The Washington times., 1913-07-22
WANTS DISTRICT TO
PAY UP BIG DEBT
Congressman Prouty Presents
Resolution for Transfer of
More Than Million.

Congressman Prouty Of Iowa, one of
the members Of the House District
Committee, introduced in the House
today a joint resolution directing the
Treasurer of the United States to trans
fer s1.0uS, ,257.24 on his books from the
credit of the District of Columbia to
the credit of the United States
The resolution grows out of an inves-
tigation of the account between the Dis
trict and the Federal Government at
the instance OF the House in the Sixty
second Congress. The details are ex-
planned in the resolution itself. which
Is as follows:
whereas, acting under House reso-
lustions Nos. 154 and 2OO adopted dur
ing the first session of the Sixty-second
Congress, the chairman of the House
Committee on the District of Columbia
appointed a subcommittee to investigate
the account between the District Of
Columbia and the Federal Government;
and
whereas said subcommittee, so or
ganized, selected one T. Scott MRyes, as
accountant, and one ]. r. Mayes as his
assistant, to check over said account:
and
whereas the Secretary of the Treas
ury, at the instance and request Ct
said subcommittee, detailed from his
department one, T A. Hodgson, the
person who had had charge of the ac-
counts between the United States and
the District Of Columbia for more than
thirty years. for the purpose of going
over the account with the said T Scott
Mayes; and
Finds District Indebtedness.
whereas the said accountant. T.
Scott Msyes, filed his report, with ;he
said subcommittee on the 18th day of
February, 1913, showing that the Dis
trict of Columbia is indebted to the
United States in the sum OF S1.0O3, ,257.A
on account of advancements made by
the United States to the District Of
Columbia for the purpose of paying in
terest on the as bonds of the District
of Columbia, which was not reimbursed
TO the Treasury of the United States
as provided and required by the act
approved July 81, 1876, appearing in
volume l9, page los, q. S. Stat. l.; and
whereas the said T. A! HodgsOn. So
detailed by the Secretary OF the Treas
ury. fully verified and confirmed the
said figures; and
Whereas the said subcommittee
unanimously reported that there was due
from the District of Columbia in said
account the sum OF $1.08 257.24, which
had not been refunded or reimbursed to
the Federal Treasury as by law re-
Quired; Therefore be il
Resolved, by the Senate and House
Of Representatives of the United States
In Congress assembled, That the Treas
urer Of the United States be Instructed
to transfer the said sum OF s, ,002, 81. "a
upon his books from the District of
Columbia to the credit OF the United
States, and that he take such other and
further steps as may be proper and
necessary to collect said sum from the
District OF Columbia for the use and
benefit Of the Treasury OF the United
States.''
Uncle Sam Worsted.
Judge Prouty in a statement said in
effect that Uncle Sam had got the
worst Of his partnership with the Dis
trict Of Columbia. He said:
The United States and the District
OF Columbia are partners, but Uncle
Sam seems to have been away from
home on most of the settling days and
had no representative present The
Committee on the District of Columbia
has had an expert check over the ac-
count and he finds that there is 81
o1,257 due Uncle Sam. These figures
are corroborated by an expert from the
Committee unanimously found that the
amount is due.
Notwithstanding this fact, the
Treasury officials, representing Uncle
Sam, have not taken any action to
collect II. My resolution introduced to-
day Is for the purpose of forcing pay
ment and collection