Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-16
Solution in One Officer.

What should be done is to place in the
office of the auditor of the District of
! Columbia the audit OF all accounts af-
| fecting District of Columbia appropria-
tons. as required by the organic act of
June II, 1878. and that all payments
be made on such vouchers by the dis
bursting officer of the District This would
in no wise hinder or embarrass those
officials of the United States who are
| charged by Congress with the administra-
ton of certain activities of the govern
ment, but would centralize the payments
| made from District appropriations in one
officer. with a resulting excellence IN
accounting and control, and an economy
in the saving of salaries paid for this
work done by various extra agents.
In addition q change in the manner
outlined would bring together n one
place. namely, III the office Of the audi
tor for the State and other departments
all the accounts pertaining to the Dis
trict of Columbia. and enable a compre
hens!ye statement TO be made at any
time of the condition of affairs of the
District of Columbia by Treasury Off
Gals Al the present time those ac-
counts affecting the revenues OF the Dis
| trict of Columbia are audited and ac
counted for. some OF them in the office
| Of the auditor for the War Department,
others In the office OF the auditor for
| the Interior Department, while the ma
jority of the accounts are to be found
in the office of the auditor for the State
and other departments. This centraliza-
ton of District accounts in the Office OF
one auditor has heretofore been recon-
mended by the Secretary Of the Treas
ury, and is believed to be essential III
order to obtain proper accounting and
auditing OF District finance
Care and Treatment of Insane.
by the deficiency appropriation act
approved March !, 1913, il was provided
that: Hereafter all collections or reim-
bursements on account OF charges paid
or payable by the District OF Columbia
for the care and support 81 insane OF
said District at the Government Hos
pital for the Insane shall be made to
the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia, and covered into the Treasury
OF the United States 10 the credit Of
the revenues of the United states and
the District of Columbia i'll equal
| parts
Pursuant to tho foregoing provisions,
/ there was opened on the books or the
auditor OF the District OF Columbia,
| from information furnished by the sec
| rotary OF the board Of charities, ae-
counts with the various patents Tor
| treatment at the Government Hospital
| for. the Insane. In the initial treat
| ment of these accounts collections were
made at the rate Of So per week the
rate charged by the hospital for it's
services, but later by direction 81 tue
order Of the Commissioners, dated Sep
TENDER 16, 1913 1t was provided
THAT the charges to be collected By
the District of Columbia from the estates
Of lunatics confined in the Government
Hospital for the Insane at the expense
OF the District shall be at the same rate
as may be made to the District from
time to time by the Government Hospital
for the Insane.
Since the PRONUNCIATION of the above
order, bills have been made out al the
lrate of S4.61 per week, commencing with
August %. 1912, and at the rate of s423
prior to that date. these being the rates
charged the District by the hospital
Until within the past fiscal year the
District Of Columbia paid the Govern