Evening Star Newspaper, December 5, 1898, Page 3

THE EVENING STAR, MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1898. Se 3 erease of $180.488.774 from the precedia: It is estimated upon the basis of present venue laws that the receipts of the Gov- ernment for the year ending June 20, 18.9, expenditures deficiency cf resulting in Ist of December, 1 in the Treasury gold coin amounting gold bullion amounting to r builion amounting to $3,- and other forms of money amount- 1898, there was nds in circulation, er not mec ‘Treasury holdings, was $1,886 population at the per capita circulation same date ther gold bullien am strengthening in connection with the war ment to maintain has established more at standard, firmly than inflow of gold to the Treasury holdings on Ne 885.162 as compared with $153, Yomber 1, 189% 3,147 on No- and an incre November 1, jovember 1, ISOS. The present ra‘! net Treasury gold to outstanding Go ernment liabilities, including United States of 1800, silver certifi- standard sil- Hotes, Treasury not certificates, and fractional silve! pared with 16.96 per cent. No’ ommendation ember, 1897. py of the Unite redemptien sich notes States notes holder of the paying gold + all the more gence law would in- safety of the s of the country. ecommended hich a portion of the which greenbacks should he ned upon pr that other legisla- there is an obvious that our do- needs of our to such needs fs a is commended to on of the Congress. ged relations « United States to pel the prompt ired islands. ned to its colo- of about two mil- hip lines communi- » world’s mar- nters of the d States will Hawaii with facilitie for their export and American m performed in the es that this service, second line tional way. Details and me of this pury for the accomplish- discussed in the mission for the purpose tie Investigations with prevention of acquired an Island of Cul ameyeeyoe ery reason to expect. The sanitary new relations the acquisition less important eeoger It is my earnest d considered by com- at everything may be of our soldiers in those tion from the hew my recommendation that th of Congress may priation made Mission of experts to be appointed for the ose indicated. INCREASE r the act of Cong authorizing Ss approved April Congress, or a declar: Congress that war exists,” mum of 62,000, yrized in said act. ¢ are now in the Regular Army 1 of any war in become in- transfer in the service or absorption by promo- or honorable Secretary of War may commissioned honorable discharge or enlisted men; ntained in this Act shall be norizing the permanent in- f the commissioned or enlisted force nd that now pro- ‘orce prior to the pas- cept as to the increase y-five majors provided for in sec- of supernumerary ¢ransfer of supernumerary end nothing Regular Army by the law in of legislation for the per- f the Army is therefore the recommendation of the retary of War for that purpose has my unqualified approval. There can be no ques- tion that at this time, and probably for some time in the future, one hundred thous- and men will be none too many to meet the necessities of the situation. At all events, whether that number shall be required per- manently or not, the power should be given to the President to enlist that force if in his discretion it should be necessary; and the further discretion should be given him to recruit for the Army within the above limit from the inhabitants of the islands with the government of which we are charged. It is my purpose to muster out the entire Volunteer Army as soon as the Congress shall provide for the increase of the regu- lar establishment. This will be only an act of justice and will be much appreciated by the brave men who left their homes and employments to help the country in Its emergency Pacific Railway In my last annual message I “The Union Pacific Railway, Main Line, was sold under the decree of the United States court for the district of Nebraska on the 1st and 2d of November of this year. The amount due the Government consisted of the principal of the subsidy bonds, $27,236,- and the accrued interest thereon, $31, .711.75, making the total indebtedness $58,448,223.75. The bid at the sale covered the first-mortgage lien and the entire mort- gage ciaim of the Government, principal and interest.” This left the Kansas Pacific case uncon- cluded. By a decree of the court in that case an upset price for the property was fixed at a sum which would yield to the government only $2,500,000 upon its lien. The sale at the instance of the Govern- ment was postponed first to December 15, 1897, and later upon the application of the United States was postponed to the 16th day of February, 1898. Haying satisfied myself that the interes‘s of the Government required that an effort should be made to obtain a larger sum, I directed the Secretary of the ‘Treasury, un- der the act passed March 3, 1887, to pay out of the Treasury to the persons entitled to receive the same the amounts due upen all prior mortgages upon the Eastern and Middle Divisicns of said railroad out of any money in the Treasury not other propriated. Whereupon the Attern eral prepared a petition to be present the court offering to redeem said prior liens fn such manner as the court might direct, and praying that thereupon the United States might be held to be subrogated to all the rights of said prior Hen holders and that a receiver might be appointed to take possession of