Evening star., 1915-02-24
House Deficiency Measure
Seeks Refund of Bond Money
and Market Rentals.
NO MONEY TO SATISFY
THE KALBFUS JUDGMENT
Total of $7,152,s16.s2 Is Provided
in the Appropriations Reported
Today for Consideration.

In the deficiency appropriation bill re-
ported to the House today carrying a
total Of $7.152.s16.3e. special legislation
is embodied ordering the District OF
Columbia to pay back to the United States
the sum Of s744.5o4.73. This total repre-
sents $5s6,O672 money advanced by
the United States to the District OF
Columbia with which to pay the 3.6o
bonds of the District Of Columbia for the
fiscal year 1877 and 1s7s," and also the
sum Of s15s.437 declared to be due the
United States from the District, by re-
cent controllers decision, for rentals said
to be due from the Washington Market
Company.
A remarkab BILE feature Of the bill also
is the refusal to appropriate the money
to satisfy the claim of Samuel I. kalb-
fus, late assistant assessor. for almost
q years salary, which was adjudged due
him by the court. The hearings on
the bill now disclose that Commis-
Sioner Newman appeared before the
appropriations subcommittee and urged
that the judgment be overlooked. leav-
ing Mr.. kalbfus with a judgment IN
his favor but no money.
Chairman Johnson's Statement.
The repayment to the Treasury OF
the $158.437.50 on account of market
franchise rental is based on what
Cha irman Ben johnson said to the sub
committee in charge of the prepara-
tion of the deficiency bill. In part
this was as follows:
by act of Congress May 20, 1870,
Congress leased to the Washington
fcaa Qf street
and Pennsylvania avenue for ninety
nine years. The rental fixed was $685.
900 a year, and that rental was to be
disbursed by the Commissioners among
the poor. Within few months the city
or without right. reduced this rental
to $4,000 a year. Within a few months
that same body, with or without right
further reduced the rental to 1880 .
year."
Mr.. johnson said that the principal
officers of the District OF Columbis
were the principal officers and stock.
holders OF the Washington Market
and hintsd I'll. thaf there sed Wa, t.
reduction Of rentals. He said that ow.
ing to a lawsuit between the company
and the stall masters. 1t had been de.
cided by the, court that the rent Q, o.
Of the District had not received any
Of it.
Of Columbia has treated this as a reve-
nue.. and since 1873 the federal gov
ernment has put up $500 a year on
the half-and-half plan to match the
$500 from the market company"
Mr.. johnson also said the federal
government has been matching an
nually the $4,000 received from the
market company by the District tax
collector.
According to a recent decision of
the controller of the Treasury, the Dis
trict of Columbia has received all OF
the rent and was entitled to none OF
it," said Mr.. Johnson.
Bond Interest Status.
A letter from Representative john
son to the committee sets forth the
controllers decision that the United
States has paid more than one-half of
the interest on the 3.65 bonded indebt-
edness of the District Of Columbia The
legislation covering these amounts, in
accordance with the controllers deci-
sions. is as follows:
The Secretary of the Treasury.
through the accounting officers of the
Treasury, is authorized and directed
70 charge to the District of Columbia
the sum of s5s6.o67.23 as a debt due
Columbia on account of money ad-
yanced by the United States to the
District of Columbia with which to
nav the interest on the 1865 bonds of
the District of Columbia for the fiscal
years of 1877 and 1878: and. in stating
and the District of Columbia. the ac-