Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-20

in Washingtss.
Elsewhere in TIE STAR Is printed an inter-
new with an Official intimately acquainted with
the financial concerns Of the District, who ia
vors the application Of the District surplus to
the payment of the water debt By the pres
ent law this debt is to be paid in twenty-five
equal annual installments with interest at three
per cent. and by the water-takers. By the pro-
posed law nearly the entire debt would be ex-
tinguished at once, and by the general tax
payers. The suggestion Of the substi-
tuition Of taxpayers for water-takers Is
the citizens to pay the debt is not
% Questionable as the requirement
that the whole amount should be paid by the
taxpayers of the present instead of being shared
with the taxpayers Of the future. The owners
of suburban and unimproved property, who
pay taxes and do not take water, might enter q
plea Of seeming injustice against the free
water bill, which proposes that they share the
current expenses Of supplying water to present
users, but they cannot urge the same objection
against proposition that they pay part Of
the expenses arising from the construction
and extension of q general system Of water
works, which increase the value of all property
in Washington and its vicinity and will furnish
abundant water for convenient use by
the unimproved and suburban sections when
they are converted into city lots. The slight
injustice to . part of the community Of the
plan proposed by the free water bill may be
the less of two evils. But however that may
be, there 10 clearly no improperly in requir-
ing the whole community to meet the cost of an
improvementof which every citizen either re-
csives or will receive the benefit. The injustice
in applying the surplus to the payment Of the
water debt IL found, however, in the fact that
the taxpayers Of the present, who reap no ben
eAts from the uncompleted extension, are re-
quired to extinguish the debt of the taxpay-
ers of the future, who will enjoy these benefits
The existence of q District surplus means
that Congress has raised from the taxpayers,
by the rate Of taxation which il has fixed,
larger amount Of money than it has directed
the Commissioners to expend in supplying the
current needs of the city and in its general i'm
provement The surplus can be prevented by
reducing the rate Of taxation, or by appropri-
ating wisely for the development of the Dis
trict all the money raised from the taxpayers
The former course is not advisable at present
The District needs every year the expenditure
for its benefit Of every cent of money raised
and placed to its credit. The surplus is caused
by the failure Of Congress to provide for
this necessary and wise expenditure.
Some slight excess of receipts over
authorized expenditures may be expected
each year, since the exact amount of receipts is
unknown when the expenditures are author
lied, and IL il necessary 10 be ON the safe side
in appropriating, but such . surplus should be
treated a. assets Of the District in the succeed
ing year, and no accumulation Of SURPRISES
- I'll a
choice in the matter is between permitting its
million dollars Of surplus raised from present
taxpayers and needed for present uses to re-
main idle and unused In the treasury, and
applying 1t to the payment Of an interest-draw-
ing debt Of future taxpayers, who will get the
water which the debt represents, the
latter alternative would be chosen. 1t
IL better to use the money for the
advantage Of future taxpayers than not to use
it at all. But the choice should not be thus
limited. The million dollars should be spent
for the benefit of the present city and the pres
emit taxpayers, who contributed it Congress
should exercise wise judgment in determin-
ing how the money should be appropriated.
Care should be taken that it is not wasted or
sunk in foolish schemes. But it should be ap-
Piled at once to the material development Of
its benefit in addition to the current annual re-
eeipss from taxation and contribution by the
government The money can be wisely ex-
pended in many ways. The annual wrangle
over street appropriations might be decreased
in violence by the application of the million
dollars upon a comprehensive plan of improve
ments. The sidewalks are in acondition which
calls for q large expenditure. Other great
needs of the city are apparent and urgent.
In view of the decision in favor of a
change in the politics Of the national admin
istration, the question Of the relations Of
the United States with Canada naturally is re-
vived The modus vivendi now in operation
cannot be indefinitely prolonged, and, sooner
or later, the terms Of intercourse between the
two countries must be defined. Some form Of
union seems inevitable, unless we are content
to allow the present friction to continue till 1t
has driven Us into war. The sentiment of the
various publicists who have been consulted is
divided between the ideas Of commercial and
Of political union. The latter could take
place, OF course, only by voluntary ces-
sion or by purchase; and Canadian loyalty
to the crown, stretched as 1t may be at
times to extreme attenuation, seems still
strong enough to prevent a transfer except as the
result of serious internal struggle. England,
ON the other hand, has too exalted faith IN
her colonial system TO let any large and valu-
able part Of il go for . mere money considera-
ton Canada now is practically independent
OF Great Britain. She levies duties ON British
goods. and her income from taxation Is reserved
for her own use. But she enjoys, as only
loyal dependency can enjoy. such bonds to the