the mortgaged premises and maintain and operate the same until the court or Congress otherwise direczed. Thereupon the reorganization committee agreed that if said petition was withdrawn and the sale allowed to proceed on the 16th of February, 1898, they would bid a sum at the sale which would realize to the Gov- ernment the entire principal ef its debt, 0, Be that no better pice could be obtained and appreciating the difficulties u ler which the Government would labor if it should become the purchaser of the road at the sale, in the al e of any nu- thority by Congress to take charge of and operate the road I directed that "pon the guaranty of a minimum bid which should give the Government the principal of its debt the sale should proceed. By this transaction the Government secured an ad- vance of $3,803,000 over and above the sum which the court had fixed as the upset price, and which the reorganization com- mittee had declared was the maximum which they would pay for the prope It is a gratifying fact that the result of these proceedings against the Union Pacific system and the Kansas Pacific line is that the government has received on its subsidy claim the sum of $64,7: an increase of $18,997.1 sum which the reorganization committee origi- nally agreed to bid for the joint property, the government receiving its whole claim principal and interest. on the Union Pacific and the principal of its debt on the Kansas Pacific railroad. Steps had been taken to foreclose the goy- ernment’s lien upon the Central Pactfic Railroad Company, but before action was ng commenced Congress passed an act, ap- proved July 7, 1898, creating a commissic consisting of of the Treas- ury, the Attorr nd the Secre- tary of the Interior and their successors in office, with full power to settle the indebt- edness to the government growing out of the » of bonds in ald of the construction of the Central Pacific and Western Pacific bond-alded railroads, subject to the ap- proval of the President. No report has yet been made to me by the commission thus created. Whatever action is had looking to a settlement of the indebtedness in accordance with th ferred to will be duly submitted to re- a Building for Department of Justice. I deem it my duty to call to the attention of Congress the condition of the present building occupied by the Department of Justice. The business of that department has increased very greatly since it was es- tablished in its present quarters. The building now occupied by it is neither large enough nor of suitable arrangement for the proper accommodation of the business ot the department. The supervising architect has pronounced it unsafe and unsuited for the use to which ft fs put. The Attorney General in his report states that the library of the department fs upon the fourth floor, and that all the space allotted to it is so crowded witn books as to dangerously over- load the structure. ‘The first floor is occu- pied by the Court of Claims. The building ts of an old and dilapidated appearance, un- suited to the dignity which should attach to this important department. A proper regard for the safety, comfort and convenience of the officers and em- ployes would justify the expenditure of a yeral sum of money in the erection of a building of commodious proport and handsome appearance upon the very advantageous site already sscured for that purpose, including the ground occupied by thy nt structure and adjoining vacant sing in all a frontage of 201 feet ania avenue and a depth of 136 new pas: In this connection I may likewise refer to the inadequate accommodations provided for the Supreme Court in the Capitol, and suggest the wisdom of making provision for the erection of a separate building for ane court and its officers and library upon avail- able ground near the Capitol. THE POSTAL SERVICE. postal service of the country a with extraordinary growth. Within years both the revenues and the ex- The 's of the Post-Office Department multiplied threefold. In the last te. s they have nearly doubled. Our pos- business grows much more rapidly than our population. It now Involves an expen- diture of $10,000,000 a year, numbers 000 post-offices, and enrolls 200,000 em- ployes. This remarkable extension of a service which is an accurate index of tae public conditions presents gratifying evi. dence of the advancement of education, of the increase of communication and bus- iness activity, and of the improvement of mail facilities leading to their constantly avgmenting use. The war with Spain laid new and excep- tional labors on the Post-Office Department. The mustering of the military and naval forces of the United States required special mail arrangements for every camp and every campaign. The communication be- tween home and camp was naturally eager and expectant. In some of the larger places of rendezvous as many as fifty thousand Jetters a day required handling. This ne- ——— cessity was met by the prompt detafl and dispatch of experienced men from the es- tablished force and by directing all the in- strumentalities of the railway-mail and post-office service, so far as necessary, to this new need. Congress passed an act em- pewering the Postmaster-General to estab- lish offices or branches at every military camp or station, and under this authority the postal machinery was speedily put into effective operation. Under the same authority, when our forces moved