Evening star., 1924-03-06
M'CARL OPPOSES
LIMIT, T,0N POWERS
Calls House Legislation Ef-
fort to Remove Check
on Expenditures.

Controller General McCarl is op-
posed, in principle, to legislation
pending in the House which would
curtail the powers of his office.
He so expressed himself in a letter
to Chairman Graham of the House
committee on the judiciary in regard
to bill which would support the
contentious of the employees comp~n-
sation commission. The commission
is in the midst of a longdrawn-out
row with the. controller, who has cut
off all it's funds.
The bill, which was reported favor
ably by the committee to the House
yesterday, was branded by Controller
McCarl as but further attempt on
behalf of the commission to interfere
with the proper functioning of the
audit and to undo the action of Con-
gress in establishing the Independent
audit of government expenditures, so
vitality necessary.
Sees Restrictions Lifted.
"If permitted, the way will be open
for other individual executive offices
to accomplish the same thing" said
the controller the ultimate and
move the legislative check estab
lished by the budget and accounting
act on expenditures OF appropriated
funds made by the executive offices.
My experience" he says signifi-
cantly, lis that such a check should
be strengthened rather than weak
ened."
Directing further to the tenor OF
the bill, Mr.. McCarl added that 'the
evident purpose of this provision Is
to make 1t unnecessary for the com
mission or it's disbursing officer T.
account in any manner for publ
FUNDS appropriated to pay awards @
the commission"
Wants Study by Congress.
Such proposal" he continued .l.
SO out or harmony with the principf.
that public funds may be only la X
fuIly expended and must be promptly
accounted for that the Congress Wi
undoubtedly wish to give most seri-
GUS consideration thereto before
abandoning such safe procedure arG
surrendering all control over fund
appropriated TO pay awards of the
com mission. Under the law as 1t nov.
exists the commission possesses wild,
latitude of authority, and In the ah-
sence of fraud or gross mistake it,
findings of fact are accepted witho,lt
question, but 1t may not make pay
ments from public funds in vioIation
of law
The controller contends that if IT,
PHI was intended to prevent his Of
nee from reviewing the work of tn
commission, it does not say what
means.
Not Considered Binding.
His office could not be considered ~
come within the scope of the pru-
hibitory clause in the proposed hi
he says. which would make the act O
the commission in granting claim
not subject to review by any othcr
administrative officer, empIoye
agent of the United States" The cor
troller would not consider such an as:
binding upon him, he contends.
However, in view Of the action H..
Gently found necessary for this office IL
the disbursing officer Of the commit
sion, it is assumed the prohibitory ele-
ment of the proposed amendment i
directed against this Office. This as
sumption is strengthened by the fact
that this bill was introduced so sool
after my action of February IL, 1924.
disalloWing certain items IN the ac-
counts of the disbursing officer of the
commission and expressing my inten-
ton of withholding approval Of requi
sitions for further advance Of funds
because of his persistent refusal to
furnish the necessary evidence to show
the legality of his payments from the
employees compensation fund.- hs says
McCarl Suggests Changes
The controller discusses various pro-
visions of the bill, explaining changes
which he considers necessary IL the in
tent of Congress would be to grant the
commission powers 1t wishes and to
allow the commission the right to paw
compensation for vocational diseases
The subject of payment OF compensa-
tion to employees suffering from voca-
tional diseases is the point at issue in
the fight. The commission says 1t can
pay such claims. The controller says
1t cannot.