Evening star., 1922-07-04
TAXPAYERS. lease
IN EXPERT HANDS
Able Accountants to Investi-
gate Claim Of S5,00O,000
Surplus in Treasury.

j
Assurance that the best legal and
accounting talent proeurable will pre-
pare the case of the District taxpay-
ers. claiming surplus of about $5.-
100000 to their credit in the United
States Treasury. for presentation to
the joint select committee of Con-
gress, which is to start its inquiry
into the fiscal relations of the federal
and District governments on Thurs
day, was given today by Edward F.
Colladay.
The $5,OOO.000 surplus is but one
phase of the situation affecting the
taxpayers which will be laid before
the congressional Investigators, Mr..
Colladay explained. He has been
and make certain requests in be-
half of the citizens of Washington
when the congressional committee
confers on Thursday with the Of
ficial representatives Of the Depart
ment of Justice. representing the
United States, and the District Com
missioners and auditor. representing
the local government.
Matter of Equities Considered.
subject of equities in the fiscal re-
htions will be gone into thoroughly
and that on every question raised the
viewpoint of the local taxpayers will
be presented. fortified by statistics
which have been gathered during the
past twenty-five. years, and especially
since 1915
Mr.. Coliaday. is republican national
committeeman for the District He
is chairman Of the citizens joint
committee on fiscal relations, COM
priSing 100 of the leading business
men, lawyers, accountants and bank
ers in the Capital city, which has
been working on this subject con-
tinuously since 1915. He also is vice
chairman of the executive commit
tee. representing the Federation of
Citizens Associations. of which he
was president when placed on this
executive committee in 1915
At meeting of the executive COM
mittee held in Mr.. Colladay's office,
yesterday he was authorized to enter
an appearance for the citizens joint
committee on fiscal relations at the
sional committee for Thursday and
to make certain requests. These are
in brief %, that the citizens of the
District be permitted to file brief.
and (2l that an auditor. employed
by the citizens joint committee, be
auditors employed by the joint con-
gressional committee.
Audit Committee Authorized.
The executive committee also
authorized the appointment of an
audit committee with Alonzo Tweed
ale. former auditor for the District
and former controller general of the
Shipping Board as chairman. Mr.
Tweedale was instructed, to organize
his committee at once and has prom
/ ised to take personal charge and
direction to. see that no injustice is
done the District taxpayers by mis-
Interpretation Of the records by
auditors not as familiar with them
as he is by virtue of more than
tWenty-four years spent in the Dis
trict auditors Office. The work of
Mr. Tweedale Will be especially valu-
and considerations which prompted
controllers of the Treasury to make
certain rulings, putting the matter
in an entirely different light from
what examination of the records
might show ron their face to auditors
not familiar with the circumstances.
MI Colladay is preparing a brief in
behalf of the District taxpayers. under
direction of the executive committee of
the Citizens Joint Committee. and will
nave the best counsel and active as
sistance of some of the ablest lawyers in
the Capital. including those who are
acting as counsels for the business or
ganizations-the board of Trade,
Chamber of Commerce and Mercha nts
and Manufacturers Association. Mr..
Colladay received a letter today from
Senator Phipps Of Colorado, chairman
of the joint select committee of Con-
greSS in which appreciation of the ten
der of cooperation from the Citizens
Joint Committee was expressed
Cftizens' Committee to Meet,
Another meeting of the citizens ex-
ecutive committee is to he called prCb-
ably on Friday, at which Chairman
Colladay will make a report on his
appearance before the congressional
investigation committee. 1t is ex-
pected that there will be a full at
tendance of the business men and
f1nanciers who are members of the
executive committee at that time. so
that every phase of the Districts in
terests in the investigation can be
discussed. and the brief for the citi-
Zens approved.
Those attending the conference
with Chairman Colladay yesterday
were: E. G; Brandenburg, general
counsel for the Washington Board of
Trade and ex-president of that or
ganization: James T. Lloyd, former
member of Congress from Missouri.
representing the Chamber of Com
merce; Alonzo Tweedale, William L.
Beale. representing the Washington
Real Estate Board, and Richard I.
Conner, assistant secretary of the
Board of Trade.