Evening star., 1922-04-29
Jones Introduces Resolution
in Senate for Investigation
by Committee.
BELIEVES CITY ENTITLED
THE USE OF REVENUE
Strong Opposition Developing in
House to Proposed Change in .
Fiscal Relations.


regard to the surplus in District of
Columbia revenues which have ac-
crued in recent years and report to
Congress thereon by a joint congress
sional committee is provided for in a
concurrent resolution introduced in
the Senate today by Senator Jones of
Washington.
This surplus of District of Columbia
revenue over the share which the
District was obligated to pay in meet
ing expenditures of the National Cap
ital now amounts to nearly $5.000.0O0.
Senator Jones said he believed that
the District was entitled to the use Of
this money. He said that he had in
troduced the resolution for the pur-
pose Of clearing up the matter, which
has been in controversy for some time.
Il think that the people OF the Dis
trict are entitled to have this money
expended Tor their benefit, Senator.
Jones said. 1t has been contended, on
the other hand, that because sums or
money were advanced eacn year from
the federal Treasury to meet pay
ments Tor the District OF Coiumpia
without any interest being charseo
for the use of the money, the Dlstrict
Treasury. / DO not agree with TINS
contention. Congress mas never ask
ed that any interest pe PAID on ths
money, and IL no interest was asked
do not feel that the District Is opii-
gated in regard to II.
Text Of Resolution.
The text of the resolution intro
duced by Senator Jones follows:
The people of the District of CO.
lumbia have paid into the Treasury of
the United States during the last Few
years nearly s5,OU0,00o more than
they have been required to pay to-
ward the expense of the District The
| use of this money by or on behalf
| of the District is denied, for the rea-
son. among others. tnat ,.s,,s sowanIe ;n
| ments have been made without IN
| terest from time to time during the
last fifty years by the national gov
ernment for; the benefit OF the DIS
| trict, and that revenues whcln IN
equity belong to the tniteG a. stniss niss
trict For these reasons and others
il is claimed that the District OF Co
Iumbia. instead of being entitled TO
a credit of nearly $5.000,oeo, is IN
equity. indebted to the United States.
"For the purpose of ascertainlng
and determining the amounts, II any,
to which the District OF Coiumpla IS
entitled from the United states OF tne
amount II any, which 1t may owe ene
United States. be it resolved oy .ns
concurring), that a joint committee
of three senators. to be appointed oy
the President Of the Senate. ana three
representatives, to be appointed o!
the Speaker of the House OF d nepru n
sentatives, is hereby created ana au
thorized and directed to ascertain ano
determine what, IL any, Indebtedness
there may be owing to the OniIeo
states from the District of COLUMBIA,
or what, II any. inoeDteaSesS Pte,r;ss ~ CO.
iumbia from the United States, grow
ing out of transactions, or relations
existing between them since 1ne pass
age of the organic act OF 1919. Inc
! committee In reaching its CONCLUSIONS
shall consider not only legal, but
eauitable claims and obligations and
shall report its conclusions ana rec
concentrations to each house OF CON
Rress, on or before the hrsl Moh'A'
The committee is authorized to
Lxpend for persons and papers. 10 az
minister oaths, and to employ such
stenographic, clerical and expert as
sistance as maysbe Necessary. ah.rs asE sieno ~
ed by the chairman, one-half out OF
the contingent fund OF the Senate ana
one half out of the contingent fund
of the House of Representative. Ine
committee Is authorized ana oiree.sa
! to avail itself of the services OF the
bureau of efficiency and such expert
and legal help of the Treasury De-
nartment and Of the District OF
| Columbia as it may deem practicable
| so to do"
. = Favorable Report Expected.
Tn the tentative agreement reached
| by the conferees on the District OF
Columbia appropriation bill regarding
the fiscal relations of the District of
Columbia no cognizance was taken
! of the surplus of District Of Columbia
revenues which have accumulated.
The Jones resolution was referred
to, the Senate District OF Columbia
COMMITTEES. 1t is expected that It will
be favorably reported to the Senate
and adopted by that body.
Strong opposition is developing In
| the House to the proposed change In
fiscal relations for the District as in
formally agreed to in conference be-
tween the House and Senate, which
would saddle an increase of $3.000.O00
in taxes upon the District for the next
| five years.
publicans in the House that II this
| amendment forcing. the District to
nile up a surplus SUFFICIENT to meet Its
90 ,per cent of the Districts expenses
no "a to get on cash basis Is Of
fered it will be defeated on a point OF
| order. It In known that there are at
least four influential members of the
House who are fortifying themselves
to argue for this point OF order on
| the ground that the conferees have
exceeded their authority.
For Postponed Action.
! While House Leader Mondell, in his
announced program for next week.
says that the conference report on
the District appropriation bill will re-
ceive early consideration. It developed
today that the, republican leaders are
disposed to postpone action for sew
| eral days, and possibly a week, In
order that the radical change IN the
| fiscal relations so suddenly sprung
upon the House may be thoroughly
studied and also in order that the
people of the District may be given
an opportunity to register their op-
Chairman Madden Of the House ap-
/ propriations committee was absent from
the city when the conference report was
made. He had, conferepce this. morn
ing with Representatives Davis OF Min
-zree tlnaed on Page :. column NJ :;