The Washington times., 1915-01-11
HOUSE WIPES OUT
DEFICIT OF WATSON
Deta|cation Of $63,939.75 in
1903, Charged to District at
Commissioners Suggestion.

The House today passed bill finally
marking Off from the books of the Dis
trict OF Columbia the sG3.929.II item
which has been carried as Il deficit since
the locally famous Watson dcfalcation
in 1909.
The bill was passed with but little
debate, Congressman Johnson explain
ing that the commissioners had recon-
mended that the District pay into the
Treasury an amount equal to the sum
embezzled by Watson.
Congressman Mann asked why this
amount should be charged entirely to
the District of Columbia. and Chairman
johnson said 1t was because the then
commissioners were partly responsible,
because of their negligence. for the
defalcation of one OF their employees.
and for the further reason that tho
present Commissioners recommended
This course. The bill, as passed, pro-
vides:
That the Commissioners of the Dis
tTlct of Columbia arc authorized and d.
in certain accounts OF said District aris-
ing through the defalcation of j. NJ. a.
watson, formerly an cmploye of the
government of said District, by paying
the sum Of T5.9o9.96. to be credited as fol,
lows: Miscellaneous receipts. United;
States. &1o.G23.75; INSTALLATIONS trust
fnnd deposits. District Of Columbia:
Columbia. $l,759.s9 There is hereby ap-
propriated to carry into erect the pro-
visions Of this act the sumr Of $63, ,959. SO.
TO be paid wholly from the revenues of
the District Of Columbia
The House today devoted itself to the
District calendar. but Ma jority Lead
err Underwood indicated that It prob
ably will be impossible for the Dis
trlct to have another day at the short
session. Chairman Sparkman. of the
Rivers and Harbors Committee. want
ed to call up his bill and sidetracli Dis
trict legislation, but Mr.. Underwood
"The short session is drawing to a
close. and with the rush of appropria-
tion bills toward the end of the ses-
sion 1t probably will not be possible to
give attention to matters other than
g ba even ovey is ps1e ha
time "
The House then decided to take up
the District calendar. and Mr. Spark
sideration of the riber and harbor bud
get.
When congressman johnson called
up the bill for the release of the
Of the, District. who was involved in
litigation because of the Watson de-
raication, Minority Leader Mann
made u point of order that this bill
should have been reported by the
Claims Committee and not the Dis
rrict Committee: The Speaker upheld
the point of order and the bill to re-
imburse the auditor and his bondmen
for expenses incurred in the law suit
which resulted in their favor, will 20
TO the Claims Committee.
Firemen and Police Ride Free.
The Kahn bill providing free trans
portation on Washington street cars for
policemen and firemen was passed over
without prejudice as Congressman Page
explained that the District appropria-
ton bill contained a legislative rider for
free transportation. and it was unneccs.
sary for the House to duplicate the bill
The House passed practically without
debate the Buchanan plastcrinS bill
which defines the technical regulations
Tor three-coat plaster work in the Dis.
lrict.
When Chairman johnson called up Tho
bill introduced by Congressman Clark OF
FLORIDA to prohibit intcrmarriagc be.
tween whites and negroes in the Dis,
trict, Minority Leader Mann made q
point OF no quorum. The intcr-marriagc
bill will be disposed of shte this after.
noon.