Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-22
Auditor TWeedaIe Criticises
Division of Disbursements.
NOT UNDER ONE CONTROL
Federal Officials Charged With Some
Payments.
FAULT LIES WITH CONGRESS
Matter of Divided Authority Brought
to Attention of the Presidents
Efficiency Commission.

Virtually asserting that the District
does not know the cost of running its
business and that this condition will con-
ity for disbursing it's appropriations, Dis
trict Auditor Alonzo Tweedale has
brought the matter to the attention of
the President S commission on economy
and efficiency.
The situation is said to be the out
growth of Congress method of authOriZ-
ing appropriations, whereby certain ex-
penditures. not included in the District
appropriation bill, are authorized to be
taken out of the District revenues, and
yet the payments made through the dis
bursting officers of federal departments.
Auditor Tweedale's report on the mat
ter was forwarded yesterday to the COM
mission on request of that body. 1t Is
understood to have the Endorsement of
the District Commissioners. Despite the
refusal of the Commissioners, through
whom it was transmitted. to make pub
lie it's contents, it was learned upon the
best of authority that the report con-
tains scathing arraignment of the meth
DDS by which the Districts revenues are
diSbursed
IL
mends that the District be given control
over all appropriations that in any way
are paid out of its revenues.
Commissioners Seek Information.
Several weeks ago the Presidents COM
mission requested the auditor to furnish
it with report on the subject of dis
bursements of appropriations in the Dis
trict. 1t asked for statement setting
forth full information as to the law,
facts and circumstances relating to ap-
proprfatiOnS payable from the revenues
OF the District that are not diSbursed by
the disbursing officer or audited by the
auditor for the District, but, instead. are
disbursed by the disbursing officers of
federal departments.
The commission, it is understood has
become interested in the peculiar ar
rangement by which Congress every year
includes items in appropriation bills.
other than the District appropriat ton BILL
which draw upon District revenues.
For example, half of the appropriation
annually for the maintenance of the
Geological Park is paid out of the reve-
nues of the District. yet this item is in
cluded in the appropriation for the Smith
sonian Institution.
District revenues also are used In
meeting half of the appropriation for
parks. the disbursement, in this case, be-
SUPERINTENDENT
lie buildings and grounds.
Altogether, it is said that the District is
required TO pass requisitions amounting
to about S5OO.0O0 a year. the items being
included in appropriation bills other than
that for the District. The auditor in
and the matter is ended so far as the
Districts control over the appropriation
is concerned, it is stated.
1t is known that the officials of the au-
"a ar. firv,a hoo
dissatisfied with the situation, claiming
that it prevents the keeping of complete
financial account, and the request of the
commission for a full statement of facts
concerning it is believed to have been a
welcome one.
Commissions Comment Withheld.
Dr. Frederick A. Cleveland, chairman of
the commission, and the other members
of that body, including w. F.. Willough-
by, Walter w. Warrick. Frank ]. Good
now and Harvey S. Chase, last night
would not discuss the matter, for the rea-
son that they had not taken up Mr.. Twee-
dale's report. 1t is not likely that they
Will comment on it at any time, how
ever as the auditors recommendation
may be given consideration in their re-
port which is to be submitted to Presi-
dent Taft.
The District Commissioners have seen
Auditor Tweedale's report. but they
would not discuss any phase of it. The
auditor himself was equally non-commit-
tai.
1t is understood that the report does
not recommend that certain items which
draw upon District revenues be trans
ferred from other bills to the District
appropriation bill, but rather that the
disbursements be made by the disburs-
ing officer for the District which will
enable the auditors Office to keep a COM
plete record of the transactions.
Should the report which is said to be
voluminous affair. be MAGE public it
doubtless will prove to be one of the
most interesting documents regarding the
administration of agairs in the District
issued i'll some time.
View Of Local Officials.
According TO a number of local Off
cials in touch with the situation the
Presidents commission should find I'm il
splendid opportunity for recommend
ing the adoption of more efficient meth.
DDS. No private enterprise, they say
would maintain financial department,
which could keep only a partial recorG
of its transactions. The Districts iinan-
Cial department., it Is claimed. will never
be able to keep complete record until
IL has control over all the disbursements
of appropriations. ending the distributed
authority which regulates them at pres
ent.
The auditors report is said to cite the
different appropriations which draw or
District revenues. but are handled by
other than District authorities, and tc
suggest In detail a plan for com binine
this distributed authority and bringing
II under the control OF the Districts