The Washington times., 1913-02-05
VERDICT OF HOUSE
MEANS ADDITIONAL
DEBT FOR DISTRICT
Johnson's Point of Order Sus-
tained land Cost May Be
: sao,ooo,ooo.

After taking its first step toward
its reputation of the half and half
principle existing between the Fed
eral and District governments. the
House rested today in its maltreat-
ment Of the District Of Columbia ap-
preparation bill
The bill, in a badly emasculated
shape, will be considered again to-
morrow. Routine business on the
"Wednesday calendar is scheduled for
consideration today
Meanwhile Congressman Ben John
son of Kentucky is at last trium-
phant in one of his numerous as
saults upon the half-and-half ar
rangement. Setting aside the prece-
dents of a third of a century, the
House decided last night that the
District alone shall pay the $975,40s
carried in the District bill as Inter
est and sinking fund on the funded
debt" of the District.
Johnson Wins His Point.
" Mr.. Johnson's point on order against
this appropriation. payable heretofore
half and half out of the revenues Of the
Federal and District Governments, was
sustained by Congressman Roddenbery,
acting as chairman of the Committee
of the Whole during the debate on the
bill. Congressman Burleson, in charge
OF the District measure, appealed from
the decision Of the Chair. The House
voted to sustain the Chairs ruling.
Thus the attitude of the House toward
the District and its relations to the
Federal Government Is revealed in such
nS IN 1l Ia h..
Washington. Congressman johnson for
several years has been assailing the
half-and-half principle of the organic
act. He now has an opening wedge to
pry apart the District and the Federal
treasury.
@3o,ooo,ooo Back Debt.
The clause in the District bill af-
fected concerns less than a million dol
lars, but IL Mr.. Johnson's contention is
correct there is a moral obligation that
the District shall become responsible
for the entire amount paid on this fund
Tor the past thirty years, roughly esti-
The point Of order against the sink
Ing fund appropriation has several
times been made In the House, but the
chair has heretofore overruled It Mr..
Roddenbery, in ruling against the
preecdents, invited the House to vote on
an appeal. The House. by a vote Of 81
to q: sustained the chair and deter
mined to saddle the funded debt obliga-
ton solely upon the shoulders of the
Acrimonious debate preceded the rul-
ing. The funded debt controversy fol-
lowed the attempt Of Mr.. johnson to
saddle upon the. District. under a rider
to an appropriation bill of lS7S, the total
1rnense Of the upkeep Of the police and
Health Departments. The chair over
ruled Mr.. johnson on this, holding that
Congress had always maintained the
half and half principle in this respect,
fut he took an opposite. view on the
appropriation for the funded debt.
Johnson's Contention.
Mr.. johnson said the act Of June IS.
1874, read as follows:
Hereafter the Secretary of the
Treasury shall pay the interest on the
3-65 bonds of the District of Columbia
issued In pursuance Of the act of Con-
gress approved June 2s, 1874. when the
same shall become due and payable.
and all amounts so paid shall be cred
tied as a part Of the appropriation for
he expenses of the District OF Columbia
the expenses of the District of Columbia
Now, Mr.. Chairman. my point is
his, and not only wish the chair TO
catch it but / wish the members of the
now pending before he House for consid-
GRAFTON has only the naked words
For interest and sinking fund on
the funded debt, 1915, ,408.'
Now, that is a direct appropriation |
In equal parts from the treasury Of the |
District as well as from the Federal |
Treasury. My contention is this. that |
there Is no law to authorize that, but |
there is a law which authorizes that |
this interest shall be paid with the |
limitation placed upon II, that
The same shall be credited as a |
part of the appropriation for the year
by the United States toward the ex-
penses of the District of Columbia as
herein provided
IT insist that that Is the law and /
that when the Committee on Appropria- |
tions brings in here a clause expressed |
in few words. leaving out the limita- |
ton that that money must be repaid |
by the District of Columbia to the Fed |
eral Government. the law has not been |
with. They have no authority, |
and / defy them to produce any au-