Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-03
DISPOSE JUSTLY
OF: D. c. SURPRISES
Repeal 1909 Law Limiting Es-
Inmates; Treat SurpIuses and
Deficits Precisely Alike.
STOP ARTIFICIAL SURPLUS
Editorial Correspondence Of The Star.
BY THEODORE w. MOVES.

1hc0OSxbG w. ANS = A~Se
The Commissioners proposed in their
estimates that surpluses OF unexpendeo
District revenue should be applied to pay
ment Of the funded debt. The House
committee on appropriations recommend
ed District appropriations in the pending
bill which leave unexpended a surplus OF
about one and three quarters millions OF
District revenue. But the committee sug-
, gested no method of disposing equitably
of this surplus. It neither adopted the
! proposal of the Commissioners, nor made
one of its own. The House approved the
pending District bill without remedying
| this omission.
theoretically the House could not be
certain that the Senate would not appro-
pirate the whole sum available for the
Districts benefit under the act Of 1878. 1t
could not be absolutely sure. therefore.
that there would be an unexpended sur
plus of District revenue. But If the Sen
ate committee proposes to appropriate
and the Senate appropriates less than
twice the amount of the Districts esti-
mated revenue. then an unexpended sur
plus is assured; and it will be natural and
fair for the Senate to suggest what dls-
position shall be made of this surplus.
AS logical result on the Senate's ini-
tiative Congress will have before 1t the
whole question of the wisest and fairest
disposition OF such surpluses.
Congress has established a precedent
in dealing with deficits in District rev.
enue to meet one-half the amount OF
annual appropriations. Such deficits
have been met by advances from the
national Treasury, repaid later with
per cent interest.
The same principle which has been
wisely applied to deficits should be
equitably applied to strpluses. II Con-
than twice what 1t has exacted I'm Dis
trict taxes, 1t advances the dehcft and
reimburses itself later. II II appropri-
ates in any year less than twice the
amount Of District revenue, the reSult-
ing surplus should. ON precisely the
same principle. be held in trust I'm the
Treasury, to be later used, when need
ed. for the Districts benefit.
For seven years in the period between
1900 and 1910 deficits were thus ham
died. If the law concerning these def
es e. ~ plo4oenSu ~ ,;u,I,. In nI, . =
snat ~ appie1 ~ surpiusSs 90 WI, %
oencits. tne ADsolutS Just,ce "ooio oo
done which equity demands.
New Law Concerning surpluses.
rhus bro&densd tEe nv would read
in some such shape a follows.
That hereafter TIE Secretary Of the
.---. .-s1s- -
aevsnee' We ~ requi'isioh Oh tne Com-
missionexs Of the District Of Columbia,
..S. In 49, manner ,ovv yr...rsh.a Nv
Nv oet u my moneys In tne Treasury
Of the United states not otherwise aD-
propriateS such sums as may be ueces-
'eAs -- e ~ .e ~ ee INC seA-
eral expenses Of said District. as au-
thorised By Congress. and to reimburse
r. ~
y. sc.u
S-,-Lss 80 - -. .-I - -. ~
n.11...S e 81
t t 'YrC y. e KY
- ye.L tne
C.i..hs. LII HN s.S.1.s.-. y. 81
- ~ " rem
s.ad .Svs,res rsx.hIe nv ~ nsos.s..
.Ae D".fhcs
ss. r.~."m.s ~ 20 ~. "s'n n,.,rss. sssusy E out OF
bia Of the .ucceedine year or years. ts-
sss rn =, ,nelson, untM %
md revenues Of the District cf CoirE
bia shall be more than sufficient to re-
imnu.e t.e Ieaeury ior the portion
t-,.t - Cos.-hs. 81 ...- ID u.
enue shall be held I'm the Treasury =. a
trust fund for the benefit Of said Dis
ssict, ana pc avanaDie ~ revenue OF the
t U I n. tne
s.tS n,.tr,~t n ~. .nc...as ~
c IN " Sear Of
sn I.Ms eonniet herewith
DS Npe
me dDoVe PROVISION IN substance
9ugnt IN equlIy 10 nnd place IN the
t,s .S apprvp,,ataon pa pin IN SUBSTITUTION
,, ~. .ne .S ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS i, proposal which
app1es a tn .neSe &c., su,piuses 70 the sinking
a. anu; ~ I'm n,'I,, wS' shvu.o nave tne pene-
nt OF this surplus IN the future wherever
anu q. wneneveI is most neeoed; not sole
IA paymeht oi me iuhded deDt. but to
Ineoe any 9eue VI any sort. OF TO pre-
vent 1ehct. IN current maintenance
un9er the man Lanu-naii law. or to
make part OF sinkhg 1und to finance
Dont go, ,bto III nnuh,cIpai I'M
proxeihenl wnicn reouIres larger I'M
mediate outlay than can be spared from
current revenues
6epeaI Law hestr1ct1ng Estimates.
S,,nn,ou.n.,re +h.
ouppieme"'"s 'he proposed amend
ment OF the appropriation bill to dis
pose equitably Of surpluses there
sbou,d he another Amendment >,
s"ouiu De .ss.H, aehameht TO pre-
vent the artinciai and automatic crea-
tion of such surpluses and to tend IN