Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-10
D. c. GOVERNMENT
COSTS ARE SHOWN
SLIGHTLY HIGHER
Per Capita Expenditures in
Year to June 80, 1881,
Are $62.94.
CENSUS BUREAU SAYS
TOTAL is $44,819,967
Figures Vary With Report of D. J.
Donovan-Property Value
$1,s34,s 5s,oos
Payments per capita for maintenance

Payments per capita for maintenance
OF the general departments of the Dis
tricts city government for the fiscal
year ended June 80. 1880, amounted to
SCI "a, a slight increase over the SCI OIL
in 1929. and an enormous increase over
the $2842 for 1918. according to a
study of the city's financial statistics
released today by the Bureau of the
Census.
The total payments for maintenance
reported by the bureau was $50 1857, 904.
Payments for public service enterprises
totaled 81 1919 interest on debt, $55;
OUTLAWS for public Improvements. sl3.-
o68, $50, total altogether of $44,819, s67.
Figures at Variance.
The figures as set up do not agree
with the figures in the annual report
for that year by the District auditor,
Daniel J. Donovan, because different
methods of setting up the accounts are
followed.
Mr.. Donovan explained that under
the law governing his Office, he is re-
quired to set up accounts showing the
source of the money expended. and that
the Census Bureau has standard tables
of its own, into which it breaks down"
the entries from all of his books. The
Census Bureau is interested in total
Payments, anu ulSTESdTQS Lie Vi
the money altogether.
As an example. Mai Donovan ex-
planned that the bureau takes into its
account for expenses for the Police De-
partment the salaries of crossing off,
GERS, which are paid by the local street
railway companies. On the Districts
books, however, these expenses are
charged to miscellaneous trust fund
deposits" along with expenses for po-
lice pensions and many other items.
Bureau Figure Higher.
According to Donovan's 1880 report,
the total expenditures were $40,214,-
III IS, instead of the $44819,967. The
bureaus figure. however, in addition to
the expenditures from general appro-
priations, takes in payments from the
trust funds, the special funds. the gaso-
line tax. the water rents and other
items, which are set out separately in
the Donovan report. This lists expendi-
lures from the water fund at eI,426,-
852.0l; miscellaneous trust fund de-
posts, S669, 709.S7; teachers retirement
fund S403, 422.S2; policemen's and fire.
mems relief fund, S639, 1897: gasoline
tax, s1,738, 0S2.92, and many other
smaller items
The S55 mentioned in the Census Blu
reau's report as interest on debt. al
though actually paid out during 1880,
was charged of the books long ago The
District has no bonded or floating in
debtedneSs. 1t is on strictly cash basis
The last of its bonds were retired on
August /. 1924, by setting aside fund
In the United States Treasury for the
payment of all bonds then outstanding
with interest TO that date. There still
remain about $lO2,900 of these bonds
which have never been surrendered, al
though they ceased to draw interest in
1924. Every now and then one of them
is presented to the Treasury. and it is
promptly paid off.
No Net Debt.
The Census Bureau report on thi5
feature says: There was no net debt
for Washington. June 80, 1880, the
amount of the assets in the sinking
fund exceeding the small amount of
funded debt outstanding. The same
condition existed in 1929. but in 1918
the per capita debt was SO 40"
The assessed valuation of property in
Washington subject to ad valorem taxes
Il given as $1,834. $4,000 The levy
for all purposes was $24. 650,32 or
$5075 per capita, all for the "city cor
poration" The per capita tax levy
was s4e.s5 in 1929 and $20.6S in 1918.