Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04
DISTRICT AFT AIRS.
The District Commissioners Submit
Their Annual Report.
RECON- MENDAFIONS TO CONGRESS-
A Brief Summary of the Work of a
Year.
NJ A n Y MATTERS DISCUSSED

The fifteenth annual report Of the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia was
submitted to the President today and by
him transmitted to Congress. Following is
the report in full:
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 1893.
The President:
The Commissioners of the District of CO.
lumbia have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing report of their official doings during
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1893, in or
der that Congress may be informed there
OF. as contemplated by the organic act of
said government.
This report essentially consists of the re-
ports or the officials Immediately in charge
OF the several departments, which show in
detail the work done under their supervision
during said fiscal year. but the Commission
ers nave prefaced these reports with an alb
stract OF the financial status of this mu-
nicipality at the close of the fiscal year. and
by a few suggestions embodying their views
as to needful legislation
Receipts and Expenditures.
AS the accounts for the fiscal year have
not been closed, absolutely accurate
financial statement cannot be made but the
following substantially shows the relation
ship of the obligations and resources for
that period.
The total of the appropriations payable out
OF the revenues applicable to the expenses
or the District of Columbia for said period.
including an apparent deficiency of s5,OSS O4
or the preceding year, and exclusive of
those of the water department, was $3.50
6l3.6o. The funds available for the payment
OF these obligations amounted to $685.
3SO.s4. Two million nine hundred and forty-
SIX thousand eight hundred and ninety-two
dollars and lightweight cents of this
amount was derived from general taxes on
private property, fees for licenses and
other privileges receipts from all other
sources than the United States, in
Guiding sl45.347.21. representing the
Districts one-half of unexpended bal
ances Of appropriations which had
lapsed by not having been used within
the limit of three years fixed by law The
remaining 1882. 4s7.97 represents the pro-
portionate amount due from the United
States to pay it's legal share of the afore-
said obligations. The balance of $50. 1877. 10
Is applicable to the payment of the Dis
tricts share of future appropriations
The appropriations for the water depart
ment for said period were s276. 2237 "a The
expenses of this department were wholly
payable out of the revenues derived from
water rents and taxes, and amounted to
1921 ,S16.3S.
The bonded and other irterest-bearing
debts are under the charge of the Treas
urer of the United States. The Commits
sioners' only duty in relation to them is
to include in their annual estimates for
the support of the District government an
estimate for the interest and Striking fund
on these debts and for the salaries and
contingent expenses nsedful in transacting
the sinking fund business.
The bonded debt on June 30. 1892. was
s1s.575, 400.
The non-bonded interast-bearing debit
On June 80, 1893, the District owed the
United States S745613.54 on account of adj
vances for the construction of the water
supply tunnel and appurtenanceS, and S212-
2896I on account of advances for 4S-inch
water main and the 18th street water main
and connections. The first is payable in
seventeen and the latter in twenty-three
equal annual installments with interest at
per cent per dnnum, wholly out of the
revenues Of the water department
The floating debt.-The floating debt of
the District is very small and consists
mainly of judgments of The courts rendered
subsequently to the passage of the current
annual appropriation law The Commits
sloners eudeavor to enforce strict obser-
vance of the requirement of law that no
expenditure shall be made nor Obligation
incurred unless previously authorized nv
congressional appropriations, and thus limit
the floating Indebtedness to unavoidable liza
bilities.
General Assessment and Rate of Tax.
The rate of general tax for the year was
fixed at $50 on each 800 for all taxable
personal property, and for all real property.
except that used solely for agricultural
purposes. the rate of which was 81 per 500
of assessed valuation
The assessed value of the taxable real es-
tate and personal property in the District
OF columbia which is the basis of the gen.
eral tax Tor the fiscal year beginning July
l. 1893. is