Evening star., 1917-03-02
HOUSE DENIES FUND
|T0CONT|NUE| INQUIRY
Investigation of Accounts Be-
tween District and U. S.
Meets With DisapprovaI.
SUM OF $500 ASKED

Opportunity for the District commit
tee Of the House to continue its fnvesti-
cation of accounts between the Dis
trict and the United States government
was denied by the House today when
Representative Sanford of New York
raised a point Of order against reso-
luton calling for an appropriation OF
$500 with which to continue the In
vestigation in question and was sus-
tanned by Speaker Clark.
The resolution had been introduced
by Chairman Johnson of the District
committee. who desired to continue the
services of the accountant who mas
been engaged for several years. anu
who has reported to Representative
johnson the facts on which were paseo
the refund to the United States oI
moneys in connection with the hospital
for the insane, etc.
In raising his point Of order against
the resolution. Representative san
ford said that $4,000 had aireaoy peeh
spent by the District committee In CON
Quoting Investigations along gii une ilhes ts
contemplated, and, while declnlng 10
make any comment upon the value OF
expenditures of this magnitude. salo
that it would be illegal for the present
Congress to appropriate moneys 10 De
paid out of future contingent funds.
Cites Parallel Case.
'If such a resolution were proper,
asked Representative Bennett OF New
York, would it not be perfectly possi-
BILE for the House to vote today to con-
,inue all Of its members in some nomi-
nal positions on full pay after the ex-
piration Of the present Congress-
"It would be precisely the same
thing" answered Mr.. Sanford. except
that the representatives would not pc
paid as highly as one OF the experts
employed by the District committee to
do it's investigating work. Iwenty-nVe
dollars day is what this man receives
Representative Lloyd Of Missouri. in
arguing in favor of the appropriation,
stated that millions Of dollars had
been saved for the government by the
"inyaluable services" of the District
committee.
into one of what contingent fund
would be drawn upon for the payment
of the sum indicated in the resolution
Representative Mann OF Illinois, main
tanning that the moneys must be pald
out of the contingent FUND OF the next
Congress, claimed that such course
would be Illegal. and protested against
what he said would be "a most dan
gerous precedent"
Argument Of Mr.. johnson.
Chairman Johnson of the District
committee argued that it would be the
contingent fund of the present House
which would be drawn upon. and claim
| ed that the House had perfect right
to continue the members of the Dis
trict committee in service as clerks to
do the work Of investigating the &C
counts in question.
In sustaining the point of order
which denied the committee the funds
| for which the resolution asked. and at
least curtailed the possibilities of in
vestigations in the future, Speaker
Clark said:
! Il am convinced that the committee
has done more good than any other in
vestigating committee since l have been
here Yet rather than set precedent
which might be dangerous. I shall sus-
tain the point of order Of the gentle
man from New York"