the northwest section OF the
city. per cent IL the southwest, II per cent In the
S,uthelSt, and 2 PER cent III the northeast. The
division proposed for the next fiscal year alotS 80
per cent TO the northwest, ii per cent TO the south
west y per cent 20 the southeast, and Is per cent
T.. the DGrtheaSi.
law requiring street lamps to be lighted 1900
I.JllS per annllm IS recommended. and the passage
u Senator ingalls, bill to regulate steam railways
Is urged.