upon Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines they were attended and for lowed by the postat service. Though the act of Congress authorized the appointment of postmasters where necessary, it was early determined that the public interests would best be subserved, not by new desig- nations, but by the detail of experienced men fatmiliac with every branch of the service, and this policy was steadily fol- lowed. When the territory which was the theater of conflict came into our possession it became necessary to re-establish mail cilities for the resident population as well s to provide them for our forces of occu- pation, and the former requirement was met through the extension and application of the latter obligation. I gave the requi- site authority and the same general prin- ciple was applied to this as to other branches of civil administration under mil- itary occupation. The details are more pac ticularly given in the report of the Post- master-General, and while the work is only Just begun, it is pleasing to be able to say that the service in the territory which has come under our control is already mate- tially improved. INCREASE OF THE NAVY. The following recommendations of the Secretary of the Navy relative to the in- crease of the Navy have my earnest ap- proval: 1. Three seagoing sheathed and coppered battle ships of about 13,500 tons trial dis- placement, carrying the heaviest armor and most powerful ordnance for vessels of their class, and to have the highest practicable speed and great radius of action. Esti- mated cost, exclusive of armor and arma- ment, $3,600,000 each. 2. Three sheathed and coppered armored cruisers of about 12,000 tons trial displace- ment, carrying the heaviest armor and most powerful ordnance for vessels of their ch , and to have the highest practicable speed and great radius of action. Esti- mated cost, exclusive of armor and arma- ment, $4,000,000 each. 3. Three sheathed and coppered protected cruisers of about 6,000 tons trial displace- ment; to have the highest practicable speed and great radius of action, and to carry the most powerful ordnance suitable for vessels of their clas Estimated cost, exclusive of armor and armament, §: ch. sheathed and coppered cruisers of about 2.500 tons trial displacement; to have the highest speed compatible with good cruising qualities, great radius of action, and to carry the most powerful ordnance suited to vessels of their class. Jstimated cost, exclusive of armament, $1,141,800 each. I join with the Secretary of the Nav recommending that the grades of Admiral and Vice-Admiral be temporarily revived, to be filled by officers who have specially distinguished themselves in the war with Srain. THE TWELFTH CENSUS. I earnestly urge upon Congress the im- portance of early legislation providing for the taking of the Twelfth Census. This 1s necessary in view of the large amount of work which must be performed in the prep- aration of the schedules preparatory to the ebumeration of the population. TH PENSION ROLLS. There were on the pension rolls on June 20, 1898, 993,714 names, an increase of near- y 18,000 over the number on the rolls on the same day of the preceding year. The amount appropriated by the act of Decem- ber 22, 1896, for the payment of pensions for the fiscal year of 1898 was $140,000,000. Eight million seventy thousand eight hun- dred and seventy-two dollars and forty-six cents was appropriated by the act of March 31, 1898, to cover deficiences in Army pes ons, and repayments in the sum of § 020, making a total of $148,082.84 ilable for the payment of pensions dur- ing the fiseal year 1898. The amount dis- bursed from that sum $144, 80, leaving a balance of $3,431,012.99 unexpend- ed on the 30th of June, 1898, which was covered into the Treasury. There were 389 names added to the rolls during the year by special acts passed at the second ses- sion of the Fifty-fifth Congress, making a total of 6486 pensioners by Congressional enactments since 1861. The total receipts of during the past r the Patent Offic a surplus of $172,314.65. The public lands disposed of by the Gov- ernment during the year reached §,4 acres, an increase of 614,780. the previou: year. The total r public lands during the fiscal ed to 82 5.18, an increase of $110,061 over the preceding year. The lar n forest reservations, braced in the ele again became subject to the operations of the proclamations of February 1897, creating them, which added an estimated amount of 19,951,360 acres to the area em- braced in the reserves previously created. In addition thereto two new reserves were created during the year—the Pine Mountain and Zaca Lake Reserve in California, em- bracing 1,644.504 acres, and the Prescott Reserve in Arizona, embracing 10,240 aer while the Pecos River Reserve in New Mex- ico has been changed and enlarged to §n- clude 120,000 additional acres. At the close of the year thirty forest res- tions, not including those of the Afog- > Forest and the Fish-Culture Reserve in Alaska, had been created by Executive proclamations under section 24 of the act of March 3, 18M, embracing an estimated area of 40,719,474 acres. The Department of the Interfor has Inau- gurated a forest system, made possible by the act of July, 1898, for a graded force of officers in control of the reserv This system has only been in full operation since August, but good results have already been secured in many sections. The reports re- celved