Evening star., 1926-11-12

two as the surplus. This is absolute
ly g. false surplus which deceives the
public and which would not be coun-
tenanced in any private business con
Germ. Such a surplus. for example,
includes funds of the District Of Co
lumbia which have been obligated but
not paid out. This really represents
checks issued that have not been
cashed. They should have no part In
the surplus of the Federal Treasury.
To illustrate by one specific item:
The District had about $10,S0O,OOo
balance at the end of the fiscal year
Of unexpended moneys. but that was
not a. free balance, because there
were outsta nding and unpaid obliga-
tions equal to about half that amount.
1t cannot be too often emphasized,
for the enlightenment of Congress.
members Of which with regrettabls
frequency show by their utterances
that they are entirely misinfOlmed on
the subject. that the assessed value
Of real estate here in Washington is
nearer it's true market value than In
any other place in the country; that
we are taxed higher here than prop
erty owners in any other city or COM
parable size. William r. Richards,
the District assessor. has worked out
a mechanical and mathematical slid
ing scale system of assessment that
In RECOGNIZED by experts in assess
ment work as a. model method.
Many important public improve
ments are needed here, OF munich
bal nature, such as garbage disposal
plant, refuse dump, school sites ana
buildings, parks and community rec
reation grounds, Police Court. f1re ana
er and water main extensions ana the
establishment of O. model municipal
market.
1t will not do to complain OF a
steady increase In the tax rate IL
these perma nent improvements are
to be paid for out OF current reve-
nues, and at the same time oppose
raising money to pay for such i'm
provements by issuing bonds. About
two years ago the Engineer Commits
sioner and the District auditor. Dan
iel j. Donovan. submitted a list Of
permanent improvements that the
City Of Washington should have.
which was incorporated in the Con-
gressional Record.
y
An investigation made at that time
by Auditor Donovan and Represent
ative Moore showed that no city In
the country Of more than 80. 900 peo-
pie In without a bonded debt. except
Washington and Fort Smith. Ark.
OF course, II Is better for an indil
vidual or a community 10 he entirely
free from debt IL possible, but equal
ly, Of course, 1t is generally .recoR-
nized that improvements that are to
be enjoyed by people not vet alive
should not be provided wholly 1T the
expense Of people now living.
II the objection is urged that a
bond issue might lead to reckless use
Of money. the answer Is that we are
obliged to rely on the good sense and
good faith Of the Commissioners, II
powers not now possessed are given
them, and that after all no expendi-
ture Of the proceeds OF a bond issue
would be possible until authorized by
Congress.
A careful survey should be made
of the public works to be carried on
under bond issue, their approx
mate cost, how much Of this District
taxpayers should pay In a few years
time and how the remainder Of the
cost should he aIIocated through
future years to be absolutely Just to
those who must eventually redeem the
bonds with interest.