real-estate owners and residents having approved the issuing of a license for the selling of liquor as provided in the tenth section of the act of the legislative assembly, approved August 23, 1871, imposing licenses. OCTOBER 28, 1876. Ordered, That the office of commissioner of deeds for the District of Columbia be, and the same is hereby, abolished. This action is taken because of the doubts entertained in some quarters as to the validity of the law of the legislative assembly creating this office, and the question which consequently arises as to the validity of the certificates of these commissioners to the acknowledgments of deeds. II. REPORT OF THE AUDITOR AND COMPTROLLER. AUDITOR AND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, D. C., Columbia Building, Washington, December 1, 1876. GENTLEMEN: I submit the following report of the operations of this office, and of the receipts and expenditures of the District government for the year ending November 30, 1876: There were received during this period From appropriations: Balances on hand December 1, 1875 Act July 31, 1876, maintenance of fire department... From taxes and revenues from other sources: $914 15 910,631 00 25,000 00 178,102 57 Received since December 1, 1875.... 1,287, 224 39 From anticipation of taxes: By loan of Riggs & Co., act August 16, 1876........ Balance on hand December 1, 1875 Total receipts to December 1, 1876.... 150, 000 00 There was expended during the same period on account of— $2,551, 872 11 Sundry expenses District office, including rent, fuel, re 23,080 25 624 97 7,166 43 3,564 10 13,250 96 128,861 45 130,364 57 Board of health on account of garbage contract. Board of health on account of medicines and medical at Late District government.. Redemption county school-bonds. Interest on funded debt of the District of Columbia and late corporations of Washington and Georgetown.. Interest on 3.65 bonds, act approved March 14, 1876.... 22, 181 05 6,087 34 376,434 29 10, 174 67 101, 312 34 37,712 33 29, 174 96 1,413 48 2,550 00 533, 177 38 Less deficit in account of the late treasurer, James S. Wilson... Balance cash on hand December 1, 1876...... The above balance is subject to deductions for outstanding obligations not yet matured, viz: $2,428, 888 06 122,984 05 10,041 83 112,942 22 The revenues from taxes due the 1st instant, and other sources, will be sufficient to meet these obligations when they mature, and to pay the interest on the funded debt falling due January 1, 1877. The accompanying statement, marked "Appendix A," will show more in detail the receipts, and "Appendix B" the expenditures, during the year. "Appendix C" will show appropriation balances on hand December 1, 1876. The account of the late treasurer, James S. Wilson, has been audited, and there is found a balance of $10,041.83 due from him for moneys received by him after the 29th April, 1876, and not deposited with the Treasurer of the United States, or accounted for. The District is fully secured, and will not suffer any loss by his misapplication of its funds. A statement of the amount due from him has been transmitted to the attorney of the District for such proceedings as may be necessary for its recovery. Statements of expenditures on account of special improvements on the unassessed streets are being prepared from the records of the late board of audit as rapidly as practicable, and will be transmitted to you as they are finished, as a basis for assessments against owners of property on the line of the improvements. The number of audits made since my last annual report is 3,136, and of warrants drawn and countersigned in payment thereof, 15,568. It gives me great pleasure to say that all legal claims against the present government of the District of Columbia have been audited and paid without delay; and this office is not informed of any such claim now due which remains unsatisfied. Very respectfully, JOHN T. VINSON, Auditor and Comptroller District of Columbia. The honorable COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. APPENDIX A.-Statement by the auditor and comptroller of the receipts of the District of Columbia, as reported by the treasurer, from December 1, 1875, to November 30, 1876. |