Evening star., 1902-05-01
GIVES UNUSUAL POWER
ALLEGED EFFECT OF CLAUSE IN
. APPROPRIATION BILL.
Makes District Auditor Supreme-Was
Adopted Without knowledge
of Commissioners.

In the discussion of the District appro-
priation bill at the District building there
is good deal of comment just now over
what is said to be a purely legislative
amendment in regard to the auditor of the
District, Mr.. j. T. Petty. The amendment
in question, if it were allowed to remain in
the bill, would grant the auditor an unusual
power. 1t would allow him to utterly ig-
more the District Commissioners in all mat
ters connected with the settlement Of ac-
counts and disbursements between the
Treasury Department officials and the Dis
trict government. The amendment further
directs the Treasury Department officials
in some of their duties. The amendment is
viewed with general disfavor, it is said. not
alone at the District building, but at the
Treasury Department as we'll.
The presence Of the amendment in the
bill was a surprise to the people at the Dis
trict building, and, 1t is declared, to a ma
jority of the board of Commissioners as
well. 1t is certain that the president Of
the board was not consulted, and the
amendment was inserted by the appropria-
ton committee Of the House at the in
stance Of the auditor.
Text Of Amendment.
The amendment in question reads as fol-
lows:
"That hereafter when differences arise in
the rendition examination or settlement Of
the accounts of the disbursing officer OF the
District of Columbia which would seem to
render necessary the suspension or dis
allowance of any item in said account the
treasury auditor shall notify the auditor
of the District of Columbia, who shall be
authorized to present in explanation such
facts or arguments as may, in his opinion,
tend to the prevention or removal of such
suspension Or disallowance. When the au-
ditor Of the District of Columbia is in
doubt as to the legality Of an account or
voucher for payment upon which he is re-
quirea to act he may apply to the controller
of the treasury for decision upon the
question involved, and that officer shall
render the same, and the decision SO rem
dered shall govern the accounting omcers
of the treasury in subsequently passing
upon the account aforesaid. The auditor of
the District Of Columbia shall continue to
prepare and countersgn all checks issued
by the disbursing officer, and no check in
volving the disbursement of public moneys
by the disbursing officer shall be valid un-
less countersigned by the auditor of the
District of Columbia" o
The language of the amendment is also
regarded at the District building some
who have read the appropriation bill that
it makes Mr.. Petty supreme In all matters
of District funds. According to the amend
ment the Commissioners would have moth
ing to say In regard to any questions aris-
ing in this connection and Mr.. Petty's per-
sonal views would have to be taken by the
Treasury Department officials without
further consideration. 1t is further pointed
out that in the amendment 1t Is 'the au-
ditor'' all the way through, with no regard
at the head of the District government.
Additional Authority for Auditor.
Another remarkable feature of the amend