Evening star., 1923-03-01
Chairman of Joint Committee
Declares $4,000, 900 Be-
longs to the District.
WILL STAND ON RECORDS
MADE AT INVESTIGATION
Criticism of Findings Is Not Justi-
fed, He Tells the
Senate.

was no doubt of the 81 O0o nm srrn,,s
revenues belonging to the District now
IN the federal Treasury, Senator Phipns
chairman OF the joint committee which
recently reported on the surpIus. TODAY
toiq the Senate that he was prepared
10 stand on the records made by his
The discussion Of the surplus came
up during the consideration OF the
th1rd deficiency appropriation bill
appropriations committee provide for
the payment of 81 900 to c, Brooks FRY
ana another $1,000 to Thomas A
hooeson for expert personal services
IN connection with the investigation
OF the surplus.
Questions Committee Report.
senator Phipps also has been AL
thorized by the Senate committee on
appropriations to offer as an amend
ment from the floor his proposal to
translate into legislation the recon-
nenostion of the joint committee
that the District be allowed to use
r 1nese surplus revenues now in the
When the amendments proposing to
pay Mr. Fry and Mr.. Hodgson for
services In connection with the sur
pius investigation were reached
21ttnator King of Utah questioned Mr..
fntpps in regard to them. The Colo
raoo senator explained that while his
committee had expended only $4,000
OF the 100000 provided for it it was
not permissible for the committee TO
mai appropriations.
senator King then raised a question
as 10 the investigation conducted by
ing: s''
from persons who claim to Know
40 not know about it--who state that
tne hnding OF the committee was per-
maps unwarranted. that is some said
II was warranted from the evidence
submitted to them, but that there
were other facts to which their at
tention was not invited. which would
have compelled a different conclusion
from that reached by the committee
and would have demonstrated that
the government was not indebted TO
the District, and that this appropr-
alton of s4,000,000 should not be
.nds Committee Finding.
jing. Mr.. Phipps said:
Il .eiieve that if the senator would
take the time required to read .
majority report Of the committee -
minority report which was signed
by only one of the six members of
the joint special committee. he would
be convinced beyond question that
the committee fully performed its
duties.
PERSONALLY. I am willing to stand
on the record that has been made. L
think there is no question as to the
finding. l believe beyond any per-
adventure of doubt that the citizer'
OF the District of Columbia prif.
taxes amounts in excess of tn
propriations which were propei.
chargeable to them, resulting in tn
accumulation of a surplus, and that
the money properly paid by the tax
payers should be devoted to the up
building Of this community and to
District of Columbia.
1T is within the power Of this Con-
gress, if it chooses to do so, to declare
that money forfeited, but I say that
agreement whereby the federal gov
ernment has undertaken to pay so per
cent Of the expenses of the District OF
Columbia. and the citizens the re-
mainder, or 40 per cent. as against so
per cent contributed by the citizens
/ for one. will never vote to violate
that understanding and agreement
Resort is had to subterfuge in order
to becloud the issue, and try to con
vert into the government Treasury
money which properly and absolutely
is the money of the citizens OF the
District Of Columbia
Senator King replied that he ex-
pressed no opinion as to the merits
of the finding or the rightfulness of
the conclusion reached by the COM
mittee. He said that hes only knew
there had been some criticism to the
effect that not all the evidence had
been obtained. He said. however.
that he was convinced the owners Of
property in the District do not pay ali
adequate tax. He said that he thought
the $3.50 plan and the 60-40 plan
were unscientific, improper and IRA
tional.
He argued that the property of the
District should be taxed at its full
fair cash valuation and upon that
valuation a reasonable tax should be
levied. and after imposing a tax of
that character. "whatever deficit may
be left--and there would be a very
large one-the federal government
should meet it"
Amendments TO Bill.
In reporting the deficiency bill to
the Senate the appropriations COM
mittee added s93.S99.50 in amend
ments for the District, divided as
follows:
Repairs to suburban roads and
streets, $25.000.
AmericaEization work. public
schC OILS. s2.73o.
I.ontinued on PAGE 2 CoIunon Al