Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-02

The Secretary OF the Treasury's letter Of esti-
mates reached the House IN printed form yester.
day. The total estimate for the District Of Cclur-
Ola for the ensuing year, including the water
department. Is s. -, against es $50 81 for
the closing year. The estimates are practically
unchanged nom the form presented by the District
Commissioners, the Secretary noting that there
many Items In the estimates the propriety and
amount Of which have not beer considered, because
they seemed TO be proper subjects for the oeterm-
nation OF Congress The interest and sinking fund
yided in the act OF july 18TH 1852 is reduced s6oio
oelow the commissioners estimates. 70 agree vita
the estimates or the Treasurer OF the United States
as Sinking-fund commissioner OF the District
The estimate for salaries and contingent expenses
Is 81 ,2A-the same as last year That for the as
for the collectors ONCE is sl7,SOo-ssrne as last
year.
CHIEF OF THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DIVISION
loot note by the Secretary states that for some
years past payments have been made at the rate
OF N,ac0 per annum to one and the same person,
who has been carried on the rolls as a temporary
clerk in either the assessors or collectors ONCE,
special assessment division. II IL is the Intention
OF congress that chief OF special assessment di-
xlsloa should De regularly employed, would be,
IN the opinion OF the Secretary better TO make Spe
cia provisions for his salary The estimate for the
auditors oice Is $l6.50o, about SiA3 90 less than
ss7ia, an increase Of 500. That for the sinking
fund Office is s27o0 for the coroners once g. 50n
for the engineers office $55l90, against $50 last
year: Miscellaneous expenses, District Offices and
TUE SURVEYORS SALARY.
Under the engineers ONCE the Commissioners
estimate s. 900 for salary or surveyor OF the Dis
trict. With relation to this the Secretary says:
1.-THE foregoing estimates omit the item of 5000
for salary OF the surveyor OF tn District OF coIu-
ba. and the provision requiring the surveyor to
furnish bis own assistant for feid-wo ann to
I.aV q vf1nh nv lnv fs.f lfrdtn
which are contained In the estimates OF the Com
misstoners TOR the engineers Once. The Law pre-
sSe Sn as 70 q n 0s me surveyor Or
gress OF June 90 1874, as stat, liz, sec. g. prohibits
the payment Of any salary or compensation to
him, or any OF bis subordinates, except such fees
for special services as SLOWED by law. II the
appropriation should be made and the provision be-
come law. the United states would have to pay
one-han Of the surveyors salary, and would be
also required 10 appropriate an additional sum
equal 10 the amount OF fees collected A similar
their estimates Of last year, but Congress refused
10 approve IT, In the absence or any explanation
as to why the change IL again proposed and In
view or the action or Congress, this department
cannot recommend the approval OF this Item and
provision. II is recommended that the Commits
s Sc se ec required 70 SPECIFY pareuary what
horses and vehicles at the public expense
For improvements and repai,s an estimate OF
year. In foot note the SECRETARY says: 1.-The es-
tmated OF the work on the avenues and streets
UaUleQ III TIE ScQ60ule The tQl0InlS-
sloners Is In excess OF the item herein for that pur
pose. II Is recommended that Congress, In making
the appropriations, state the order In which the
work shall be done"
TEE COMMISSIONERS AND THE BRIDGES,
The estimate for constructing and repairing
bridges is s156oo against s. 500 last year. With
laton TO this item note says: "Tbe items con-
taned herein for replanking and repaintlng Ana
costa bridge. and for draw-Eeepers and bridge,
keeper at Anacostia, Benning's and Chain bridges
are not ia the estimates OF the Commissioners
The act OF July II. 1878, providing q p1ma-
I OF for Inc District
estimates TO show In detail the cost OF con-
struct1ng. repairing, and maintaining all bridges
authorized by law across the Potomac river Within
the District OF Columbia and also ali other streams
Ia said District. On Stat. i04.) The items added
are part OF the cost OF maintaining and repairing
the bridges referred tC. and should hs &c been here
tofore Included 10 the District estimates. They
are based IN the estimates or the War department
authorities, who have control and supervision OF
said bridges The item OF 5000 in the estlmates
OF the Commissioners for repairing and maintain.
