Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-01
Revenue Collections Heaviest
for District Since Adoption
of Organic Act.
PAYING DEBTS FASTER
THAN ANY OTHER CITY
Begins New Cycle With More Than
Nine Millions in Its Golfers From
Taxes for All Purposes.

with the most prosperous twelve months
1T has ever known just closed, the Dis
trict of Columbia government today en-
tered upon its thirty-sixth fiscal year
since the adoption of the organic act in
1878.
Never in the history of the municipality
have collections of revenue been as heavy
as during the period that began July / a
year ago and closed at midnight last
night
Charles c. Rogers, collector of taxes
reported this morning that the total re-
ceipts on account of general revenues
and water and miscellaneous funds will
exceed nine millions of dolars-a record
fully half a million dollars in excess of
the best showing of any previous year.
General receipts alone upon which the
commissioners base their estimates for
improvements which annually are trans
mitted to Congress approximate 81, 300. .OO0
according to the collector.
TWO years ago committee consisting
OF Collector Rogers, Assessor Richards
and Auditor Tweedale reported to the
District heads that the collections of the
past fiscal year probably would reach ST.
100000, the Commissioners basing their
budget upon this estimate. Actual re-
turns indicate that the committees esti-
mate will be exceeded by $4O.OUO or
$JO,O 900.
Floating Debt Nearly Paid.
While money has been pouring into
the Golfers of the city at an unprece-
dented rate. the local government has
been making equally as rapid progress
In getting out Of debt. In fact. Dis
trict officials claim that the governmen,
is extinguishing its obligations faster
than any other municipality in the coun-
try.
1t practically wiped out its floating in
debtedness during the year just closed
As compared with a payment of about
Sl.2O.Oo made on the floating accoun,
since July 1 last the District. during the
present year, will have only about $jOO.OOC
to pay in order to liquidate the claim.
Thus. on this one item, a substantial
Commissioners when they commence
prepar alton OF the next annual budget
Other Obligations Reduced.
Much progress was made by the Dis
trict last year in reducing the amount.
of other obligations. The first paymen
| on the insane hospital charge. which /.
| to be liquidated In seven annual install
| ments, was made. This amounted Il
about 100000. In addition, about ON
was paid on the park debt. $6f7,I09 or
the bonded debt, and. as stated, abou
81. 100000 on the floating debt.
The bonded debt. created in 1878. wher
| the organic act was adopted. will not ex-
pire until 1924 The original amount was
So. 1O6.6J0. 1t has now been reduced Il
$7,61O,S5O.
After the present year the floating deb
will be out of the way. In two years
the park debt, amounting to about $152.-
900. VIII have been extingu.shed. 1t Wi,
require six additional payments of about
s1Oo,OOO to satisfy the claims of the in
sane hospital, which Congress ordered
to be paid.
In short, only the bonded debt will be
left after the seventh payment has beer
made on the insane hospital charge in
the fiscal year 1919.
Remarkable Growth Reflected.
The remarkable development of the Ma
tional Capital during the past thirty-five
years, or since the adoption Of the or
ganic act is reflected in a comparison
of the revenue collections Of last year
and 1878.
For the former fiscal period the col
lections were $1,555, ,386.57, while last
year. as stated, they amounted to ap-
proximately $7.3O0,000. The latter fig
ures do not take into account about
s2.000.000 paid into the government on
account of water and special receipts.
In 1873 the District had available
for improvements, by reason of its
| revenues being doubled by the federal
government under the half-and- half
plan Of appropriating for the munich
pality. the amount of s3.467 $685..
For the fiscal year which begins to-
day Congress has appropriated $11,-
257,054. The Commissioners budget
for this year recommended a total ap-
preparation Of $12.642. 1880.
Larger Fund for Budget.
BY reason Of the increase In revenues
and the small amount that will have te
be paid this year on the floating debt
the Commissioners, in framing the bulge,
for the next fiscal twelve months, will
have at their disposal much larger FUND
for improvements than has been the case
in any previous year. Their next esti.
mates may recommend an appropriation
of thirteen millions of dollars or more
But three officials of the District were
in the service of the local government
when the organic act went into effect
They are DR.. William Tindall, secretary
to the board of Commissioners: James T.
Petty. assistant assessor in charge of the
arrears division. and Alexander Mcken-
Zie, also assistant assessor
DR.. Tindall holds the same position now
that he occupied in 1873. Both Mr. Petty
and Mr.. Mckenzie were employed in the
auditors Office, the former as bookkeeper
and the latter as a clerk, when the or
ganic act was adopted.
MOVIES" GET $3I9,O0O,OOO.