Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-07
Unifcation of District Appropria-
tions.


II all items of appropriations or other
charges against District revenues were
contained in the District appropriation
act, the information could be more
easily and accurately obtained for the
purpose of determining the actual cost
of maintaining the National Capital
and the exact status of it's financial
affairs. The Secretary of the Treasury
ton to accomplish the foregoing pur-
pose, submitting the following draft
of legislative proposal:
THAT hereafter all estimates and
requisitions affecting the revenues Of
the District of Columbia shall be sub
mitted to the Commissioners of the
District, and all payments from appro-
priations any part of which is chargea-
BILE to the said revenues of the District
of Columbia, or repayments to appro-
priations and collections increasing
the revenues, shall be made through
the officials of the District, except in
the case of the sinking fund, which is
otherwise specifically provided for by
to shall be settled by the auditor for
the State and other departments"
Interest on the 1856 Bonds.
The interest on 3.65 per cent bonds of
the District, amounting to $1,003, 257.24,
which the accountants appointed by
the House committee on the District
stated that they found the District
owed the United States. has been made
u the subject of a joint resolution of
Congress asking the Secretary of the
Treasury to transfer this amount upon
his books from revenues of the Dis
trict to the credit of the United States.
This resolution, it is understood. is
now pending in committee on the Dis
trict Of Columbia. The Commissioners,
under date of March q, 1914, sub
nil faA nrf pr0a 70
Collectible Limit Of Overdue Taxes.
, In the annual report of the auditor
of the District for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1907, attention was invited to
a statement prepared by the assessor
showing that the various balances re-
manning of tax levies prior to the year
1887 had been omitted. This action was
taken in view of doubt cast upon the
Districts right to collect the taxes
under a decision of the United States
supreme Court that taxes over twenty
years in arrears are not collectible.
This matter is one that is not free from
doubt. 1t has been contended by some
that taxes once levied are a perma
nent lien on property and that the
statute of limitations is not a bar
against their collection. If this latter
view be sound, legislation should be
obtained whereby it will be possible
for the District authorities to insti-
tute legal proceedings for the sale of
the property, thus canceling the tax
lien from the proceeds of such sales.
If the statute of limitations is bar to
the collection of taxes over tweny
years in arrears, legislation should be
balances which now stand charged to
the collector Of taxes.
Police and Firemen's Relief Funds.
At the close of the fiscal year June
so. 1914. the total deficiency on account
of the police and flremen's relief funds
amounted to s55,S92.96. Immediate and
permanent provision should be made
for financing these funds, the bene-
ficiaries being for the most part de-
pendent upon these pensions for sup
port feeling keenly the loss necessitat-
ed by reason OF the insufhciency of the
sources of revenue to discharge in full
the pension allowances authorized by
the Commissioners. If 1t had not been
Tor the collection during the fiscal year
of over $4,000 through the enforce
ment Of the new excise law there would
have been a much larger de-
hciency than that reported. 1t
is believed that the present
of funds TO meet pension payments
should be amended so that hereafter
the Commissioners will be authorized
to include in their annual estimates to
Congress such sums as may be needed
for the payment of police and fire PEN
sions. BY including these items in the
annual estimates the question of pay
nent will cease to be problematical.
The Watson Defalcation.
The shortage In certain accounts of
the District of Columbia arising as the
result Of the defalcation of j. NJ. A.
lively set forth in previous reports of
the auditor. In order to clear these
accounts il is necessary to reimburse
the United States in the sum of &c.
ee3.15. miscellaneous trust fund de-
posits 51,556.22. and the permit fund
s1.759.9s: in all. ss3,s3e-sS. Recon-
Inendations for this reimbursement
have been heretofore made and items
to secure appropriations included in
the general deficiency estimates. On
ers submitted a report to Congress on
this subject and forwarded a draft of q
bill to provide an appropriation and
authority to balance these accounts.
Property Accountability.
Section of the District appropriation
act approved July Il. 1914, provides for
"a property accountability. This is a
work of very considerable magnitude
March -. 1914. the Commissioners ap-
pointed a committee to recommend a
system of property accountability Thi.
committee has been actively engaged In
the preparation of the necessary forms
to carry out the work, the outlining OF
organization methods, and the compila.
ton Of a code covering the variou.
classes Of articles and the items there
under to be accounted for. The work or
the code Is nearing completion. and thu
initial inventory will be taken in thu
RTrtvr hA WIT cf~ r.~v
included in their estimates for appro.
priations for 1915 small additions
force which it is found will be required
TO properly enforce the foregoing pro
vision of law.
Population.
The number of inhabitants of the Dis
trtct of Columbia, according to tho emu
merat5en .turing the month Of April
44l4 hQ the police department. wal
te&3o1s Of whom ss.144 are given q,
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