indicate that the system of patrol has not only prevented destructive fires from gaining headway, but has diminished the number of fires. The special attention of the Congress is called to that part of the report of the Sec- retary of the Interior in relation to the Five Civilized Tribes. It is noteworthy that the general condition of the Indians shows marked progress. But one outbreak of a serious character occurred during the year, and that among the Chippewa Indians of Minnesota, which happily has been sup- pressed. While it has not yet been practicable to enforce all the provisions of the act of June 28, 1898, “for the protection of the people of the Indian Territory, and for other pur- poses,” it is having a salutary effect upon the nations composing the Five Tribes. The Dawes Commission reports that the most gratifying results and greater advance to- ward the attainment of the objects of the Government have been secured in the past year than in any previous year. I can not too strongly indorse the recommendation of the Commission and of the Secretary of the Interior for the necessity of providing for the education of the 30,000 white children -esident in the Indian Territory. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. ‘The Department of Agriculture has been active in the past year. Explorers have been sent to many of the countries of the er pended by the act of June 4,9} Eastern and Western Hi eres for seeds and plants that may be useful to the United States and with the further view of openjng up markets for our surplus products. The Forestry Division of- the Department is giving special attention to the treeless regions ‘of our country and is intreducing species specially adapted to semiarid regions. Forest fires which se- riously interfere with production, especially in irrigated regions, are being studied that losses from this cause may be avoided. The Department is inquiring into the use and abuse of water in many States of the West and collating information regarding the laws of the States, the decisions of the courts, and the customs of the people in this regard, so that uniformity may be se- cured. Experiment stations are becoming more effective every year. The annual ap- propriation of $720,000 by Congress is sup- plemented by $400,000 from the States. Na- tion-wide experiments have been conducted to ascertain the suitableness as to soil and climate and States for growing sugar beets. The number of sugar factories has been doubled in the past tWo years and the ubil- ity of the United States to produce its own sugar from this ‘source has been clearly demonstrated. | * The Weather Bureau forecast and obser- vation stations haye been extended sround the Caribbean Sea, to,give early warning of the approach of hurricanes from the south seas to our fleets and merchant martae. Capital Centennial. In the year 1900 wifl occur the centennial anniversary of the founding of the city of Washington for the permanent Capital of the Government of the United States by authority of an act of Congress approved July 16, 1790. In May, 1800, the archives and general offices of the Federai Govern- ment were removed to this place. On tae 17th of November, 1800, the National Cor- gress met here for the first time, and as- sumed exclusive control of the Federal District and City. This interesting event assumes all the more significance when we recall the circumstances attending the choosing of the site, the naming of the Capital in honor of the Father of his Coun- try, and the interest taken by him in the adoption of plans for its future develop- ment on a magnificent scale. These original plans have been wrought out with a constant progress and a signal success even beyond anything their framers could have foreseen. The people of the country are justly proud of the distinctive beauty and government of the Capital, and of the rare instruments of science and education which here find their natural home. A movement lately inaugurated by the citizens to have the anniversary celebrated with fitting ceremonies, including perhaps the establishment of a handsome perma- nent memorial to mark so historical an oc- casion, and to give it more legal recogni- tion, has met with general favor on the part of the public. I recommend to the Congress the grant- ing of an appropriation for this purpose and the appointment of a committee from its respective bodies. It might also be ad> viable to authorize the President to ap- point a committee from the country at large, which, acting with the Congressional and District of Columbia committees, can complete the plans for an appropriate national celebration. The alien contract law Is shown by ex- perience to need some amendment; a meas- ure providing better protection for seamen is proposed; the rightful application of the eight-hour law for the benefit of labor and of the principle of “arbitration are sug- gested for consideration; and I commend these subjects to the careful attention of the Congress. : The several departmental reports will be laid before you. They give in great detaii the conduct of the affairs of the Govern- ment during the past year and discuss many questions upon which the Congress may feel called upon to act. WILLIAM McKINLEY. EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 5, 1898. ———_—__-e______ RECEIPTS AND EXPENSES Report of Chairman of Committee in Charge of Home for Soldiers, The Work Done and