Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-07

Total collections. l,
Contributions by the United States. /,
Balance in treasury Dec. ]. 1892.

The Reriew criticises my assertion that from
July to November the District treasury is
practically empty, and that we could not meet
our obligations but for the kindness OF the
treasury officials who honor our acquisitions
during this period and reimburse the treasury
from the taxes received in November. and says
further: Let US assume the aggregate appro-
priation to be $4,000. 600. an equal moiety Of
which is to be paid by the District and by the
United States. The law fixes November and
May as the two periods in which the District
half shall be equally collected. It is then SO
collected. There is not scintilla of authority
for the Treasury Department to anticipate these
dates by advancing and paying ont the District
proportion. They are not so advanced nor paid
out The Treasury Department during the
period from July to November simply paws out
part OF the proportion of the appropriation
due from the United States. There is hence no
question Of reimbursing advances made upon
the District moiety. 1t is only a payment
upon the half due from the United States"
This argument proceeds upon the assumption
that because 1000, 900 are appropriated for a
given year one-half Of that sum is necessarily
due from the United States. But this is not
the case, since the indebtedness Of the United
States is measured within the limits of the ap-
preparation by the receipts of the District. If
the latter should be only s2, 600. 900 the United
States would owe but corresponding e.
900 900 and the total amount of the appropria-
ton available would be but "a, 900 900. 1t follows
that if S2,5O0.0O0 be advanced by the United
States between July and December out of an
appropriation of S5,0O00O0 it would not Of
necessity be merely payment upon its own
indebtedness, but might also be in part loan.
The appropriations for the fiscal year 1879
the first under the present form of govern
ment-and also those of 1880. being uncondi-
tionai were paid in full regardless Of the fact
that the revenues collected by the District for
those years fell 500 900 short Of the amouns
contributed by the United States. To prevent
similar occurrence thereafter Congress
placed this important proviso in the Apr o.
priation act Of June 4, 1880, and in every su b.
sequent one: provided, That the Commission
ers shall not make acquisitions upon the
appropriations from the treasury Of the
United States for larger amount
during said fiscal year than they make on the
appropriations arising from the revenues of
said District" This law, technically construed.
might be held to require that each and every
requlsition whenever made should be paid in
equal parts from the revenues Of the United
States and Of the District-a construction
which would of course cause great enabarass-
ment Or it might be held as giving limited
discretionary power to make advances from
time to time during the year out of the United
States funds when there is q reasonable GER
tainty that the amount SO advanced, considered
with reference to the year IN its entirety, will
not exceed the amount raised by the District
from tax collections and balances, II any, from
the previous years. The question came up for
discussion and was fully considered by theTreas-
ury Department in 1880, with the result that
the plan now in vogue was adopted. What
m cant therefore by ''the kindness Of the treas
ury officials" was merely that they have been
broad and liberal rather than NARROW and tech
nical in constituting the law. This leniency does
not extend beyond the LIST Of May, however, as
between that date and June 80 the acquisitions
are closely watched at the treasury, and every
precaution taken to guard against payment by
the United States in excess of the amount
raised by the District
Upon the question Of depositing tax collec-
lions in the banks instead Of the United States
treasury have expressed no opinion. nor shall
/ do so unless some occasion arise that might
seem to make 1t necesssry--a contingency not
At all likely to occur. J. T. PETTY.