Evening star., 1911-05-28
Adhere to Rule.

Adhere to Rule.
The Commissioners are not at all given
to discussing matters of the sort. es-
pecfally when the report OF the occur
renee reaches them secondhand They
are rigid in their rule not to discuss any
point of District policy which hinges on
the statements of congressman. less like
ly to discuss such matters when the sub
ject is brought UP by a member OF any
Of the committees dealing with District
affairs. and least likely In the case Of the
chairman of committee
For those reasons the Commissioners
would not talk about the report OF Rep
reSentatve JohnSon's statement yester-
day afternoon. except In a general way,
and would not allow themselves to be
quoted. The information to be gathered
from their remarks is, however. that the
point brought out by Mr.. Johnson. name
ly, that the federal government has paid
too much money in the partnership, Is
an entirely new one.
One of the Commissioners said that the
entire corps of District officials is look
ing for the investigation which has been
talked about in the District, simply be-
cause investigation is In the air and be-
cause the present Congress feels called
upon to look into matters to see ''how
the wheels go round.
District in Elegant Shape.
However" continued this Commission
er, II notice that Representative John
son makes himself clear on the point
that in looking into the management OF
District affairs and the finances of the
District he expects to unearth no scan
dal. 1 believe that If an investigation
should come they will find that the Dis
trict is in elegant shape"
The Commissioners are not very clear
as to how the District has underpaid
on the interest proposition. If 1t is
meant that the entire account is to De
looked into, from the time the nation S
capital was started here, at least one
of the Commissioners believes that the
District would have a favorable balance,
everything taken into consideration II
merely the account from 1874, when the
old odds and ends OF debt were COL
lected together in great 1und. ano
bonds issued at 81 per cent. TO Swallow
the Districts debt in one big tWenly
miIIon-dollar ISSUE the Commissioners,
with the light of present Information on
Representative Jonnsons remarks, are
of the private opinion that the payments
have been made accurately. equitapiy
and according to the spirit OF the Id"
and partnership.
As one of them expresses 1t, the matter
was thoroughly studied at the time or the
ISSUE there was plenty of newspaper
publicity and other kinds OF puonclty
on the subject and the issue, the interest
payments and everything else We're un-
doubtedly passed upon after great de-
liberation. That, in effect, is the view
of the Commissioners on that particular
point, although none of them Will speak
for publication.
Confidence in Audit System.
AS for the auditing of the District ac-
counts. the Commissioners have frequent
ly made a boast that the auditors office
Is as clear as glass. that 1t is believed
to be one of the best in the world. and
that a thorough investigation is to be
welcomed The entire tone of the con-
versation at the District building regard
ing any investig CATION TO be made is one
of fairly cheerful sound. The only thing
the Commissioners fear is the possibility
u unjust comment being made by unin-
formed persons, who might take the OPP
portunity during an investigation to rid
themselves of brooding ideas on alleged