Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23
'TWEEDALE FINDS
EXPENSE FOR 1902
Discovers District Account
Sheet for Year of First
Council.
INTERESTING OLD RELIC ;:
is WELL PRESERVED
Town Marshall Was Allowed $500
for Services, But Did Not Col
lect ALI of It.

| Discovery of the original expense sheet
showing the income and expenditures of
I-the District of Columbia from the date
| of the organization of the first council, in
| June, 1902, to October 3, 1904, has been
| made by District Auditor Alonzo Twee-
| dale.
The paper. long hidden among some old
| documents, was brought to light few
days ago, and has been on exhibition in
the office of Commissioner Rudolph. It
is regarded as such an interesting relic
| and is in such good state of preserva-
ton that the Commissioners probably will
have it framed and displayed in con-
spicuous place.
Compared with the appropriation of APP
proximately $11 600 600 authorized by Con-
gress for the needs of the local govern
ment for the fiscal year, to begin July
l next. the appropriations made for the
District in 1902 and the years Immediately
though these totals are not shown on the
sheet found. At that time, however,
WashingtOn's population was only about
$500, that the municipalities needs
We're not very great.
City Seal Was Bought.
The first item on the expense sheet is
an appropriation of 500 for the purchase
Of a city seal. The document shows that
la seal was purchased at a cost of $26
and that STA was returned to the treas
ury.
One of the important officials in those
days was the town marshal who was al
lowed a salary of $500 a year for his
services. According to the first financial
report, this official succeeded in collect
ing only $141.66 of the amount due him,
the sum of $5S.34 remaining unpaid on
the account
1t cost very little to keep the city coun-
Gil in operation, three appropriations be-
ing made for its purposes between May
%, 1903, and April II, 1901. The total
amount involved was $3.50.
Weights and Measures Office.
Robert Brent. washington's first mayor.
who was appointed by the President. had
under his supervision number of gov
eminent departments that are in exist
ence today. One Of these was the de-
parfment of weights and measures. The
first appropriation allowed the depart
ment was one of 500.
Erection and repair of water pumps
called for some rather large expenditures
as compared with the other items. There
were three such appropriations between
November 49, 1902, and July q, 1904, in
which the total amount authorized to be
spent was 81 400.
Provisions for the poor constituted an
other large item, seven appropriations for
this purpose. aggregating $3.50, being
made between October %, 1902, and June
%, 1904.
Council Members Fined.
Council members who failed to attend
the meetings of that body without good
reason were invariably fined. Fines from
absentees from council meetings during
the first year of the municipality en-
riched its Golfers to the extent Of $3.50.
The early growth. Of the city is indi-
Gated by the taxes levied on real and
personal properties during the years 1872
and 1904. inclusive. In the first of these
years tax of $4.O71.36 was levied and
81, 343 SO of the amount collected. In 1903
the tax levied amounted to $0,012.93,
while, in the following year, 1t amounted
to $7,56S.55.
During 1902 taxes on slaves amounted
to $36; on dogs, $35, and on billiard
tables, $50. There were other sources
Of revenue which do not exist at the
present time
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