Means Expended in Behalf of Members of Dis- trict Regiment. Mrs. Lizzie W. Calver, president of the Legion of Loyal Women, has submitted a report covering the operations of the tem- porary home for District soldiers, lately closed, showing receipts and disbursements as follows: “As chairman of the committee in charge of the temporary home for the homeless sol- diers of the Ist Regiment, District of Co- lumbia Volunteers, [ have the honor to re- port that, as soon as the necessity for this home was known, and it was decided to es- tablish it, the house No, 413 9th street was rented, cleaned, put in order and furnish- ed, provision being made for the comforta- ble lodging and nourishing subsistence of one hundred soldiers, and the home was ready to receive this number upon the ar- rival of the regiment in Washington on their furlough of sixty days. As necessary to the proper management of the home and with a view to the strictest economy, there were employed a bookkeeper, a housekeep- er, & superintendent of the building, a cook and a janitor. “One hundred and forty-eight in all of the members of the regiment were received at the home. Of these 36 were sent to hos- pitals as too sick to remain in quarters with the others, and 85 received medical attention in our institution, 124 prescriptions for them having been compounded at drug store and 100 at the United States nsary, all written by Dr. Charles V. Pet- who gave his services gratuitously. es members of our regiment 159 sol- 's, who were passing through our city, recelved transient accommodation in lodg- ing, meals and lunches to take with them, 250 lunches having been furnished from our Kitchen. “Every attention to the comfort of those at the home was given, and it was needed, as all of them were more or less sick during their stay with us as the result of their campaign in Santiago. Receipts and Disbursements. “Our cash receipts were as follows: From employes of the government printing office, $332. from the citizens’ committee, $300; from employes of the pension office, $67; from employes in office of auditor for Post Office Department, $40.23; from employes in Agricultural Department, $36.28; from em- ployes in office of auditor for War Depart- ment, $25.40; from Legion of Loyal Women and receipts at office, $618.12; from receipts from articles sold on closing, $119.96; total, $1,539.84. = “Our expenses were as follows: Rent of building, $200; help, $150; light and fuel, $95.15; medicines, $30; laundry, $22.08; fur- niture and utensils, $70.78; provisions, $746.- 72; miscellaneous and incidentals, $59.75; total cash expense, $1,374.43. The balance of receipts, $165.41, has been turned over to the relief fund ‘of the Legion of Loyal Women, for the rellef of needy and worthy soldiers, their widows and orphans, during the coming winter. «i zs Other Supplies. “In addition to the!cash receipts, we re- ceived donations of ‘provisions, valued at $850; handkerchiefs, $9; pajamas, $30; night- shirts, $20; underclothing, $15; all of which were used in the hoine, making the total expenditure for thesé homeless boys of our regiment during: their necessary sojourn with us $1,798.43): lat this connection, and in behalf of those cared for by us, I desire to tender our si thanks to the char- itable citizens of ‘the city and to the citi- zens’ committee wha Cross Society for their generous in this worthy un- dertaking.” < DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS They Sobmit Their President Annnal Report to McKinley. OPERATIONS FORTHE LAST FISCAL YEAR Therease in the Police aud Fire Recommended. MORE SCHOOL BUILDINGS NEEDED A Public Playground Asked For--The Public Library--Work of the Health Office and the Engineer De- partment. pease ees The report of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year end- ed June 30, 1898, was submitted to the President today. It is as follows: Executive Office, Commissioners of the District of Colum) Washington, December 5, 189% The President The Commissioners of the District of Co- lumbia herewith submit for the informa- tion of Congress, as required by law, their annual report of the official doings of the government of said District for the fiscal year which ended June 30, 1898. Appropriations and Revenues. The appropriations for the year which were payable out of the general revenues, excepting those for the water department, were $6,091,444 The receipts from taxes and other resources applicabie to the pay- ment of said appropriations (including the amount contributable by the United States as its share of the District ex: s, and a surplus of 30.26 of District revenues of former years) were $7,009,026. ‘The expenditures of the water department were $208,855.35, and were wholly payable out of the revenues received from water rents and taxes. The revenues of said de- partment, including a_ balance of former years, amounting to $78,572.78, were $400,- 970.56. Debt. The funded debt of the District of Colum- bia on June 30, 1896, was $16,043,920.18. No portion of it was incurred under the present form of the municipal government. The treasurer of the United States, who is charged with its management, reports it in detail: “spuoq Jo uopidy, AayYIRAL JO WOH} vsodsoo oFH] = S “SRANCSLA Eg Rn 43 BESEe) |g =P ee S25 & 5 53 2. i 3 a Raa 1 =o = 2 | eee | ot i B | aE B58 12 2 ao |e Ee 388 | : 233 | Miscellaneous Indebtedness, The District has no floating debt that its