Ing bridges under their contro is largely in excess
OF the usual estimate and appropriation for that
purpose but no explanation Is furnished as to the
Increase, nor does the estimate contain such de-
1 5asa sS.sent as inc law REQUIRES IL Is submit
may be deemed adv1Sabie.n
The estimate for engineering, maintaining and
repairing the washington aqueduct, and the con-
structlon or an overflow at the receiving reservoir
Is $4,000, an increase OF 5000 over tbs Commits
sioners' estimate, which did not contain the last
s6s6o is made an increase Of S,S go over Last YEAR
For the reform school an estimate is made OF
e36 $40 against S32sl6 last year; and for govern.
TIE INSANE ASYLUM.
For the government hospital for the insane
$li9250 Is estimated By the Secretary. With rela-
ton TO this last ITEM the Secretary says -" The
law requires the District of Columbia TO pay one
hai OF me expense OF the INDECENT insane patients
page 46l, par III, and the estimate should there
fore be for the total cost OF supporting such pa
TENTS The amount herein recommended is based
upon the estimate OF DR.. Godding, superintendent
OF the hospital and Is s6e Sl4 In excess OF the Com
An estimate Is made OF 4.G0 increase OF 81 Goo
Tor the relief Of the poor, for the Columbia
&ls,5Oo for street sweeping and cleaning, sI4s0eo,
an Increase Of 10000 over last year: for the bark
commission, $4,000 Is estimated; for street-lamps,
$4,000, against S95, $50 last year An estimate OF
&a5l2So is made for the police department, an in
crease cree cove over last year OF $3.50 patrol wagon
allowed The estimate for the IRE department is
cut down from $40 SSs6l last year TO STA 800 A
note says that IN the opinion or the department.
81 the IRE 'fs esene
telephone service is cut down from last year
to sl5.44o The courts are cut down about 81 500
Inmates are increased from s472,$ao last year to
$4e0, $50 The estimates for school buildings Is
$500 less than last year.
MATES.
With relation to the Commissioners estimates
for the schools the Secretary says: 1.-THE estimate
OF the Commissioners for expenses OF public
schools does not contain such San itemized state
ment and estimate as the act OF June IL 1873 Geo
Stat. 1O4>, seems to require The number of
teachers or anitos Is not shown, nor is there any
Information furnished to the salaries ft IS in
tended 10 pay. The estimate for new buildings
does not show how many buildings II Is proposed 10
erect where they are to be located or the cost of
each The law requires that the money appro-
priated each year for school purposes shall be d.
vded between the white and oOlored schools Ia the
proportion that the number OF white children in
the District between the ages OF six and seventeen
years bears TO the number OF colored children be-
tween those ages tsectionS PSI and &c., Revised
Statutes, d. CO The department has asked in
connection with the settlement OF the COMMISSION.
erS' accounts, for statements showing the amount
70 which each class OF schools was entitled and
the expenditures on behalf OF each but no such
statements have been furnished. 1t Is suggested
that SO long as the present law remains I'm iorce IL
would be better II the estimates and approprta-
tons should show the amount to be expended for
each class Of schools"
An estimate OF $40 800 is made under the head OF
miscellaneous expenses.
THE REDUCTION IN TEE HEALTH DEPARTMENT Rsrr-
NATR.
The health department estimate is $1,000. a Ne
duction from $A,1l0 In explanation OF this the
Secretary says: 1.-The estimate OF the Commits
sioners is reduced In the sum OF $3.50, 40 as to
bring the items for clerks and other assistants 10
the health officer within the limit prescrfbed nv
the act OF June H. 1875 eco Stat, l07 sec l 1t is
recommended that the appropriation for cler.s and
other assistants TO the health officer be made I'm
detail, the same as 10 other branches OF the ser