Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-20
SENT TO CONTROLLER
Question of Annual Payments
to B. and O.
AUDITORS OPINION
MR.. GARRISON RECOMMENDS
REFERENCE OF THE MATTER.
Letter to Commissioners in Which Sit
uation is Explained-A Phase
Not Considered.

Not Considered.
The Commissioners have decided to refer
to the controller of the treasury the ques-
ton as to the payment of the annual in
staliments of $15OOO0 on account of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company in
the matter of the elimination of grade
crossings This action is taken on the rec
concentration of the District auditor, John
r. Garrison, who. in a letter to the Com
missiOnerS, explains the situation as fol-
lows:
Il have the honor to invite your atten-
ton to the provisions of the act of Con-
gress. approved February II. 1901, entitled
An act to provide for eliminating certain
grade crossings of railroads in the District
Of Columbia to require and authorize the
construction of new terminals and tracks
for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
| pany in the city of Washington, and for
other purposes which in section 8, appro
PIRATES $1.5OO.GOO. to be paid to said railroad
company. one-haf to be paid By the United
States and one-half from the revenues OF
the District of Columbia, in the following
terms:
| In consideration of the surrender by
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
under the requirements of this act, of its
| rights under the several acts of Congress
heretofore passed, and under it's several
| contracts with the municipal authorities of
the city of Washington authorized by said
! acts or Congress- and in consideration of
the large expenditures required for the con-
| Struction of the new terminals, viaduct and
| connecting railroads. required by this
act. to avoid all grade crossings of streets
and avenues within the city of Washington,
| ana, further. in consideration of the grant
and conveyance to the United States of
the lands included within the limits Of the
| roadway, and right of way of the Washing
| railroad. which Or
| street or avenue for the public benefit,
the sum of $15o0OOo. to be paid to said
| railroad company toward the cost of the
construction lof said elevated terminals,
| v1aduct and structures within the city OF
washington, shall be, and is hereby appro-
priated. one-half to be paid out of any
money IN the treasury Of the United States
not otherwise appropriated. the other half
TO be paid out of the revenues of the Dis
| trict of Columbia
The sum so appropriated shall be paid
upon presentation of a certificate by the
commissioners of the District of Column
bia that the said viaduct has been com
| pleted as required by this act.
Duty Of Commissioners.
| In order to provide for the one-half
of said amount chargeable to the District
| of Columbia. the Commissioners thereof
| shall, on the list Iday of July following the
passage of this act, and annually thereaf-
ter. pay over to the treasurer of the United
| otdteS, out OF the revenues of the District
of Columbia, thessum OF $15OOO0, to be in
vested by the said treasurer in interest
bearing bopds Of the United States or the
| District of Columbia. until the full sum of
| $IoO.0o0. as provided herein, shall have
| been. paid 80,
NO payment has been made out of the
| revenues of the District of Columbia to the
| treasurer of the United States as provided
| In the last paragraph of the section of said
| act above qAoted.a&
The act of Congress approved February
| Is. 1903. entitlad An act to provide for a
| union railroad station in the District of
Columbia. and for other purposes modifes
! the provisions of the act of February II.
1901, in many important features relating
| to the plan and project of the works au-
| thOrized. the location Of the station, the
location of the tracks the occupation of
| streets. the abandoning and closing of GER
| tain portions of streets and in other es-
| sential particulars.
Provisions of Act of 1908.
"Section of the aforenamed act of Feb
ruary %. 1903, contains the following pro-
| Visions: Except modified by this act, all
of the provisions of said act relating to the
| Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company .ap-
| proved February II, 1901. shall be and re-
| main in full force and effect
| The act of February p, 1905. does not in
| terms, repeal or modify the provisions of
section of the act of February u. 1901.
| which approprIateS S1,5OO,0oO to be paid to
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company.
| as therein provided. one-half from the rev.
| enues of the United States and one-half
| from the revenues of the District of Column
| bia, and requires the Commissioners of the
| District of Columbia. on the first day of
| July 1901, and annually thereafter, to pay
| over to the treasurer of the United States,
| out of the revenues of the District, the sum
| of SlJ0OtyO. TO be invested by said treasurer
| in Understanding bonds of the United
| States until the full sum of S70O,00O shall
| have been paid.
| dafc n q of he
| trict of Columbia for the fiscal year ending
| June 80 1901. arising from excess of ad-
| vances by the United States over the reve-
| nues of the District during said fiscal year
| was S22O 1872 81, and for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1902. the deficiency amounted
| to 81 1892 42.46. For the fiscal year ending
| June 30 1903, the surplus of revenues of
| the District in excess of advances during
! said fiscal year and without considering the
amount of deficiencies on June 30, 1901, and
June 3d. 1902. was $141 .9O7 80, and against
| said amount there remains an obligation to
| pay the interest on advances made prior to
June 3d. 1902. as required by section of
! the District appropriation act approved
March 3. 1903. which interest amounts to
$50. 1S4.S5.
Only as Advances.
| cit will thus be seen that payment of the
| amounts to the treasurer Of the United
| States of S150OO0 on July 1. 1901, and an
| nually thereafter, provided in section of
| the the act of February II. 1901. could not
| have been made from the revenues Of the
District Of Columbia but only as advances
from the Treasury of the United States. as
| authorized under acts of February II, 1901;
July /, 1902 and March 3. 1903.
The foregoing is respectfully submitted
| for your consideration, since in view Of the
| important changes in conditions made by
| the act Of February 49, 1903. to provide for
| a union RAILROAD station in the District of
| Columbia. the inquiry is suggested whether
the appropriation of 81, 800 900. one-half pay
| able from the revenues of the District of
Columbia, as provided in section s of the act