Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-29

euuueoo IN nvOf VI c8sn Payments TOT laDor,
but one which presents itself most forcibly and
constantly is the fact that among hundreds of L.
borers employed BY the District It frequently
happens that1ess than dozen are Fable to sign
their names. Working In various places and
paid under different appropriations, it 10 not
unusual for one man to receive four OF five
checks for his months pay. The difficulty and
embarrassment of getting himself identified
and his checks indorsed and cashed are 90 great
that he often submits to the discount exacted
by INSCRIPTIONS parsons, and II thus defrauded
Of his just dues The evil and injustice of Q
system which forces the poor sons Of toll to be
cheated of . portion Of their hard-earned
wages are so apparent that 70 state them is to
prove them. "A disbursing officer properly
equipped could also visit the works where
laborers are engaged and pay them in weekly
or semi weekly installmsnts as desired. with.
ont the waste Of time involved in coming to the
Office for payment. whole dny IL now fire.
quently thus consumed, which must be con-
sidered a wrong, whether viewed in its results
as loss TO the individual ora damags 10 the
government s'....
ONE PAYMENT OF TAXES.
Il ID understood that the heads Of the assess-
ment and collection departments, % veil a. the
most experienced aud thoughtful among their
assistants, favor the collection of taxes in one
payments method followed from the founda-
ton of the government until within compare
lively recent period, when the present system
Of paying in two installments was adopted. In
addition to the many and important considera-
tons already advanced in behalf of the change
there are two which suggest themselves to my
mind The first is the prompt settlement Of
the collectors account, "a it would then be
practicable to make a complete and satisfactory
audit within short time after the close of the
collection year. The second consideration
which occurs to me is one of great moment
involving, as it does, the question Of the our
tailment OF our acquisitions for money In the
spring of the year, . season when the work Of
improvement should be prosecuted with vigor
instead of being subject TO partial or total sus-
pension. But for the existence of surplus in
the Treasury OF more than $500 900 at the be-
Alteration should have 80 emphasized its
importance az to leave little room to ques-
ton the wisdom OF the adoption Of the
plan proposed. The law governing our
expenditures expressly provides that the ''Com-
missioners shall not make acquisitions upon
the appropriations from the Treasury of the
United States for larger amount during tho
fiscal year than they make on the APP
preparations arising from the revenue -
Of said District" II. therefore. the whole
amount of taxes we're paid during November 1t
would be known then exactly how much should
be correspondingly advanced by the United
States for the year, and the operations Of the
government would not be liable to Interrupt
ton. Under the present system this is coil-
slant menace, always existing, but never so
fully apparent as now since the surplus of rev.
enue which had been to our credit for some
years past has been exhausted by the unusual
appropriations made out of the general fund
for the new water main and the geological
park. am led to make this statement by the
fact that in February last the question of cut
ting down our monthly acquisitions was seri-
ously considered in the treasury on the ground
that the May collections might not equal our
estimates and there would be danger of violat-
ing the law above quoted by making advances
beyond the amount we might receive.
1t was finally decided to take no nc ton in this
direction. and as our collections during the
month of May realized our estimates We were
fortunately enabled to meet all our obligations
under the appropriations. II. however, this
uncertainty existed in the last fiscal year
which, as already Stated, opened with half a
million surplus, there is grave cause for ap-
prehension in the present, which was credited
at Its commencement with Incorporated
cash balance of barely Sl05.5l2.53. l offer
these suggestions to the end that II, after con-
sideratiOn, the twO-installm0nt plan be still re-
tentiOn may at least be drawn to the necessity
of placing the finances of the District govern
ment upon such a stable basis that no doubt
can arise Us to its ability to meet its current
obligations whether in respect of salaries. the
interest and sinking fund or important public
improvements.
THE WORK OF THE OFFICE.
Seven thousand five hundred and four
0,504) claims have been audited during the
year, to pay which has required the drawing of
thirty-two thousand one hundred and thirty
49,, 1907 checks. 1t gives me pleasure to bear
testimony to the value and efficiency Of the
services rendered by the gentlemen associated
with me in the work of the Office. Their ready
compliance with every demand of duty, in
some instances at much personal sacrifice,
entities them to the highest commentator.