Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-27

Support of Mr.. Worthington.
Representative Cooper and Senator
Works supported Mr.. Worthington In
his contention that he should be al
lowed to go into the assessment mat
ter. Thereupon the committee went
into executive session to determine
just how far it could proceed along
those lines. No conclusion was reached.
Mr.. Worthington began his argument
as third representative OF the citizenS
committee yesterday afternoon by go
ing into the subject of the million ooi-
lars and more which Congress, on IN
formation coming from the House DIS.
trict committee. declared the Dlstrlct
unpaid interest on the 3.65 bonds. He
presented interesting facts, taken from
congressional debates of the early Tvs
and matched the reports OF the Dlstrict
committee on the subject with opih-
ions of the controller OF the treasury
on the same subject.
Bond Discussion Resumed.
Mr., worthington, having taken up the
question of the Districts share OF in
terest on the 3.65 bonds yesterday aft
ernoon. resumed discussion of them
again this morning as soon as the
hearing opened at 10 o'clock He first
took up the opinion of George E. Dow
new. then controller of the Treasury,
which was rendered in response to
ouery by the treasurer of the United
States. The query arose because Con-
eress passed legislation intended to
force the District to pay back to the
United States more than $1.00O,ooo
which the United States had paid out
as interest more than forty years ago.
The legislation was the result OF an
accountants investigation started by
Chairman Ben Johnson of the House
District committee, and Mr.. Worthing-
ton mentioned yesterday that the ex-
amiration was in secret and no chance
was given for-the District to say
word.
Controller Downey's opinion, it is re-
called, controverted the report of the
accountants and was an ofnclal decla,
ration that the District had not held
on to s1.000.0O0 that did not oelons 10
it.
In presenting this opinion to the joint
select committee today. MIR. Worthing-
ton called attention to the fact that his
references yesterday aiterhooi 70 .ns
debates of Congress in which 1t was
shown that legislators in the seventies
clearly felt that the half-and-half plan
was proper and that the united states
was to guarantee bono interest,", was
the only reference made to those de-
hates in the entire discussion of this
bond matter Mr.. worthington said 1t
did not appear in any of the reports
of the House District committee;
"Is that opinion by Controller Down
ev?" asked Representative Cooper.
Yes" RESPONDED Mr.. Worthington,
land / am glad you asked me. as the
President has shown his confidence IN
that official by since appointing hihi
to the Court of Claims.
Kentuckians Wrote Report.
Representative Cooper also asked
who was the accountant who drew up
the report. and learned subsequently
that two Kentuckians. Scott Mayes
and his son. dug up the figures and
wrote the report on which the House
committee contended that the District
owed so much money on the 1865 bond
interest account. The elder Mayes now
is I-n;+ed States revenue collector at
KY.
"who was the government accountant
who worked with Mr.. Mayes?' asked
Representative Caro-. .
MT. Hodgson of the Treasury. re-
piled Mr. Worthington.
Mr. Warrington then called to the
attention of the joint select committee
a report dated May 9. 1914. which was
six months after Controller Downey
had squashed the 3.S5 bond interest
from scott Mayes and his son on the
General subject of the 3.65 bonds. but
there was no mention Of Controller
Downeys opinion in it anywhere. In
discussing the subject Mr.. Worthing-
ton said he had never before known
unon tn construe the laws, as that mat
ter generally is left to courts and law
yers.
whether the interest on the funded
hv the District or If the District had
paid it's share regularly
Always. right down to date"
responded Mr.. Worthington
Foundation of Mayes Report.
He continued. stating that after Con-
troller Downey had rendered an opin-
lon on q broad question covering the