Evening star., 1923-02-18
FIRST STEP TAKEN
TOWARD PAYMENT
OF D. c. SURPLUS
Senator Phipps Introduces
Amendment to Carry Out
Committee Findings.
STRATEGIC MOVE TO GET
ACTION AT THIS SESSION
Will Be Proposed to Third Def
cheney Bill When It Comes
From House,

The first step toward translatIng
into legislation the recommendations
Of the joint congressional commit
tee which recently held the District
of Columbia entitled to $4,43s.154.e2
Of free surplus revenues now in
the Treasury was taken by Senator
Phipps. chairman OF the committee,
yesterday afternoon.
Senator Phipps introduced an amend
ment to be proposed to the third de-
flciency appropriation bill when is
! reaches the Senate from the House,
carrying into effect these recon-
mendations. The proposed amend
ment was referred to the Senate Dis
trict committee.
This course was taken so as to
make 1t "in order" under the Senate
rules. to propose the amendment TO
the appropriation bill. 1t has been
held that matter which has been re-
ported favorably by one Of the stand
ing committees of the Senate was in
order when SO offered. and not sub
ject to a point of order.
Committee Soon to Meet
Chairman Ball of the District CON-
mittee, who was a member OF the
joint committee which made the re-
cent report holding the District en-
titled to these surplus revenues, will
call a meeting Of his committee this
week to pass upon the Phipps
amendment, and 1t is expected that
1t will be reported favorably to the
Senate and thus placed in a strategic
position for presentation when the
deficiency bill is considered.
Tho amendment proposed by SEN
ator Phipps will settle, once and for
all time. the controversy which has
waged over the surplus revenues OF
tho District for several yeara
lr makes tha surplus revenues,
found to exist by the Joint Committee.
available for use for the District
Just as other revenues of the Dis.
trict are available, obtained through
current taxation and for similar pur-
poses. On the face OF IL. the surplus
revenues. If the Phipps amendments
becomes Law, will be appropriated for
the expenses OF the District on the
So-4o plan just as other approprfa-
tions for the District are made. II
the 60-40 plan be adopted in appro-
priating the surplus, the government
would put up about s2,s5s,6S6, mak-
ing tn etotal S7,8s6.666.
Text Of Amendment.
The text Of Senator Phipps' amend
ment follows:
THAT pursuant to the report OF the
Joint select committee, appointed un-
der the provisions Of the act, entitled
An act making appropriations for
| the government of the District of CO.
lumbia, and other activities. charge
able, in whole or in part, against the
revenues of such District for the fiscal
year, ending June 80, 1923, and for
other purposes approved June 90,
1922. there shall be credited to the
general account OF the District oc
Columbia, required under the pro-
visions Of said act, to be kept in the
Treasury Department, the sum OF
$7,574,416.so, being the reported ball
| ance in the general fund of said dis
trict. as shown on the books OF the
Treasury Department. on June 80.
1922, as certified by the controller
general OF the United States, and as
verified in the report of said commit
tee; that there shall be charged to
| said account the proportion of unex-
pended balances OF appropriations on
said date, payable by said District,
together with obligations and in
cumbrances which will accrue subse-
quent to said date, and amounting
in all to s2.s03.219.s3; that there shall
also be charged to said account the
sum Of $233,707.51, found, by the said
committee in its report, as due from
the District OF Columbia to the
United States, as follows: The Dis
trict's proportion Of the $40 annual
bonus paid to certain Of its employees,
S1s1,890.35, the Districts proportion
Of tho cost OF additional land for the
National Geological Park, S41,500.
and one-half Of the amount appro-
priated by special act OF Congress
for the relief Of Eldred C. Davis,
sS17.16; that there shall be credited
to said account the sum Of $665.46,
found by the said committee. In It's
report, due the District Of Columbia
from the United States; that In the
settlement Of said items between the
United States and the District OF
| Columbia, no interest shall be charged
by one to the other: that said settle
ment, when made. shall be in full
satisfaction OF all claims or demands.
either for or against the United
States or the District of Columbia,
In respect to the items involved; that
taking into account the above men
toned charges and credits, the
amount Of the free surplus revenues
in the United States Treasury on
June 80. 1879. belonging to the Dis
trict Of Columbia. Is found and de-
termined to be $4.438.154.s2. as re-
ported by said committee, that the
said free surplus OF $4.43S,15As2 shall
be available for the same purpose
| under the Same extent as amount
otherwise properly credited to the
said general account in the Treasury
Department"
| BY Offering this, the committee plan,
| In regard to the surplus District reve-
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