The Washington times., 1903-08-06
CredH From United States
Has Been Increased From
$500, 1852 TO More Than
SIS, 900 Since july I,
1901.
DUE TO ADVANCES FOR
EXTRAORDINARY USES
Debt Would RaUe Been OBJ
OIafed If National GoUezh-
menf Had Pad for Zoo
logical PAX and Similar
Projects.

The forthcoming report Of the Auditor
viii contain some startling figures in
its review OF the District finances. II
will show the Capital City to be in
curing debt CT large proportions. and
increasing it at rate calculated to ere
ate anxiety in the minds OF the tax
pa-ers.
On July 1. according to the books Of
the Auditor, the United States Treasurer
had advanced on the expense accounts OF
the District the sum OF 50. 200. 600. One
half OF this amount. or s4. 500 900, was
charged against the District revenues
and represented the total indebtedness
on that date
On July !, 1901. this debt was S22o 1872.
One year later it had multiplied eight
times and was s1,75S,2f2. To this sum
2.s4O,75S was added IN the fiscal year
just closed. and what the municipality
owes the United States is now passing
the five million dollar mark The deb,
has multiplied twenty-one times in two
years. Within a period Of four years
the city OF Washington has passed from
a condition OF seif-support to one of de-
pendence upon a rich and powerful cred
itor.
These unpaid obligations have been
incurred under the operation of the acts
of Congress of February II. 1901, July
l. 1892, and March 3. 1903, which author
lied the Treasurer OF the United States
TO advance money upon the acquisitions
of the Board OF Commissioners 10 pay
the sums appropriated for the District
expenses.
The Sc. 000, 600 SO advanced represents
the excess of such expenditures over the
revenues and is in the nature Of a float
ing debt Under the act of March 3,
1909. the money which may have been
advanced in this way on July l, 1901
together with 2 per cent interest on
the same. must be paid into the United
States Treasury IN five annual INSTALL
ments.
Cost CT Street Extension.
The District came. in 1900. to the part
Ing OF the ways between the "pay-a--
you-go" policy and that Of making pub
lie Improvements on credit, or on ad-
vances from the United States Treasury.
one-hzlf of which was to be charged
against the local revenues. Congress
had adopted the plan Of forcing the
District TO pay the entire cost OF street
extensions.
This created a small deficit in 1900.
The Commissioners. foreseeing the in
evitable result OF burdenIng the munich
pal resources in the manner described,
and Of authorizing the extension OF
streets contrary to the recommendation
OF the board. in answer to the impor
tunities OF sUburbanites and land specu-
lators. asked Congress 10 make ad
vances from the public funds to meet
these and other extraordinary expenses.
The process then begun has been con
tinued from year 10 year.
simultaneously with the extension of
such thOEOughfares as Sixteenth Street.
Rhode Island Avenue. Sherman Avenue,
Columbia Road. and New Hampshire
Avenue. the District entered upon q
period o1 unusual expansion IN the way
OF extraordinary public improvements.
The sewage disposal system. begun
several years ago, reached q point where
Il was necessary 20 spend more thar
$500. eco annually 10 carry on the work
This sum viii be required At least six
years longer before the system Is com
plete. and the trunk and interccpting
sewers are built.
The municipal building will call for
an expenditure Of 81 500 900 within three
years; $500 viii be required TO start
(Continucd On Third Pagc)