Evening star., 1898-11-30

deemed advisable a question of expe
diency for the government or required by
considerations Of justice toward the tax
payer.
Collection of Fines in Police Court.
l am constrained by a sense of duty once
more to urge upon your attention the mat
ter of reforming the laws which relate to
the collection of fines in the Police Court.
They are fragmentary and unsatisfactory
in their provisions, and as their failure to
furnish efficient safeguards for the proper
custody of public moneys resulted several
years since in a serious loss of revenues
derived from this source the necessity for
legislation in this direction would seem to
be both urgent and apparent.
During the first session of the Fifty-fifth
Congress bill (Senate 174D was introduced
which provided for the appointment of
bonded collector and a system of checks
upon officials handling the money together
with regular and thorough auditing of
the accounts but it failed to pass. This
some kindred measure should be adopted in
the interest of good business admins tration,
as the present lack of proper methods re-
fleets discredit upon all who are responsible
for its continuance.
Arranging Old Records.
Three removals, which are said to equal
oHe fire, left the archives of former local
governments, stored in the vault of the
old District building on 1st street, in what
may BE- fifty termed a state of chaos. No
one l am sure who has ever had occasion
TO seek for a document supposed to be
'St meWhere in that receptacle OF corporate
antiquities VIII question the fitness of this
designation, or Hken such a search to any
thing short Of hunting for needle in the
traditional hayStack.
The act making appropriations for the
current year provides for the arrangement
OF these records with "A view a ready rpfpr-
cnce and use. Under its authority much
has been accomplished, many valua bic pa
ptTs relating to the governments of the
late corporations of Washington, George
town and the Levy Court, together with
those of the board of public works and the
board of audit, have been rescued from
threatened destruction. and something like
orGer established where confusion had
reigned supreme.
Change in Disbursing Methods.
The act making appropriations for the
District Of Columbia for the fiscal year
1899, approved June 30, 1898, creates the
office of disbursing officer, requiring ad-
vances thereafter to be made to him by
the Secretary of the Treasury upon requisi-
ton of the Commissioners and charging
him with the DUTY of making all disburse-
mcnts, a function which had previously
been exercised by the Commissioners.
Close of Commissioners Accounts
the Secretary of the Treasury ITO cover
into the treasury, one-haIf to the credit
of the United States and one-half to the
credit Of the District of Columbia any
unexpcnded advances standing upon the
books of the treasurer Of the United States
to the official credit of former boards of
Commissioners of the District of Column
bla This legisla ton was sought in order
to Gear the records of balances which had
sanction the work has been accomplished
much To the relief of the bookkeepers in
the trcasurer's office and in my own as
well. With the removal of these long
standing charges against former commits
sloners, and the repayment of all unused
advances which had been made to the pres
ent board, every disbursement account be-
tween the District of Columbia and the
United States treasury, prior to July l,
lS.IS. is fully and finally closed.
In writing this final entry in the history
of a financial regime which extended from
July /, 1873. to June 80 1898, | may be
pdrdoned Tor feeling of pride in mention
ing the fact that not single difference or
disallowancc for even SO much as a penny
exists in our accounts for She expenditure
during this period of more than one nun
drcd millions of dollars.
Committee to Revise Accounting
Methods.
The committee appointed to examine the
methods used for the keeping of records
and accounts in several of the District of
fees with u view to recommending such
changes as might seem desirable for the
betterment of the systems in vogue have
secured by correspondence and by personal
interviews much valuable data and many
practical suggestions from the experience
of other municipalities, besides giving to
the subject that careful thought ard con
SideratiOn which its importance merits at
their hands. Pressure Of other duties has
hitherto delayed the completion of their
task, but 1t is their purpose in the near
future to submit summarized statemC Mt
OF the results of their !nvestiga
Conclusion.
There We're 121O6 claims audited durino
the year. in payment Of which 33. 4GS checks
were issued.
Thanking you for your appreciation of
my efforts. often expressed. which has
Ightened the labors of supervision, | am
&c. '
Following are the several tabular e>bib-
its ccOmpanying and made a part Of The
auditors report:
A-S:atement OF revenues of the District Of Co,un
year T ANA aPPTonraoIs r az sherefrom for the fiscal
Rl;NENUEs OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ,,
Balance TO the credit Of the District of
Col Imbil in the United States Treas
ury July l, 1897, available for ap-
Half Of unexpended bal '''' 9"
ances of appropriations
carried to general fund
District of Columbia. So997l 40
Reimbursement of the
District OF Columbia for
payment for lots Poto-
mae river flats. 1892 o.
-------- 43,3i3 46
Gereral taxes, Including T''o :"
pentltes: :-...''......,.S .S2,9OI.113 10
Licenses. '...-..-....... 333,013 Sc
Eastern Market, rents. SO, ,446 30 -'''i'o 20
Western Market, rents. $3.50 9i
Geotown Market -ents IIa0 90
Washington Market Co..