Evening star., 1911-05-27
BEFORE RULES COMMITTEE
Representative Johnson Discusses
Certificates of Indebtedness.
URGES RIGID INVESTIGATION
No Research Into District Affairs In
Years, He Declares-Import-
ance Emphasized.

penses of the District which pay
ments are not Of record and branding
the certificates of Indebtedness issued
during Gov. Shepherds regime. which
were later taken up by bonds. as II
per cent fraudulent" Representatives Ber
Johnson Of Kentucky. chairman OF the
House District committee. appeared to-
day before the committee on rules to
urge a favorable report on the resolution
introduced by Representative Oldfeld OF
Arkansas, proposing comprehensive in
vestigation into the affairs of the Dis
trict of Columbia and into the conduct OF
the several local public utility corpora
tions-
This resolution is very important
said Mr.. Johnson. For many years
there has been no research into the
affairs of the District of Columbia as
administered by the Commissioners.
Between eleven millions and thirteen
millions are expended annually in the
District The accounts are audited by
an auditor selected by the Commission
ers The Treasury Department audits
District accounts in only a perfunctory
manner That is one of the things the
District committee wants to go into.
Disclaims knowledge of Scandal.
Il want 1t distinctly understood" Mr..
Johnson continued. that I know of no
scandal and expect no scandal to develop.
But do expect to find out definitely that
large sums Of money which should have
been credited to the account of the United
States have not been so credited. For
instance. the government has not re-
ceived credit for approximately 100000
Ral
government Is supposed to have paid one
half OF the current expenses of the Dis
trict. but really pays one-half, whether
current or not For years the federal
government has paid one-half of the in
te-est on District bonds. without being SO
credited
Why were the bonds you speak of Is
sued?" inquired Representative Madison
Of Kansas.
To retire certificates of the Shepherd
regime" Mr.. Johnson replied: 'certii-
Gates which were admitted by the news
papers snd by members OF both houses
OF Congress at the time to bo Is per cent
fraudulent"
Chairman Henry asked Mr. johnson II
he had examined the records OF tho Dis
of the alleged payment by the federal
government OF more than the prescribed
one-hAlf share OF the expenses OF the
District
johnson replied. "and I could find moth
ing to Indicate that we are bound to pay
this interest money In addition TO the 20
per cent prescribed by the partnership
act"
The District chairman added that Com
missioner Judson recently told him he
thought the federal government Was
really paying more than 50 per cent OF
local expenses
Anxious for Information.
Representative Oldfeld. the author Of
the investigation resolution. followed Mr..
Johnson before the committee He said
that District committee was anxious to
know whether OF not II too much money
Is beinx spent In the District for clerical
services and the like.
Take the District building" he said
1T is not half as big as the House Office
building, and yet 1t costs a great deal
more to maintain
Mr.. Oldfeld added that the committee
was anxious to have full authority to
look into the affairs of the local public
service corporations as preliminary step
TO framing legislation creating q public
service commission
Representative Garrett (Tenn.) sug-
gested facetioosiy that he would Ike the
committee to investigate and determine
why IL Is that for three-quarters Of every
day It IL impossible to get a seat on any
street car In the District
IT guess you know much as we &C
about that" replied Chairman Johnson.
Really said Mr.. Garrett 'the con-
dttions with respect TO the street car lines
OF this city are simply intoierable.'
Mr. Oadhald assured Mr.. Garrett tina,
NJ. complaint with reference to the lack
II seating accommodation in the local
Htreet cars would be investigated along
With everything else
Adds HIS Testimony.
~whas yOu say 10 very true" Mr.. Old
Aeld said II seldom or never get a. seal
IN either the l4th street car Or thu
Mount Pleasant car when on my wa,
home"
Mr.. Oldfeld said he had seriously con
s,dered introducing a bill to permit pas
senxers who were forced to stand up II
a street car TO pay half fare.
Repreaentatiye Madison OF Kansas.
member Of the rules committee suggest
cd that the local street railways wer,
under the Interstate commerce commits
sion and that all complaints should b.
made to the commission.
zone OF the commissioners told me
said Mr.. Oidfeld that the interstate
commerce commission does not conside
questions arising in connection with tn
street railway systems of the District a.
sources.
Mr. Oldheld added that this same Com
missioner had informed him that the law.
governing the street railways of the Dis
frict were entirely inadequate. Anyhow
he pointed out. the interstate commerc.
commission did not have the facilities I,
act as a public service commission for tn
District That was the reason the Dis
trfct committee intended to give serious
consideration to the creation OF such ,
commission
Mr.. Berger's Query.
At this point Representative Beree
OF Wisconsin. the socialist. interrupte.
to ask Mr.. Oldfeld If he had any rea
son TO think that any public servic
commission appointed by Presiden
Taft would be more efficient, so far a.
the local railways are concerned thai
the Interstate commerce commission
Mr. OIdfield didn't appear to have an,
opinion on that point, and Mr.. Berge
demanded TO know who could be givel
she appointing power in order 10 obtain
he desired efficiency in the commission
"weilJk said Mr.. Oldheld. with
: unile, "I hope democrat in the Whit
House will do all our appointing afte
lbs nsxt general election"