The Washington herald., 1922-04-30
Senator Jones Introduces
Resolution to Probe
S5,OOO,OOO Surplus.
POINT OF ORDER
MAY BE RAISED
Belief Is General That
Conferees Exceeded
Authority.

Two plans to eliminate the pro-
posed $4,000, 900 tax increase for the
District OF Columbia developed IN
Congress yesterday.
First was the resolution intro
duced in tie Senate by Senator Wes-
ley L Jones providing for a joint
Congressional investigation to de-
termine the ownership of the $1,000
900 surplus paid into the United
States Treasury by the District Of
Columbia
II II is found that this money.
which was turned over TO the Treas
ury under the $3.50 plan of taxa
tion, belongs to the District, u VIII
mean a sweeping moe ification Of the
proposed increase, members stated
last night.
PoIlt of Order Expected.
The second development was the
Capitalization of belief that point
of order will be raised against the
tax increase inserted by confereeS,
The belief was general that the cen
ference committee eNceeded its au-
thor!ty and that the increase recon-
menSed is in violation of the Curtis
rule. which forbids insertion Of new
legislation by conferees
During the past few years the
the Treasury of the United States
nearly $5,0O0,0OO in excess of its
proportionate share of expenses.
Use Of this money by the District
has been denied on the grounds that
for forty-four years the Treasury
has advanced funds without in
terest. for current expenses Of the
District
NJ
son.
Representative Ben Johnson. of
the conference committee, said yes
t..rtlay that these advancements
Ir..v.. been made without agreement
as to payment of interest. Since
1878 i has been the custom of the
Treasurer of the United States to
advance the District government
suf1cient sums to meet current ex-
penses. These deficits covered the
end of the fiscal year by tax col
lCctiOEs.
It is estimated by members of the
conference committee that should
interest be charged on the success
sive amounts advanced by the
Treasury. the District would be In
debted TO the extent of approx
mateIy $4,000. 900 Use OF the s5.-
NbN.uVU surplus pdlu INTO inc
ury by the District has been denied
on the grounds that il should apply
IS interest.
Provides for Committee.
The resolution introduced by Sen
ator Jones. which was referred to
the District Committee. provides a
committee of six members. three
from each House to investigate the
IL any, that are owed to the District
Of Columbia by the United States.
THE committee in reaching its
conclusion" the resolution reads.
shall consider not only legal. but
equitable claims and obligations.
and shall report its conclusions and
recommendations to each House OF
Congress on or before the first Mon
day In January. 1928"
Commenting on the resolution. Sem
ator Jones expressed the opinion
that an investigation would result
IN the s5.OO0.OOO surplus being
credited to the District of Colum
Dia Inasmuch as there has been
no understanding or agreement as
to interest charges on amounts ad-
vanced by the national government.
it is commended that it would be
manifestly unjust to make a charge
at this late date.
Accrued Under $3.50 Plan.
IF the equitable thing is done"
Senator Jones said, Congress
would not only return the $4,000
900. but would supplement it with
a like amount in accordance with
its own law to appropriate a dollar
for every dollar raised by the Dis
trict" Practically all of the sur
plus Is said to have accrued under
the $3.50 taxation plan.
II this surplus is turned back
to the District, it IL asserted. the
proposed increase in taxation will
he unjustifiable. Opponents of the
increase point to the fact that the
annual sum advanced by the Treas
ury does not exceed S12,000,OOO.
Restoration of the S5,000,000 sur
plus would reduce this to s7.00O,000
This amount. it is declared, could
not justify the proposed increase
in taxes.
Republicans in the House yester-
day expressed the opinion that the
proposed increase in District taxes
as provided by the conferees' report
will be defeated on a point of order
Parliafnentarians in both houses Of
Congress agreed that the confer
ence committee exceeded its au-
thority and that the proposal
recommended is new legislation"
Under the Curtis rule new matter
inserted by conferees may be chal-
.enCed onNs point of order and the
bill recommitted to the committee.
Mass Meeting Today.
A mass meeting of citizens and
representatives of civic bodies,
which will be held this afternoon at
Central High School at $50. will
protest action Of the conference
committee in raising the tax re-
auiremqents. The meeting will be
held in the High School Stadium
unless the weather prevents, in
which case the school auditorium
will be used.
Charles A. Baker, president of the
Federation OF Citizens Associations.
will preside Among the speakers
who will address the meeting are
the following representatives of
trade bodies: Roger Whiteford.
washington Board of Trade; A. E.
seymour, Washington Chamber of
Commerce. William Henry White.
Confirmed on Page T,oo.