Evening star., 1914-10-13
Million Dollars Annually Prob
ably Not Available for Lo-
cal Improvements.
CONDITION IS DEVELOPED
BY PAYMENT OF DEBTS
Attention Directed to the LicUod.
tion of Floating Indebtedness.
Mr.. Tweedale's Statement.

That District taxpayers after next
year may contribute a million dollars
or more annually in taxes which will
go into dead balance" in the Treas
ury and may not be used for local
improvements, Is said to be a situation
likely to develop a result of the
municipality having discharged last
year the major portion of it's outstand-
ing floating Indebtedness.
The matter has been directed to the
attention of the Commissioners by
Alonzo Tweedale, auditor, in his annual
report.
"All of the large outstanding floating
indie ebtedness of the District having
been paid during the fiscal year."
states Mr. Tweedale. lit is evident
that, unless some unforeseen circum-
stance arises. at the close of the COM
Ing fiscal year there will be cash
surplus in the Treasury in excess of
all appropriation obligations
The auditor does not discuss in the
report the rate at which this balance
may grow but it is understood that a
million dollars or more year is con-
sidered conservative estimate.
Quotes Act of March 8, 1909.
In directing attention to the situa-
of the act of March 3, 1909. that here
after the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia shall not submit nor
shall the Secretary of the Treasury
transmit to Congress regular annual
estimates for expenses of the govern
ment of the District of Columbia for
any fiscal year that shall eAceeu IN
the aggregate a sum equal to twice
the amount of the total estimated rev.
enues of the District of Columbia for
such fiscal year.
Continuing Auditor Tweedale states:
TT will be observed that the bass of
appropriation is limited by this pro,
vision to twice the amount of the total
estimated revenues for the particular
fiscal year under consideration. and the
law prohibits the Commissioners from
submitting estimates that shall exceed
that amount. Therefore, when surplus
of District revenue remains on hand at
the close of the fiscal year in the Treas
ury of the United States there is no
authority of law by which this surplus
can be taken into consideration in re-
questing regular annual estimates.
Foresees Accumulation.
''Cnless Congress shall provide appro-
priations that are much larger than
those of the past years there will
rapidly accumulate in the Treasury a
large surplus of District revenues. While
undoubtedly the legal title to these
funds will remain in the District of CO.
lumbia there is no authority under ex-
listing law for their use and considera-
tion as revenues available for appropria-
tion in the regular annual estimates.
They will. therefore. remain indefinitely
in the Treasury Of the United States.
subject to its use and appropriation.
It Is pointed out that the consent of
Congress might be obtained for utiliz-
ing accumulated funds for extraordi-
nary improvement projects. In this
connection such projects as the en-
larging of the city-s water supply and
the purchase of utilities to be operated
by the municipality have been sug-
gested.
The problem is one which it is ex-
pected will receive extensive consid-
Grafton by the Commissioners.