revenues are not much more than sbfficient to meet. But as the Commissioners have no authority to make expenditures without specific authority from Congress, they are obliged to withhold payment of certain cur- rent and emergent obligations for whuch appropriations have not been made. These are comparatively small in amount, and are all settled from year to year. Certificates of Indebtedness, The District is required to receive in pay- ment of special assessments or of arrears of general taxes $11,175.63 of drawback cer- tificates which were issued as rebates for overcharges or interest on account of spe- cial assessments levied by former munici- pal governments, and is also under obliga- tions to issue further like drawback certifi- cates for about $600 whenever a certain outstanding invalid special assessment lien for $207.74, bearing interest at 10 per cent per annum to July 2, 1890—the date of the act of Congress authorizing the issue of said drawbacks—is presented for redemp- tion. To the extent of those two amounts the District is practically indebted to the owners of the certificates and the holder of the lien. ‘There was outstanding July 1, 1898, in the hands of private holders, $3,766.07 of liens against private property for special im- provements and secured by special assess- ments of like amount levied on the property against which they lie, and $1,343.48 of serip issued against private property by the late corporation of the city of Washington and secured by special assessments of like amount for the cost of abutting public im- provements. In case any of said assess- ments should for any reason become uncol- lectible, the liens or scrip would be redeem- able in drawbacks issued under said act of June 2, 1800, in lieu of such void assess- ments, and receivable for general and spe- cial taxes, and to that extent become an obligation of the District. There was also outstanding on same date 8 per cent certificates (greenbacks) issued under the legislative assembly act of May 29, 1873, amounting to $300, With about $450 of accrued interest thereon. Any obligation that the District is under on account of any of the above certificates is much more than offset by the special assessments due the District, amounting to $18,143.40, and accrued interest thereon at the rate of 10 per centum per annum for an average of more than twenty years, and cash collections of such assessments now in the hands of the treasurer of the United States amounting to $8,549.36. The treasurer of the United States has Tecommended that all of said unpaid assess- Personal property ments in his custody be transferred to the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, and that the cash now in his hands, from collections but not needed to pay outstanding S per centum certificates of indebtedness and the interest due thereon, be denosited in the treasury of the United States as general revenues of said District. 6248, and entitled “A bill to provide for the dis- position of assessment certificates of the District of Columbia, and for other pur- poses,” has been introduced and referred to the committee on trict of Columbia. in favor of the that bill, fied so as to provide that the Commission- ers may use a necessary portion of the gen- eral revenues of the District, as ma: time to time be needed, to retire ing drawback certiticates amounting to Jess than $250, issued under the act of Congress approved June 19, 1 provide for the revision and correction of assessments for special the Di pose: Assessment of taxable real estate and personal prived of spec'al assessmen:s A bill, H.R. intended accomplish that object, to to Congress the Dis- The Commissioners are legislation contemplated by but recommend that it be modi- from utstand- , entitled “An act to improvements in trict of Columbia, and for other pur- as contemplated by that act. Property in the District of Columbia July 1, 1898, and estimates tax derivable therefrom, Washington clty Taxable on land... $87,697,496 00 Taxable on improve- 862,425 00 $159, 559,921 00 Wasbington county: " Taxable on land, at $1.50. one $10,695,741 00 Taxable on improve- men at $1.50. z oo Taxable on land, at $1. oe... sess ees $4,508,609 00 Taxable on improve- ments, at $1... 1,230,600 00 — —— 5,739,200 60 Total assessed value of tax: ee real estate oo Washingto” city Washington county. Railroads, taxed on Bross receipts... $12,310,954 00 42,545. 00 Total assessed valne of taxable real estate und personal prop- erty in the District of Colum- bia on July 1, 1898... tof tax: Washington city, at $1.50 ses.t. +. $2,393,398 81 Washington “county, REBLOU «So so5. Washington county, at $1 57,892 09 Total real estate tax... $146,662 26 8.649 38,640 23 wass.at 4 per cent $46. 41,263 36 groms re ceipts street rail- ways,at 2 per cent 84 Total tax on personal property ‘Total tax on propert; pecrer reser $2,946.14 Rate of General Tax. The rate of general tax for the year was real and personal fixed at $1.50 on each $100 for all taxable personal property and for all real property except that used solely for agricultural purposes, the rate of which was $1 per $100 of assessed valuation. Estimates. Estimates for the fiscal year 1899 were prepared as required by the organic law ard submitted through the Secretary of the Treasury. 