Evening star., 1923-01-21
WAsHINGToN, JANUARY e2s-pART l.

U
will be observed that from 1891 to
1890, inclusive, with the exception OF
Columbia had a balance Of surplus
revenue at the close of each fiscal
year and that from 1914 to 1922, there
was also very large surplus revenues
or the District OF Columbia, For the
due to, the large expenditures for
the construction Of extraordinary i'm
provements on q cash basis. which
nave been duly authorized by Con-
gress. there existed a deficiency in
the revenues Of the District of CO.
lumota which was met by advances
from the United. States Treasury to
the general fund of the District of
Columbia and upon which interest
was charged In accordance with law
at the rate of . per cent per annum.
revenues on account of this interest
ttemswas $5S5.o7s.sS.
While, the United States govern
Ementt received this large amount of
interest. no allowance has been made
tosthe District for the large sums Of
District in the Treasury Of the United
States for the period between 1891
and 1900, and 1914 and 1922.
Should interest be allowed on these
balances which It would appear in all
equity they are, entitled to the Dis
tween $500, 900. and $1,000. .000.
Moreover. this, statement relates
only to the moneys in the general
fund of the District of Columbia. IT
does not embrace the money in the
hands of the Treasury belonging to
the District in the trust and special
funds which according to the report
Of the auditor of the District of CO.
lumbia ended June 80. 1922. amounted
to $671.801.94, and also. the amount
standing TO the credit Of the disburs-
ing officer of the District of Columbia
in the hands OF the treasurer of the
United States which according to the
report of the auditor of the District of
Colum bia on June 80. 1872, amounted
to $1.080, ,600.95. These sums are rep
resentative of the balances that have
existed during the years which have
preceded, and interest should be al
lowed on all sums in these accounts
to the credit of the District of Co.
lumbia :. ...--
In addition to the foregoing. there
are certain large sums Of money In
na bands States q. the OF the
amount Of unpaid checks. which
amount constitutes a large cash bal
ance belonging to the District OF Co
lumbfa.~ Interest on similar FUNDS In
other muniipai jurisdictions is al
ways allowed, by the banks having
municipal funds on deposit.
The inequity OF charging interest
against the District Is further demon
strated when 1t is borne in mind that
for long perod Of years the Secre-
moneys to remain on deposit a GER
tain length OF time with the National
Banks OF this city. So long as the
money remained on deposit the Ma
tional Banks were required TO pay 10
the Secretary Of the Treasury interest
at the rate OF 2 per cent upon such bal
ance. Without checking up the
amount thus paid to the Secretary
of the Treasury for use of this money
by the National Banks in the District,
we think we are safe in asserting
that this amounts to several hundred
thousand dollars. Although this was
derived from District taxes and was
clearly District money, the federal
government reaped proht tnerefrom
and has given no credit therefor 10
science, the District should be credit
ed with the amount of interest SO
collected by the federal government.
APPROPRIATIONS CHARGEABLE
WHOLLY TO THE REVENUES OF
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
There has been a list prepared show
ing the appropriations that have been
made payable wholly from the rev.
enues of the District of Columbia.
This list totals $4,i9S,60S.39. 1t In
cludes appropriations for street ex-
tensions and other miscellaneous OBJ
jects.
1t Is recommended that all appro-
pYiations from the revenues of the
District of Columbia which have here
tofore been made other than that pro-
vided in the Organic Act OF June II.
of the United States and 5oes from the
revenues of the District of Columbia
should be examined, and where q de-
parture from the principles established
by Congress in the Organic Act is
found to exist the District should be
credited with an amount equal to the
appropriation from the revenues OF the
United States.
which reference is made, follows:
ITO the extent to which Con-
gress shall approve Of such esti-
mates ffor the expenses of the
government of the District OF
Columbia) Congress shall appro- -
pirate the amount Of fifty per
centum thereof.
"And the remaining fifty per
centum of such approved esti-
mates shall be levied and as
sessed upon the taxable property
and privileges in said District
other than the property, or the
United States and Of the District
of Columbia"
AS illustrative of the appropriations
payable wholly from District revenue,
attention is invited to the following ap-
propriations:
PUEBLO FAIRGROUNDS, CoMMU-
NTTY CENTERs AND MINIMUM
WAGE BOARD EXPENSES.
Reference to the Auditor of tine Dis
trict of Columbia's Annual Reports
for the fiscal years 1s11-1922, inclu-
siye,, will show that the total expenses.
Including salaries and maintenance of
the following ordinary municipal ac-
tivities have been paid wholly. from
District revenues:
puhIic Playrrounds, ,s542755,00