The Washington herald., 1911-06-06

Representative Fitzgerald, chair
man of the House Committee on
Appropriations, will fight any at
tempt to procure from Congress ad-
ditional appropriations to obviate
the salary difficulty existing in the
contagious disease service of the
health department of the District.
AS matters now stand, the appro-
priation for salaries in this depart
ment has been exhausted, and a
number of employees are in a fair
way not only to step out without
further notice, but to leave the serv-
ice with no small amount of back
salary unpaid.
NOT A MISUNDERSTANDIN
Declaring that the present conditions
are due, not to a misunderstanding on
the part of Congress, but to tho de-
"
trict officials" characterizing such ignor-
ing of the law, as "a criminal offense,"
and announcing that no appropriations
will be made IL 1 have any influence to
prevent them" Mr.. Fitzgerald yesterday
issued a statement summing up his atti-
tude in the premises.
THE present situation is due to the
deliberate ignoring OF the law by the
District officials" says Mr.. Fitzgerald,
and an attempt on their part to SUBJ
stitute their judgment as to the amount
Of expenditure for the specific purpose for
the declared intent Of Congress and en-
acted in law.
Congress deliberately limited the sum
which might be expended for personal
services out OF the appropriation for the
contagious disease service. It was done
after a thorough investigation and with
the approval OF one OF the Commission
ers, although contrary to the wish of
the health officer. 1t was done to prevent
abuse in the use OF the appropriation.
Limited to $4,000.
The District bill when II passed the
House had a Limitation Of 5000 on the ex-
penditure for personal services from this
fund. After hearing in the Senate, the
"a Criminal Onense."
Congress was under no misunder-
standing in placing a limitation upon
this appropriation. Under the so-called
anti-deficiency act, It was obligatory
upon those charged with the expendi-
ture of this appropriation to SO appor-
ton It that there would be no de-
fciency. To employ personal services
In excess Of that authorized by law. ex-
cept in certain prescribed instances, is a
criminal offense.
This law was enacted to prevent Just
such situations as the present one in
the health office. The law was enacted
to prevent abuses. It must be obeyed.
No appropriations will be made, If I
have any influence to prevent them, to
make good deficiencies created by the
violation or ignoring of this act.
TT happens that Congress is in session
now to enact legislation which in the
opinion of the President justifes an sx-
traordinary session. What would the
District officials have done IL Congress
were not in session and they had ex-
hausted this appropriation? The answer
to that question solves the present dilem-
ma, as no sufficient excuse for the exhaus-
tion of the fund Is contained in the COM
munication from the Commissioners to the
Speaker requesting an additional sum for
personal services"
VIII Not Give Ont Figures.
An effort was made by The Washing
ton Herald yesterday to secure a state
ment from the auditor of the District of
the amounts which have been paid out for
salaries under the contagious disease APP
preparation. After the statement had
been prepared, the matter was referred
to Commissioner Johnston. who decided
that It should not be made "as It would
be against public policy" Under these
circumstances It is impossible to present
the names OF the persons who have been
drawing the salaries which have exhaust
ed the contagious disease fund and the
amounts which they have received.
DR.. Woodward, the health officer, also
declined to may any statement, saying
that he was not in position to comment
upon a statement made IN Congress, but
he thought that the money expended for
Salaries had been wisely spent.
An air-cooled spark plug for Internal