375.90, the water funds. The detalls of these esti- mates will be found in the book of esti- mates prepared by the Treasury Depa: ment, They amounted to $8,124,- including $140,85 -71, payable out of Defective License Laws. Contrary to their expectations, the Com- missioners were unable to ‘submit to Con- gress at its last session a draft of a bill to provide a schedule of license charges other than those pertaining to the issue of liquor licenses, more equitable than those which now prevail. The assessor reports that, so far as the other demands upon him permitted, he has been diligently collecting data on the sub- ject and collating it in connection with the experience of his own office relative there- to, and expects to soon have the matter in form for the consideration of Congress. Bathing Beach, The continued popularity of the municipal bathing beach is shown by the fact that during the past season its patronage very of 1897, ‘wely in excess of that of the season The appropriation for the beach during the current fiscal year enabled the authori- ties to maintain it and its appurtenances in good condition, and to add a few im- provements; but was not sufficient to pro- vide for all the modifications deemed de- sirable. cated at the present site it should be made as safe and enjoyable as practicable. Commissioners have included an item for that purpose in their estimates for 1900, So long as a bathing beach is io- The Public Play Grounds. The Commissioners feel that the public should provide play grounds for cities, where youthful freedom of action is not only restricted by lack of available area for outdoor games, but where the general safe- ty and comfort require that many of sucn diversions be prohibited on the streets. ‘The spaces in the city and suburbs where sports and pastimes in the open air may be permitted are becoming fewer and smaller with each successive year, and the opportunities for the municipality to ac- quire, without prohibitive cost, tracts with- in the city sufficiently large ‘for the pur- pose have practically passed. The reclaimed ground at Potomac Pack embraces locations readily adaptable at moderate expense for public outdoor field diversions; while the basins, in addition to bathing beach accommodation, would ad- mit of the establishment of public facilities for rowing and sailing under municipal regulation and surveillance. Disbursing Officer. The Commissioners have been greatly pleased with the results attained through the enlarged powers vested in the disburs- Departments - $196,587.846 00 paid with a promptness which was impos sible under the previous system, Street Cleaning. The contract for sprinkling, sweeping and cleaning of the streets and avenues of the District will expire on June 30, 18%, This contract was limited to a term of two years, the Commissioners believing that at the end of that time they would be able to demonstrate to Congress the advisability of abolishing the contract system and Nave the entire work of cleaning the streets, avenues and alleys done by day labor under their direct control. The attention of Con- gtess has been heretofore invited to the eminently satisfactory results attained by the hand-cleaning system here, and the ad visabilty of substituting ft in leu of the ccntract system threughout the District In order that a comparison might be made of the relative costs and results of the contract, hand cleaning and the day labor without contract systems, Congress, in the act making appropriations to pro- vide for the expenses of the government of the District of Columt propriating $1 the immediate direction of the stoners,” and directed that the thereof be so kept to show parative cost of the i sweeping by labor and under contract.” After a four months’ trial under this p vision, beginning July 1, 180s, the super: tendent of street cleaning reports that has cleaned daily 208,512 square total of 20,518,630 squs paving, at a total co: is at the rate of a trifle | cents per thousand square y tractors price for the same kind of work is 32 cents per thousand square yards. The superintendent also states that during this year, under the provision above qu the District will sweep by hand-cleanin method, at a cost of $15 n area equal to that swept by the o ata cost to the District of & 5 It should be also stated in tion that ‘ae he this connec- contractor pays his laborers on the han cleaning work $1 per day, while the District has paid them for the same work $1.25 per day. No stronger argument in favor of the abolition of the prese tem of contract work could be mad: t sys The contractor's price for machine clean- ing is 2 cents per thousand square yards; and it will served that the cost without con- tract (1¥ 1-3 cents) is more than 6 cents per thousand square yards cheaper. Under the hand-cleaning system the streets have been kept much cleaner and more pre ble during the busy hours of day clouds of dust sw faces of pedestrians, and no ¥ ous gangs of men or rattling sweeping machines in the mix night thy laboring men are give at better wages, under the than under the machin: Petitions and requests of repre: zens for the extension of the hand ts and ef the ile At the same time, more of our wor- ani n employment hand system have numerous, results of the ration of that s here have been so highiy satisfactory the Commissioners nvine entire area of the improve avenues should be cleaned by hand lab under direct municipal control without the intervention of a contractor Some comment has been made upon the spearance of the streets during the erly the