Evening star., 1923-01-21

oSJchu QueoliOl OL uOuDb tnaC there
Is in the Treasury in cash the sum Of
money claimed by the District as be-
ing on deposit to the credit of the
general fund of the District of Co.
lumbia.
The accountants further show on
minor INDICATED differences that there
is in the Treasury s7,579.677.5s: that
this sum is obligated by unexpended
appropriations In the amount Of So
o77.616.24, leaving a balance on June
80, 1922 of $5.502,o61.34. II from this
surplus revenue there be deducted as
an obligation of this fund a sum suf-
ficient to take care of deficiency ap-
propriation which was not signed
until after the close of the fiscal year.
and a further sum to provide for the
adjustment of certain surplus fund
warrants in all amounting to $500
603.69. which has been considered in
one fiscal year for tax rate purposes
and in another year for accounting
purposes, we would have available
as free surplus In the general fund
account of the District of Colum-
bia $4,676,457.65.
1t, therefore, appears from said re-
port that the accounting officers OF
the Treasury Department, the ac-
counting officers Of the District OF
Columbia and the accountants en-
ployed by the Joint Select Congress
siona1 Committee are in accord and
absolute agreement with respect to
one thing, namely, that there is in the
Treasury of the United States due the
District of Columbia the sum of
$4,676,457.65 of free surplus money.
1t is, therefore, respectfully submit
ted:
That the account between the par
ties, the District of Columbia and the
United States, having been so certified
and found correct should be accepted
by the Government Of the United
States and the Government Of the
District of Columbia and the citizens
and taxpayers of said District as final
and conclusive in accord and salts
faction between said parties to and
including said date.
i am Of the opinion that this find
ing should be placed in such form an
TO indicate that 1t Is final and con-
elusive between all the parties at in
terest. and be drawn with such def,
niteness of description that it will
clearly show it's finality and COM
pleteness of purpose with respect to
all accounting and financial problems
relating to- the fiscal relations be-
tween the District of Columbia and
the United States for the period from
July l., 1874, to and including June
80, 1922.
IN THE EVENT THAT THE SET
ELEMENT OF JUNE 30. 1872. Is NOT
ACCEPTED AS FINAL BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES AND THE.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THEN
DETAILED AND COMPLETE AUDIT
SHOULD BE MADE FOR, THE EN-
TIRE PERIOD 1874 TO 1872, INCLU-,
sIvE,
1t is respectfully submitted that in
the event that the account as stated
both. by the Committee accountants
and by the Controller General Of
the United States and the Auditor OF,
the District Of Columbia is not ac-
cepted by the Congress as final and
conclusive, then and in that event it
is imperative that a detailed audit,
or rather re-audit. should be made of
all items entering into the fiscal re-
lations OF the parties from 1874 TO
1922, namely. a period of nearly fifty
years.
An examination of the report of
Messrs. Haskins and Sells discioses
the fact that said accountants under
the terms of their employment were
required to make an examination ONLY
for the eleven years June 80, 1912 to
June S6,, 1922, inclusive, and to call
to the attention Of the Committee any
items coming to their attention dur.
ing the period between July 1, 1874
and June 80, 1911. ..
The audit made by said ACCOUNTANTS
is, therefore, only partial, and does
not 1ully comply with the terms of
the Act, which requires:
"An inquiry into all matters per-
tanning to the fiscal relations be-
tween the. District of Columbia
and. the United States since fJnIy
| l., 1s74."-5 6.s1 ,
In a word, the report OF the ac-
countants does not cover the full
period required by the Act of 1922.
It appears, however, to be the in
tention Of the, Committee in order
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