Evening star., 1907-11-10

In order that the object sought might be
fully accomplished Mr.. Tweedale further
recommended that legislation be obtained
which would make valid a receipt by the
collector of taxes for taxes or other
moneys due the District OF Columbia
only when the same should bear the
countersiRnature Of the auditor, and fur
ther suggested that the changes mention
ed might be effected without additional
expense to the District by transferring to
the office of the auditor the clerks now
appropriated for in the office of the COL
lector of taxes as coupon clerks, to be
assigned to such duties 4s the auditor
might see fit. and who wodld detail, from
time to time. different members of his
force to perform the duty of aflXing his
signature upon tax bills and make a daily
charge against the collector Of taxes: it
being believed that the moneys received
through the official designated to make
the collections should be as carefully
audited as the expenditures made through
the disbursing officer. and that the evi-
dence of this fact should be made to ap-
pear on the receipts in the same manner
as indicated on checks making eXpendi-
lures before they become valid for pay
ment. namely. the countersignature Of
the auditor.
Daily Charge Against Collector.
The Commissioners of the District Of
Columbia approved the recommendations
of the auditor, as stated, SO far as the
same related to the transferring Of the
clerks to the auditors force, establishing
daily charge against the collector of
taxes and the countersigning of the col
lector's receipts. but the matter of vail
dating these receipts only when the same
should bear the countersignature of the
auditor. should be effected by act of Con-
10 hot In
presented to Congress at an early date.
In order that the desired legislation may
be secured.
The auditor makes statement that
there was deficit in the revenues Of the
District at the close Of the fiscal year
amounting to S3.277 S88. % and that ..-ere
has been paid wholly from the revenues
OF the District of Columbia on account of
street extensions. in the last fifteen
years, $2.23S, 1914. and on account Of
other miscellaneous items S42l, ,3493s,
making a grand total paid wholly from
the District revenues of 81, 600, ,9O8. 20. In
quoting these figures the auditor says
that If one-half of the latter amount
namely 5l,34b.453as had been paid in
accordance witt. the provisions Of the or
ganic act. the amount of the Indebtedness
of the District would have been reduced
by that amount.
Expensive Street Extension Work.
1t is also shown that there was a good
sized surplus in the revenues of the Dis
trict from 1893 to 1900. In no one year
was this surplus les than $4,000, and in
1895 1t was as much as $917, ,5S1 In 1901
deficit Of $4,000 appeared and the
deficit has been increasing each year since
then until 1t Is now more than So 900, ,O,J
as stated. The deficit began with the big
and expensive street extension work In
the District.
Mr.. Tweedale furnishes tabulated ia
BILE showing just what was done with the
Districts moneys last year and Just how
the District stands at present The COL
lections on account of revenue during the
year amounted to $5,2S8. SO2 10: the pay
ments made by the United States on ac-
count Of advances from appropriations
under the act of June IL, 1873, amount ed
to So, 403. .095 1S; the amount loaned by the
United States to the District of Column