The Washington times., 1922-12-04
D. C.. Commissioners
Hit Tax in Report
on City's Needs a.
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may be sound. in its application 1t
works inequity and hardship; II
places q burdensome cost on the de-
velopment of the newer sections of
the District which was not borne
in previous years by older sections
of the city which did not bear any
assessment for paving roadways.
THE Commissioners feel the law
is inequitable. and they again state
their belief that some new legisla-
ton should be enacted which would
remove the inequalities Of the pres
I ent law"
Finances Are Splendid.
After reviewing the receipts and
expenditures Of the District govern
ment during the fiscal year. the
Commissioners advise Congress that
the District Is in splendid financial
! condition, with an Indebtedness of
only $l56.234.3S and surplus reve-
nues in the Treasury Of $500 $3.50.
The cash receipts OF the District
for the fiscal year amounted to
S23, 1O4,79S.60. made up as follows:
Revenue of the District from taxes
and miscellaneous sources. $13,917.-
006.62: amount paid by the United
States on account OF it's proportion
OF appropriations. $9,1S7.792.9S.
The collections from taxes on
real estate for the fiscal year 1922
amounted to $S,43l, 1908: collec-
tons from taxes on personal prop
erty, including taxes on gross earn
ings and receipts Of street railway
companies. $2,678,2S4.92: and COL
lections from taxes on intangible per-
sonal property, $949 ,05S. Collections
from miscellaneous sources. amount
ing to $780, 82.47. made up the
balance OF the Districts revenue.
The cash balance to the credit Of
the general fund Of the District in
the Treasury on June 80, 1922
amounted to $7.579.677.5S and to
the credit Of trust and special
funds, 1862 1919. In addition to
these amounts balances as shown
by the accompanying statements
were held to the credit of the dis
bursting officer Of the District with
the Treasurer of the United States.
Bonds Due Next Year.
The Commissioners remind that
the 50-year period for which the
800 bonds were issued, the issue
being limited by law to $4,000, 900
VIII expire August /, 1924. The
sinking fund assets. represented en-
tlrely by Investments in bonds of
the United States, will nearly be
sufficient TO take up the outsta nd :
ing 3.65 bonds, although a further
appropriation not exceeding $780,
600 may be required for this pur-
pose. the amount Of the appropria-
ton depending entirely upon the
price at which the investments may
be sold
The biennial assessment of real
estate. the Commissioners advise in
their report, which is to be COM
pleted by the three assistant as.
SCISSORS by January 1. 1923, will be
open to inspection and review from
the first Monday in January to the
first Monday in June. 1928.
Motor vehicle tags with a total
OF 1917 ,O15 represent more than one
half OF the grand total Of $512..
! iSO.2S collected during the year for
licenses. This tota. shows a net in.
crease of s70,13O.11 over the same
period last year.
Several decisions of considerable
importance to the District were
handed down by the Court OF Ap-
peals and the United States Supreme
Court during the year.
The most important of these was
the case Of United States VS.. More
land, in which the United States
Supreme Court held that the
| Juvenile court could not sentence a
man to hard labor in the workhouse
for nonsupport without an indict-
ment by n grand jury.
The same court. in the case Of
Head ct al vs.. the District. Upheld
the intangible tax Law OF the Dis
trict.
The Court Of Appeals. in the case
of Security Savings and Commercial
Bank VS.. tie District held that a
tax against the banks earnings.
| which included interest on certain
non taxable Federal Government
bond6, was lawful.
It was so held by this court, In
the case of Knox ct al VS.. Commits
sioners, that agricultural property
could not be assessed for roadway
| improvements under the so-called
Boriand amendment.
Urge Personal Injury Law.
The enactment Of a special stat
ute of notice and limitations In per-
sonal injury cases, such as e1ists III
other cities, Is again recommended
the Commissioners advise In their
report. Such a law, they declare,
works no injustice to the person
injured and will result in the saw
ing of many dollars to the District
In commenting upon the fire loss
ratio for the District the Commits
sioners show that the 30 40 per
cent loss ratio to premiums shown
| in the above schedule for the year
1921 Is 10 per cent higher than
| for the previous year.
The Commissioners commend the
| new marine insurance act and state
they believe when the law Is under.
stood q great many companies will
take out charters and become dom
iciled in the District, thereby In
creasing the revenues as well as the
work OF the insurance department
A total OF $3.50 inspections OF
| weighing and measuring apparatus
| of various kinds, an Increase Of
1888 over the past year, II noted
The Increase was due In a large
measure to the new weights and
measures law which became oper
alive last year.
Seek More Fairgrounds.
/ T. A.. TNi-&,tnS 81 mar