Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-15

annual income twenty pounds annual ex
penditure nineteen nineteen six, result happl
expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, re.
suit misery. WILKINS MIcAwBER.
The District is now IN the position financially
to profit by the Micawber maxims, and it il
figuring hard to keep its expenditures Jus,
within its income and at least q hairs breadth
on the right side of the line which separates
financial happiness from financial misery.
To develop with the steady progress
that the national capital should ex-
hibit and at the same time to live comforta-
bly, within its income is Washington's problem.
1t seems to be necessary either to discover
some items Of expenditure which can be de-
creased without public injury or to devise some
lair method OF increasing the revenue, or per-
haps TO do both. In CHANGING at the outlays Of
tho District one is impressed by the fact that
over a million dollars annually Of its revenues
are Withdrawn from application to present
needs and applied on the interest and sinking
fund OF the heavy Indebtedness incurred in
building up the capital theoretically
the nation in the beginning undertook
to develop the capital at its own
expense, then il threw practically the entire
burden OF capital building upon the feeble
population Of the city, and finally in 1878 it
acknowledged its obligation to pay one-half.
Az justice requires tho nation now to meet this
obligation. so both justice and consistency re-
quire q corresponding contribution for the
period of neglect prior to 1873 and the REIN
bursement of the District for expenditures
beyond its proportion during this period. This
reimbursement, which was recommended in
Congress as far back as 1885 in Senator South
ards time. would almost cancel the
present Indebtedness, and release a million
dollars annually for the capitals upbuilding.
In view Of tho comparative fair
ness and liberality of the nations
dealing with the capital in refer
ence to present expenses, there is little
disposition on the latter's part to push cGen-
sively old scores. But these facts should at
least be remembered with the result OF cutting
out certain other items OF District expenditure
which have been imposed upon the people of
the city. although the purposes of the outlay
are purely national in the maintenance OF
the Geological gardens, or although the city is
not benefited and has incurred no responsibility
for the expense as in the payments upon the
abandoned tunnel Congress should de-
crease the Districts expense account by
releasing it from these unjust charges
In cases where permanent public improve
ments are made. Of which the benefits will be
largely il not entirely enjoyed by succeeding
taxpayers, it seems to be fair to impose pro-
portionste share of the expense Of such i'm
provements upon the future city which will
profit by them. In such cases provision for
meeting the cost by payment in annual in
stallments suggests itself as wise. Improve
ments must be undertaken and promptly COM
pleted in developing the capital which are too
expensive to be met at once from the current
revenues without Gripping all other branches
Of municipal growth. Naturally and inev-
itably certain current expenses, like those for
the police and fire departments. will enlarge
with increase in population, and this enlarge
ment cannot safely be checked. The obvious
methods Of decreasing without injury the
present municipal OUTLAWS appear then to be
the escape from certain unjust exactions and
the adoption in respect to certain outlays Of
the installment system of payment.
On the other side Of the account il should
be possible to enlarge the Districts revenue
without increasing the rate Of taxation or
raising the general standard of assessment or
subjecting anybody to unfair treatment. The
opinion is entertained not only at the Dis
trict building but among citizens quite gener-
ally that the provision of q permanent board
Of assessors would not only render the tax
assessment more equitable. but result in a con-
siderable and just enlargement of the Districts
revenues. The present system is Objectionable
in that inequalities are inevitable under it.
since the opinions of the temporary sub-asses-
sors in the different localities differ widely
both as to values and standards Of value and
no effective provision for equalization of as
ssssments 10 made. II in correcting the system
and putting the citizens Of all sections and
property owners Of all classes on an equal
footing as far a. possible the District revenues
are enlarged, the increase will be very
welcome and will be derived from the
proper sources. This method OF increas-
ing the Districts income seems on its face
TO be more just and reasonable than the impo-
sition Of special tax Of one-third the cost upon
the owners Of property sbutting upon future
street improvements This assessment lowers
the contribution Of the general government for
such Improvements from one-half to one third
Of the cost, q change for which there seems to
be no reason, and collects additional amount
from the property owners who have not been
% fortunate a. to secure street improvements
under the present system. An enlargement Of
the permit system might well allow property
owners who are 30 anxious for speedy improve
ments as to pay large share Of the cost to do
50, but there appears to be no reason why for
the general street improvements the govern
menfs proportion Of payment should be les
sened and tina. Of the citizen increased.