The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-02-18
SYNE FEES
URGED IN
HOUSE:
Supplemental Estimates for
D. G. Before Approprla-
lions Committee.

Hearings on supplemental esti-
mates Of the District were begun
today by the House Appropri-
atoms Committee. The District
commissioners and other District
foficials attended.
Syne Item IL Up.
One important item before the
committee for consideration 10 an
appropriation urged by President
Coolidge and the Budget Bureau
Of $4,000 to enable the Public
Utilities Commission to employ
special counsel to aid in cases be.
fore the local courts.
Major Daniel ]. Donovan. Dis.
trict Auditor, who presented the re.
quest for the appropriation to the
Budget Bureau. said In his letter
to Brig. Gen. H. M. Lord, director:
Text Of Letter.
Following Conrad H, Svrne's
resignation as corporation counsel
Tor the District OF Columbia. he
was employed by the Public Utilities
Commission as special counsel to
represent the commission ana tia
interests Of the District Of Column.
bia In certain proceedings filed Ia
court by public utilities. This am.
pIoyment continued until Juno AZ
1879. Beginning with July 1. 1888
1t was necessary to 6iscontihue the
employment Of Mr.. Syme because
or Limitation contained In thu Dir.
trict OF Columbia appropriation act
Tor the fiscal year 1924, reading a.
follows: -
Public Utilities Commission: ror
incidental and all other general
and necessary expenses authorizes
by law, 5000, 900; and no naft az
this or any other apprOpriat ion con.
tanned In this act shall be available
Tor the employment Of special legal
services by the Public UTILITIES
Commission.
Has Continued Work.
Since June 30, 1898, Mr.. eyme
has continued to appear before the
court In the proceedings In the
Potomac Electric Power COMPANY
valuation case. serving a. 'amicua
cur1ag without compensation from
the District government. This casa
is now being argued In the Supreme
Court OF the District OF Columbia.
ana MI. SyEne has been in attend.
Ance In the case before that court
this week and has presented the
greater portion of his argument.
The valuation cases Of the other
public utilities which have been
protested by them are yet to be
tried before the courts, ana Mr..
Syme's employment in connection
with those cases IL necessary. If
the Potomac Electric Power Com
pany's case ID decided at this term
OF the court, the other cases viii
presumably be tried at the coming
fall term Of the court, that 10, dur.
ing the fiscal year 1925
knowledge Intimate.
''Mn syme's intimate knowledge
ana long familiarity with ali these
cases makes his services iflvaluable
to the Public Utilities Commission
and to the interests Of the people
Of the District Of Columbia. The
Commissioners therefore earnestly
urge yourapprUval OF the accom-
panying supplemental estimate Of
appropriation Of $4,000 TO provide
q measure OF compensation to Mr..
Syme, to be available during the
balance Of the present fiscal yaar
and until June O., 1895.
''The Commissioners further re.
quest, in the event Of the approval
by your bureau Of the item IN
question, that Il be transmitted
az early az possible to Congress-,
80 that It may be before the Com.
mittee on Appropriations Of the
House Of Representatives at the
time the Commissioners appear be-
fore that committee in connection
with other urgent supplemental esti.
mates Of appropriation for the Dis
trict Of Columbia, already trans
mlttSd to Congress by your bureau"