Evening star., 1900-11-28

mendations that Congress be asked to pro-
vide for the latter have always met with
missioners' hands, but no legislation to this
end has as yet been secured. Warned by
past failures in this endeavor, he says, he
would not venture again to urge upon our
legislators the settlement Of these claims
were he not impeled thereto by sheer
sense OF justice. But, thus moved, al
though it may seem like "leading fororn
hope" he cannot forbear asking that in
the estimates for deficiencies in appropria-
tfons, soon to be prepared, an item for the
relief OF these pensioners may be included.
They are either men who have lost their
health or been disabled or are the widows
and minor children of those who have
yielded their lives in this perilous service,
and the people Of the District. Mr.. Petty
Is sure. will not grudge the amount re-
quired to pay this obligation, which Is, in
his opinion, in the highest sense Of the word
a debt of honor.
SystematizinK General Account.
1t Is important, thinks Mr.. Petty, that the
general account between the United States
and the District of Columbia should be
kept in systematic manner so that full
and exact statement thereof may be fur
nished at any time when such information
may be desired, but, much to his regret.
this Is not the situation at present. The
policy OF making appropriations from the
District revenues without estimates there
for having been previously made by or
transmitted through the Commissioners, and
then allowing the disbursements thereof
without their knowledge or control, SO that
more than one auditor in the treasury
passes upon them, makes it impossible, says
Mr. Petty either for the accounting officers
Of the treasury or the District auditor to
state the account without serious incon-
venience and vexatious delay.
This situation is due, he believes, to the
fact that these appropriations, and dis
bursements as well, are departures from
the organic act That compact, as the ar
ticles of agreement between the members
of a copartnership. should be held invio-
late, he holds, and every failure to so
regard 1t, he contends, but leads to confu-
sion and embarrassment
To remedy these defects he suggests that
the following provision, which was recon-
mended by the Secretary of the Treasury
in the estimates for 1901, be Incorporated
and its passage urged, in the District bill
for 1902. viz:
"That hereafter all estimates and requi-
sitions affecting the revenues of the Dis
trict of Columbia shall be submitted
through the Commissioners of the District,
and all payments from appropriations, any
part of which is chargeable to the said
revenues OF the District of Columbia, or re-
payments to appropriations and collections
increasing the revenue, shall be made
through the officials Of the District Except
in the case of the sinking fund, which is
otherwise specifically provided for by laW)
and all accounts pertaining thereto shall
be settled by the auditor for the State and
other departments"
New Methods.
During the year several important
changes in methods were instituted which
have resulted in simplifying the work and
eXpediting the business of the office. The
retained duplicates of vouchers, which had
been previously kept In numerical sequence
with briefs of their purport recorded in
personal ledger wherein an account was
cd wit xy{vop
ment, have been rearranged in alphabetical
order on the principle of the card index,
but with this difference, that the vouchers
themselves being used, the work of tran
scribing is avoided, and only guide cards
are employed. All vouchers of payments
to one individual being thus assembled to-
gether, nothing in the way of facilities for
reference is left to be desired in the audi
tors opinion
Much extra labor and earnest thought have
been expended in the efforts to modernize
the accounting system by Mr.. Alonzo Twee-
dale. the chief bookkeeper, and the graft
flying results which have been accomplished
are due, says Mr.. Petty, in great part TO
the zeal, intelligence and unfiagging indus
try which have characterized Mr.. Twee-
dale's performance of the important du-
ties with which he is charged
MY review of the history of the year."
says Mr.. Petty, would lack it's most i'm
portant feature If failed to speak of the
devotion to duty and cordial cooperation
upon them, whether in or our Of office
hours, has meet with prompt and willing
response, which makes this favorable men
ton duty and pleasure as we'll"
Claims Audited.
The work Of the office has been steadily
growing for long time past, and the year
just ended has shown no abatement in this
respect. There were IA ,OsO claims audited
and A ,2S9 checks issued, an increase of 20
per cent in the former and per cent in
the latter as compared with the record of
the preceding fiscal year.
Exhibit of Revenu Account.
Schedule A of Mr.. Petty's report is an
exhibit of the revenue ount of the Dis
trict, which shows the aggregate of reve-
nues for the fiscal year ended June 3O 1900,
including balances to the credit of various
funds Of the District in the treasury to
have been S4,0S3 1852. The total appro-
priations for the District during the same
tine were $6.S7454o.SS. One-half Of this
amount So, 437 27234 being payable from the
revenues Of the District, and $25S, -95. 20 haV-
ing been expended for permanent highways,
claims, redemptions, etc, leaves a balance
for the year to the credit of the District
Of Columbia in the United States treasury
June 30, 1900, and available for appropria-
ton, of 1887, ,5771S.
The schedule shows the revenues to have
been derived from the following sources:
Columbia in the United States treasury July
1, 1899 available for appropriation, $685.
25j 2S half of uneXpended balances of ap-
preparations carried to the general fund,
District Of Columbia, and uneXpended bal
ances of appropriations made wholly from
the revenues of the District Of Columbia
carried to the general fund, District Of CO.
lumbia, $33 0i2 OF; unexpended balances of
collections on account Of taxes and rev.
enues and condemnation Of alleys, carried
to the general fund, District of Columbia,
S. $50 50: general and special taxes, includ-
ing penalties and licenses, S3,346, 1O6. 81;
Eastern Market rents $3,43S; Western Mar
ket rents, 81 ,693. 80; Georgetown Market rents,
S1,11S; Washington Market Company. fran
chse rental, $500; rent of hay scales, ST.
s24; rent of Wharves, street termini and
buildings, 3,512 20; rent Of fish wharves and
stalls, S197; fines. Police Court, $4 go IS:
fines, Supreme Court, $50; fees from re-
corder of deeds. $747.3O: fees from register
of wills, S5O5.S1; fees from surveyor, S4,-
93975; fees from sealer of weights and
measures $55S4.3O; fees from tax certif-
Gates, $3,072; fees for inspecting gas me-
ters, S741.G0: permit fees for sewer and
gas, 50 079: permit fees for water, 81 O5O. 90;
permit fees for railings, $546; pound fees ST.
S74G0; building permits, $3,367; health de-
partment certificates, $247; tax on dogs
$16,2'499; engineers licenses, $55s; advertis-