Evening star., 1923-01-18

opportunity will be afforded me at an
early date to discuss the report orally
with the committee. For this latter
reason shall not attempt at this time
to enter upon extended arguments
concerning certain matters brought
out by the accountants, but will sub
nit my views as briefly is the i'm
portance of each subject shall war-
rant.
"The outstanding and really i'm
portant feature of the entire report
is the finding the accountants of the
existence of certain moneys in the
Treasury of the United States on
June 80, 1922. properly belonging TO
and due the District of Columbia. free
of all fixed obligations. amounting
to S5,502.061.34. This finding by tho
accountants completely supports and
proves the correctness of the conten-
tion of the District of Columbia that ii
had such surplus revenues in the
! Treasury.
''The report of the accountants goes
I into varying details and stresses those
financial transactions In which the
equities would appear to favor the
| United States, but ii is significant that
the report gives practically no con
SlderatIon TO any transactions IN
which the equities would appear to
favor the District of Columbia In
I'this respect the present ACCOUNTANTS
seem to have followed in the footsteps
of those employed by congressional
committees in conducting similar in
vestigations in the past.
THE accountants fail to set up, for
instance, that to June 80. 1922, the
District has paid entirely from its
own revenues appropriations aggre-
eating S4,19S.s0S.39 notwithstanding
ganic act, agreed to share in such
appropriations.
Items Omitted.
60; 70 81, rhaf
the United States has paid no part OF
$3.065. 672S5. expended In the payment
of pensions and other allowances to
retired members of the police and fire
departments and TO families of de-
ceased members.
THE accountants fail to show that
the federal government pays nothing
whatever for water consumed by IT.
and that this cost is met from the
pockets of the people of Washington:
and further that of the entire cost of
| the maintenance, operation, extension.
and improvement of the water system
to June 80. 1929 totaling S32, ,312,-
| 346.74. only $S,S30.02S.3S has been de-
rived from the revenues of the United
States
"The accountants fail to show
other than by four-line reference to
| the subject. that while the District
paid one-half of about 100000, the
cost of reconstructing the courthouse
and for years paid so per centum OF
| the salaries and expenses of the Su-
preme Court of the District, and Is
now paying 60 per centum of such ap
propriatiors Cthe appropriations for
| the current year amounting TO S2O4.-
$50. the United States receives credit
! for all fees, fines. forfeitures, collat-
erals and costs collected in that court.
There are other items favoring the
| District which might have been pre-
sented by the accountants for the
consideration of the committee. in
cluding a one-half credit in s43.1
the amount offered to and accepted by
| the Commissioners for the Arthur
! School property more than seven
years ago. this property being includ-
! ed within the taking lines for the e1
tension of the Capitol grounds.
"All these matters are at least en-
titled to consideration by the commit
! tee, as much so as those items set up
| by the accountants in favor of the
| United States.
"The report of the accountants is
prepared with chapter designations.
| The several chapters will be consid-
| cred in order.
| ''GENERAL