Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-02

Total assessed value Of tax.
able real estate and personal
e SIRRmbIa on june S g. iso2 sos 49,
Rate Of General Tax.
The rate Of general tax for the year was
fixed at 81. 80 On each 500 Of all taxable per-
sonal property and Of all real property, ex-
cept that used solely for agricultural pur-
poses, the rate of which was 81 per 500 OF
assessed valua ton.
Population.
The population Of the District Of Co.
lumbia in 1900 was 27s, rs, according 70 the
United States census which was taken that
year. The annual increase Of the District
was about 5000 per annum tor several
years previous to that census, and the Com
missioners believe that approximately that
rate Of increase has continued to the pres
ent time.
Special Provision for Extraordinary
Projects.
The Commissioners in preparing their es-
Inmates for the appropriations for the Dis
trict Of Columbia for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1904, acted on the principles which
they adopted two years ago! First, that
they should represent to Congress adequate
ly the actual needs Of the District of CO.
lumbia and second, that they should dis
between estimates for extraordinary pro-
jects Of improvement calling for large
amounts of money and benef1ting the future
and current expenditures. AS to the pro-
jects Of extraordinary improvements, like
the filtration plant, sewage-disposal sys-
tenn, the District building, and others, which
elsewhere would be provided for by the is-
sue of bonds and not out of current rev.
enues, the Commissioners maintain that
provision. should be made by advances from
the United States treasury, to be repaid
within limited time by a sinking fund and
with interest on the deferred PAYMENTS
They maintain that current revenues should
be devoted to current expenditures and to
the sinking fund requirements.
The increase Of taxation, due to the tri-
ennial reassessment of real estate and to
the new personal tax and license law, viii
provide a revenue ample to meet all cur
rent expenditures and to provide adequate
ly for sinking fund obligations. It would
seem to be self-evident that extraordinary
projects Of Improvement should not be paid
for out of the current revenues in the years
when they are being executed. Future
years should share the burden as we'll as
the benefit of such improvements, and I'M
less this course Is taken either taxation
must be made extortionate or the current
needs OF the government and people Of the
Congress having authorized, almost stimuli
taneously, several large projects of i'm
provement including the filtration plant
and sewage disposal system, the District
which these undertakings make upon the
District revenues produced q deficit in
them, recognized the justice and necessity
of the position taken by the Commissioners
by authorizing advances from the United
States treasury to meet deficiencies in the
District revenues on account Of general ex-
penses. These advances will. 1t is estimat-
ed, amount on the LIST of July next to the
sum of 81 800. Is, which. under the legis-
lation of Congress, Is to be paid In three
annual equal installments, with interest at
per cent on the deferred payments.
AS the amount spent out of the Dis
contrary to the half-and-h half principle of
the organic act of 1878. on account Of street
extensions and for other purposes, amounts
to more than this sum, and as 1t is also
larger than the amount spent from District
revenues on extraordinary projects of Inn
provement under the half-and- half appro-
priations, Congress might well decide that
1t would extend the time within which the
advances made up to the LIST Of July next
should be paid, by authorizing them to be
carried as part of the general fund of ad-
vances for extraordinary improvements.
Including this amount, 1t is believed that
not more than ten millions Of dollars in all
would have to be advanced by the United
States treasury to enable the District to pay
half of the expense Of all the extraordinary
improvements authorized or likely to be
authorized by Congress.
OF the total amount of estimates submit
ted by the Commissioners for the next fis-
cal year, which was $10S72,372 exclusive
of water fund appropriations) at least So
3S3, 400 must be charged to the account OF
extra ordinary improvements. OF this sum
II ass. 4Oo Is for the continuance of work on
the filtration plant. $3.50 is for continue
ance OF work on the sewage disposal sys-
| tenn, $250.000 Is to begin work on the mu-
nicipal hospital, for which site and plans
nave been s provided by the commissioners
GOO Ia for beginning . new and needed