The Washington times., 1922-05-13
The Districts Surplus
In the TREASURY
BY BILL PRICE.

The District Commissioners make the reasonable
and just request of Congress that in connection with
the desire of Congress that District fiscal affairs in
the future be placed cash basis the District be
credited with the almost 100000 of surplus belong
ing to it in the United States Treasury.
This request is in connection with the resolution
Of Senator JONES' consistent friend of the Dis
tric providing for the collection of local taxes in
November and May.
AS the Commissioners see it, and SO inform Con-
gress, amendment of the Jones resolution allow
ing the useIof the Districts surplus, and the semi
annual payment of taxes, would enable the Commits
sioners to conduct the financial affairs of the Dis
trict that the increase of taxes proposed in the
amendment to the District appropriation bill would
be unnecessary If any increase were requested un-
der the plan of the Commissioners they could
make it under existing provisions of law.
The Secretary Of the Treasury and the Comptroller
of the Treasury of the United States both hold that
the Treasury books show that the District has about
$5,000O0O to its credit. Senator Jones has an
other resolution before the Senate directing an in
quiry into this credit to determine the amount due
the District
The Commissioners ask Congress to accept
the statements of the highest officials of the Gov
ernment that there is such a surplus authorize
the District to this surplus nucleus for the
beginning of a cash government, and collect taxes
semi-annuay. If Congress should later find that the
amount due the District is less than shown the
books, the District government would refund
If the municipal affairs of Washington were not
tied up with the Federal Government, and were run
as those of all other American municipalities, this
$5,0OO00O surplus belonging to us would have been
in banking institutions drawing interest and
stantly increasing the principal. While the Federal
Government may deposit with banks any surplus
money it may have and collect interest on those
deposits, it can use District funds in any manner
It desires without payment of any interest whatever
The plan of the Commissioners is not only feasible
md fair, but leaves in the hands of the Commis-
sioners just mite of self government in that the
Commissioners would be allowed to fix the tax rates
instead of Congress arbitrarily deciding upon the de-
tails of everything.
Many District citizens who have strenuously OBJ
ected to the proposed increase of taxes provided
in the fscaltax amendment to the District appropra
ton BILL have been soothed by statements of Sena
tors and Representatives that the amendment was
not fully understood and that it would after ALL
leave in the hands of the Commissioners the fixing
of tax rates, etc.
If that has been the purpose of those who aided
in framing this amendment, the Commissioners
offer them a way in which the desires of Congress
may be met and freedom of action given the Com
mssioners to rates, assessments of property ETC.
The Commissioners able men. They know
what is square and best for the District, and at the
same time fair to the Federal Government. For
that reason Congress should give them latitude.