The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-19
WILL MAKE STUDY
OF D. G. FINANCES
New Chamber Committee Has
It's Initial Meeting.
WILL FIRST GATHER DATA
District Auditor Gives an Interest,"
ing Description of General Work
of His Office-Other Members sug-
geEts Ways and Means to Improve
the Existing Conditions.

The new committee on District finances
Of the Chamber Of Commerce held its in
itiaI meeting last night and went over the
subject in a general way. finding it u very
large field.
Near the close OF the meeting it was de-
termined that subcommittee should pre-
pare report setting forth the approx
innate yearly revenues OF the District from
all sources, the necessary current ex-
penses. the probable extraordinary ex-
penses for the next two years. and data
from other cities OF about the size Of
Washington as TO the manner in which
the cost Of permanent improvements are
financed
The subcommittee is composed OF
Alonzo Tweedale, Percival NJ. Brown. and
Joseph l. Weller.
The general committee will meet again
at the call or the chairman when the
subcommittee has completed its report
George W. White Is chairman Of the COM
mittee on finance and presided.
Auditor Describes Finances.
In the discussion upon the duties of the
committee Alonzo Tweedale. auditor OF
the District. gave an interesting talk upon
the city finances and explained TO the
committee how appropriations are made
how the accounts are kept. and how the
revenues are collected and MANAGED.
Mr.. Tweedale said the two points OF
special weakness in the system was the
manner in which the District revenues are
accounted FOR by the United States Treas
ury. and the plan followed for financing
the expenditures for extraordinary i'm
provements.
According 70 Mr.. Tweedale. the rove
nues OF the District from taxes. licenses
and other sources are daily turned into
the United States Treasury. and bAcor,e
part OF the assets Of the United States
NO separate account Is kept of the
money, and il is impossible. be said AT
any specified time. 10 tell how much
money stands to the credit OF the citv
government.
charged to Current Revenues.
Mr.. Tweedale said extraordinary per-
manent Improvements are charged
against the current revenues and kent in
the current accounts. He said that since
1901 the District had paid nearly Sl6. 900 600
for this class Of Improvements. and that
~ the close OF the present fiscal year it
would owe the United States about S. COO. -
GOO In the form Of floating Indebtedness.
in other cities this class Of expenditures
is taken care Of by bond issue or some
other form OF a loan and paid in
small annual installments. Mr.. TweedaIe
thought some such arrangement ought 10
be mace here At least the floating debt
should be set aside In a separate account
and paid in smaller installments than is
now the case. as whatever Is left from the
revenues over and above actual expendi-
lures goes 70 the payment Of the ad-
Vances from the Treasury.
Other Members Speak.
The subject was further discussed by
other members Of the committee.
P NJ Brown suggested the gathering
OF certain data, which was afterward in
cluded in the motion passed for the ap-
pOintment OF the subcommittee. as a ba-
sis for laying out the work OF the body.
II. c. c. Stiles suggested that the com
mittee limit it's efforts in the beginning
10 one or two lines of inquiry, with a
view TO centralizing action without
spreading over the whole subject.
Albert Schulteis spoke Of the possibility
OF Setting ASIDE the extraordinary ex-
penses in an account by themselves and
providing fot their payment by a specified
sum each year, possibly from some new
source Of revenue, like the Inheritance
tax, or some other that might recon-
mend itself 10 Congress and the commit
tee.
W. F. Dodd suggested that much might
be learned for the things done by the
committee on municipal research in New
York, and OF the special committee on
finance In Boston He offered 10 pIacA
in the hands Of the committee some state
ments which would give that information
Joseph l. Weller suggested that the
Chamber Of Commerce put forth efforts
TO become better acquainted with rnan-
bers Of the House and Senate Committees
with view 10 exchange Of views and
harmonious work.