Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-14
Fifteen Engaged in Spending
District Funds.
Mr.. TWEEDALE'S VIEWS
Says It Is Hard to Ascertain Total
Appropriations Made.
ANNUAL REPORT OF AUDITOR
Calls Attention to Deficiency of $751;
566.3O in Firemen's and Police
mems Pension Fund.

folnting to the fact that there are
fifteen agencies. other than the disbursins
officer of the District expen ling lis
trict appropriations and funds Auditor
Alonzo Tweedale. In his annual report
sbmitted today to the commissioners. de-
clares that the present state Of affairs is
SUCH that il practically is impossible 10 de-
termine the total appropriations made in
any one year for the District.
me auditors comment on the situate
is understood to he along the lines of a
report recently submitted by him TO the
PRESIDENTS commission on economy and
emciency, which will not be made public
until after ii has reached the White
House
ms ONCE. which, il is intended shall
state the entire financial account Of the
Dlstrict. IS in little better position to ar
rive at an accurate statement OF ex-
pencltures from District appropriations
IN the case of appropriations expended
ny others than the disbursng officer OF
the District OF Columbia than the Treas
ury Department is one % the sig
nihcart statements Of the report
Auditor TwcedaIe recommends remedy
ING the situation by securing the enact
nieht or legislation to the effect that all
appropriations and charges on the ac-
count OF the District, payable from the
revenues of the District, be included in
the regular annual District appropriation
bill and that all estimates affecting the
same DE submitted by the Commission
ers.
Recommendations Made.
he also recommends that all expendi-
lures. other than from the approprta-
ton TO- the interest and sinking fund. be
made through the disbursing officer of
the District upon vouchers audited and
approved by the auditor OF the District
1T is submitted" states the report.
that the changes recommended would
result in bringing together the expendi-
lures of the District of Columbia, so that
the total yearly cost of government, as
expressed by appropriations, would be
immediately available to any one seeking
this information. Under the present prac-
tce 1t Is necessary to examine and read
practically all the acts Of Congress In
order to determine whether they contain
any charges against the revenues of the
District of Columbia
Auditor Tweedale directs attention in
the report TO the necessity of procuring
legs to place the police and fire.
mems relief funds OF the District on a
During the fiscal year 1911, from Janu-
airy to May. inclusive. he SAYS the de-
ftciency In the police fund amounted to
slr34"O. and in the firemen's fund to
so,262, making total of SIS. 30
1T is hardly believed possible that the
payment OF the deficiency of $15 JG6. 30 In
police and fire pensions can be made until
other sources of revenue are authorized
present collection of revenue is just about
sufficient for the payment OF monthly
pensions In full. but this condition, il is
believed. will hardly extend throughout
the fiscal year 1!io.
IT seems extremely probable that there
will be a deficiency in pension payments
during the fiscal year 1912 as large. If
not larger. as that incurred during the
fiscal year 1911 This. however is purely
an assumption. as the answer to the
eys obtained from Police Court fines
Dependent on Pensions.
1T is matter of knowledge TO this
office that there are a number of pen-
sioners. including widows and children.
who are entirely dependent on payments
made to them by the District of Column
bia for their support. and very great
hardship is imposed each month that the
District of Columbia fails To discharge it's
contractual obligations. An earnest eff
fort should be made TO obtain the enact
Inent INTO law OF the bill now before
Congress providing new sources of reve-
nue. Tor the payment OF police and fire
pensions :
The cash balances OF the District at the
beginning of the present fiscal wear
amounted to 1881, 9lS.S4, according to the
auditors report. while the cash receipts
during the year amounted to $13.367, $50
There was expended during the year. 1t Is
stated. $13. 4O2. 1851
Referring to the bonded debt of the
District, the report says:
The total debt of the District OF o.
lnmbia. JuEe 20 1911. made sup of q
bonded Indebtedness OF S., SSS. 200 an I'M
funded debt due the United States on &C
count of advances of s. 663. 0S1S1 and
amount advanced by the United States to
! the District OF Columbia during the fiscal
year ended June 80, 1911. under appro-
priattons for special park improvements.
Meridian Hill and Montrose parks OF
500 I'D, amounted in all to 1l,GoS-
1851.