The Washington herald., 1913-12-09
DISTRICT IS HIT
in HOUSE BILLS
Two Pass on Viva Voice Votes,
One Affecting HaH-and-
Half System.
OTHER REFUNDS BIG SUM
Prouty Joint Resolution and Johnson
Measure Now Ready to
Go to Senate.
OTHER REFUNDS BIG SUM

Two District measures were passed in
| the House on viva voee votes by some
two-scofe members yesterday. The first
for the repayment to the government OF
! 81. .OOs. Z5724 said to be due for moneys
expended In behalf Of the District for
the payment OF interest on the District
ass per cent bonds in 1870 and 1s7a The
johnson bill was next passed, excluding
| from the provisions OF the half-and-half
clause of the organic act. revenues re-
ceiyed from the Washington Market
Company. the granting OF liquor licenses.
tolls on the highway bridge, and
revenues from real estate owned
jointly by the District and the United
States. Both measures now 20 to the
Senate for action.
The johnson bin involves a disin-
genuous scheme TO insert into House
precedents a weapon which may be
turned against the half-and-hah plan at
some future time, and which will make
itself evident when the appropriation
bill comes up for consideration. In
part, 1t reads as follows:
Affects Organic Act.
That no money collected by the Dis
tTict on account of any license to manu-
facture or sell spirituous liquors shall
be expended in the payment Of any debt
OF the District Of which Congress has
committed the United States TO partici-
pate.
That no money collected by the Dis
trict on account of rental paid by the
Washington Market Company; or on ac-
count of tolls over the bridge across the
Potomac River. which bridge is generally
known as the Highway Bridge; or on ac-
count of the fish wharf or any other
wharf; or on account OF any rental
or income whatsoever from any real es-
tate the legal or equitable title to which
is In the United States, or in which the
United States has an estate of tenancy
or for years. or an estate in reversion or
remainder. shall be expended In payment
of any debt of the District Of which Con-
gress has committed the United States
to participate"
The Prouty resolution provides:
That the Secretary Of the Treasury OF
the United States. through the accounting
officers of the Treasury Department, be-
and he is now, authorized and directed to
charge to the District of Columbia the
sum of $.023, ,25I.e4 as debt due the
United States from the District OF Co
lumbia on account of money advanced by
the United States to the District OF Co
lumbia with which to pay the interest on
the as bonds Of the District OF CoIumoia
for the fiscal years OF 1877 and 1873; and,
in stating the account between the United
States and the District Of Columbia, the
accounting officers of the Treasury De-
partment of the United States and the
accounting officers OF the District OF
Columbia shall charge the District OF
Columbia with said sum and with interest
thereon at the rate of 5 per centtm per
annum from and after the date OF the
passage of this resolution; and the said
sum of Sl,Oos, ,257.24. and interest thereon
must be paid to the United States by the
District of Columbia on or before June
80, 1915, out Of the revenues OF the Dis
trict of Columbia derived from privileges
and from taxation upon the taxanie prop
ertv in the District of Columbia"