Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-07
District Debt Paying.

The ineauity OF the present system OF
refunding the Districts debt u the
Emitted States incurred for the execution
II large permanent works is clearly IL
Illustrated nv the fact. set forth In yester-
DAYS Star in connection with the annual
report 81 the District auditor. that had
IL not been for a clerical congestion the
Districts debt reduction during the fscal
wear closing June 80 would have been
greater than II was by ia.396,1 As ii
was the refund during the fiscal year
amounted 70 S1aS. 0S6.3.i, or about l2l2 per
cent If the total revenue from local
sources. IL is TO be doubted whethe- any
other city spends large percentaee
Of it's income for the payment OF debts IN
CURED for its permanent equipment. Had
the clerks Of the collectors office not been
overwhelmed by an eleventh-hour food
of payments IL IS possible that the Dis
trict's refund TO the Treasury on the
floating debt account would have been
t.,t, per cent Of the local revenues
N j. explained that the reason why the
District during the last fiscal year broke
all records in the reduction Of it's debt is
that Congress had appropriated smaller
amount If money for the current main
j. precisely in accord with the present
congressional policy in dealing with the
District. and in as direct opposition 10
tho desire of the District 10 spread The
repayment Of its debt over a longer
PERIOD and enjoy meanwhile more com
mensurate series or appropriations for
current maintenance. With every depart
ment OF the District government in urgent
there is no logic in the pay-ae-you-go
method Of financing such permanent
works sewer systems. grade crossing
elimination. street extensions, public
buildings. bridges. etc.
There Is no advantage 10 the District
IN owing money. \ public debt is TO
community like Washington merely
token # things accomplished for which
Iosterity Is paving. But large part of
the debt which the District now owes
represents the sacrifices of tho present
generation of taxpayers and tho suffer
ings II the present generation of citizens
generally. Ii in effect r. presents the in
sdequacies Of the existing system Of adj
ministration. the lack OF policemen and
framen. the insufficiency of the school
equipment. the smallness Of the health
inspection force, the incompleteness OF
virtually every municipal bureau. Every
case Of typhoid sever. fer instance. is III
it way proof Of the inadequacy of the
Districts upkeep under the cash-payment
system Of management.
Instead OF pointing with pride TO its
unusual record CT debt reduction the Dis
trict Is inclined 10 regard its rapid
energence from obligation as a failure
or the part Of Congress to legislate for
tic capital community in wisely liberal
spirit Of good business. III il were possi-
hle To provide adequately for the Dis
irict's upkeep while wiping out this debt
at the present rate there would lie no
demur on any side, espe tally If the pos
pet were opened that the taxation bur
zen. now heavier here than in many
other cities Of comparable size. would
later be lightened. But there Is no SUCH
assurance. on the other hand the APP
preach Of the day or debt extinction *
regarded bv the average citizen with
some apprehension. as possibly menacing
the accumulation of a surplus tempting
Congress 10 ignore still further the half
and-half principle underlying the organic
act