accumulations have been removed This accumu- morning hours, before of the previous night by the street cleaning fc lation has been practically unavoidable during the past six months, for the reason that it was ni ary, in order to enable > authorities to make a comparison with work of the contractor, District's employe of the contracte that if the street cleaners beg bu: Washington would prese ance which every citizen should desir The Commissioners reiterate the follow. ing recommendation in their annual rv for the fiscal year 1897, relative to the Dis- trict militia: “The existing law requires that ‘all leases and contracts involving expenditures on ac- count of the militia shall be made by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia; and appropriations for the militia shall be disbursed only upon vouchers duly auth« ized by the Commisstoners, for which they shall be held strictly accountable.” “The great responsibility hereby imp upon the Commissioners fs without any responding control over the use of any of the money so appropriated. All expendi- tures of the District governm: upon itemized requisitions pared and approved by the heads of the departments making the same, through the property clerk or the superintendent preperty, and the Commissioners th these officers have direct knowledge control to the minutest detail of the In the matter of disbursements by the lita, a requi mi- ition for a bulk sum is ex- pended by the officers of the militia with- out consultation with, supervision over, cr other control whatever by officers appoint- ponsible to the Commissioners ioners, in view of this fact, end in consideration of the further fact that the militia is more properly a branch of the War Department, recommend that they be relieved of the responsibility afore- said, and that th ire supervision control of the militia be vested in the of War. refer anization has history of the Dis- ent call to arms in the con- Commissioners are pleased to to the influence which this or d upon the military trict. The r filet between this country and Spain found trained it well prepared to provid volunteers of all ranks for the which the District furnished tom: the national honor, and for other field public duty. The soldierly bearing of the District's representatives in the army dur- ing every phase of their service, in the camp, on the march, in the midst of pesti- lence and in the presence of the enemy is a matter of rational repute and of justiti- able local pride. Civil Service. The Commissioners renew their recora- mendation that the District government be placed within the purview of the civil vice laws. The reasons for such given in previous annual and ports, still apply, and with inc POLICE > many action, special re- ased force, DEPARTMENT. Earnest efforts have been made to fur- ther improve the condition of this depart- ment by strengthening it in every possibile way, So as to get age out of the small allowed the District for the prevention of crime, the arrest of criminals and the perférm- ance of the various duties which have from time to time bean put upon the polic Those who have grown old and feeble have been retired to the extent the moderate facilities afforded by Congress would per- mit and their places filled with young and the greatest adva: number of men active men. All the mounted men have been detailed to the county, enabling the department to give better attention to a large territory hitherto unprotectad The bicycle squad has been increased from five to twenty. The introduciion of the bicycle into the potice departme in this as well as in other cities, has ed a very decided benefit. The inen can get about so silently and swiftly as to enable them to cover a large area in a ort time. Instead of having them do general duty all over the city, as heretofore, they are now assigned to precincts and their duties pre- seribed by the lieutenants. These men are now provided with wheels at the expense of the department. The report of the major and superinten- dent shows that the department has no apologies to make for the record of the past year. It has done exceedingly wel Although unusual conditions have esisted in connection with the recent war, which brought many criminals and cranks to the city, the record is very good, especially in the keeping down and apprehending of criminals of the higher grade. Murders Committed. Fifteen murders were pommitted during the year, but with a single exception all the murderers have been captured and the department has strong grounds for believ- ing that the one at large will soon be appre- hended, a record which challenges com- parison with those of other municipalities. So much has been said in the past re- garding the inadequacy of the force in point of numbers, and the fact has been so thoroughly demonstrated, that it seems un- necessary to say more. Strong efforts will be made during the coming session of Con- Gress to secure its enlargement to a point which will be proper and in keeping with the work to be done and the property and territory to be guarded. Attention is more particularly invited at this time to the condition of the station houses throughout the city. Congress re- cently made ———— for additional stories on two of stations, and these houses are now equipped and quite comfortable, so far as the kee aed sanitary conditions are concerned. as a whole, how- ever, the stations are very far behind the