Evening star., 1924-05-07
HOUSE COMMITTEE
TO ACT ON SURPLUS
Hearing Demanded by Blanton on
Plea That D. C. Debts to
u. S. Unconsidered-
PLAN VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED
Hammer and Others Contend In
Testigation and Airings Thorough.

The surplus of approximately four
and one-half million dollars to the
credit of District taxpayers in the
Federal Treasury will be considered
during the next week bv suhcom-
rnittee of the House District commit
tee. with instructions To report at
the next regular meeting Of the fun
committee next Wednesday.
This subcommittee is composed Of
Representative Lampcrt. Wisconsin,
Eeers. Pennsylvania stalker. New
York; Blanton, Texas, and kunz.
Illinois.
This action was decided today on
motion of Representative Blanton,
who declared that the Phtpps bill,
which declares II surplus exists IN the
District of approximately S4,500,oo0,
has never been investigated by the
House District committee.
He urged that hearings should be
held, and pointed gu, that III ,iie cd,5nps 5l,lnps
hensive," filed by Representative
, Evans, a member of the 1olnt com
- rnittee that investigated the question
during the last Congress, contehasu
that there We're offsets which the
District owed the federal government
which should be taken into account
REPRESENTATIVE Blanton said that the
hearings by the joint committee lad
been only superficial
Vigorously Disputed.
Representative william {. Hammer.
Democrat. North Carolina. vigorously
disruted Representative Blanton- lie
said that this question had neen
considered thoroughly and thought
fully for A number Of years and that
Congress had received a reliable report
from a special com mission and that
there are now available for members
Of the District committee hearings
covering hundreds Of pages upon this
subject.
Representatives Hammer suggested
and Representative Stanley II. Kunz,
Democrat, Illinois, supported him
that if hearings were reopened they
should be by Il joint committee.
Representative lost. Democrat
Missouri, protested that a report
from the District auditor on the
financial standing Of the District
ought to be 4 sufficient reply TO sat
isfy the House District Committee
Representative oscar r.. Keller. Re
publican, Minnesota. emphasized this
money was raised from District taxes
p 1t was not matched by the federal
government principally because dur
ing the war building could not be
done. I am satisfied" he said. that
the people of the District have about
$4,000, 600 to their credit in the Fed
ernl Treasury. This is not money
belonging to the federal government.
1t is money paid by the people of the
District in taxes. It belongs TO them.
We have no right to keen II from
them"
Belongs to u. G. Citizens.
Replying to the claims of Repre-
sentative Blanton that there were
other moneys appropriated 100 per
cent from the Federal Treasury for
District projects. Representative Kel-
ler said what if Congress did see fit
years ago to spend its money on the
District? l am not concerned with
that; it was the will of Congress to
do it When District taxes are put in
he Treasury they belong to the peo-
pie of the District
Representative Gibson of Vermont
argued that there had been a thor
ough investigation, that a balance
had been struck, and that the records
show this amount is due to the peo-
pie of the District.
Representative Underhill, Repuhli-
q can, Massachusetts, explained the
legislative situation. He pointed out
that with the Senate ready TO take
action by including this surplus in
the District appropriation bill which
has Just passed the House, the way
having been thrown open by the
Cramton amendment, that opponent ;
of this recognition of the surplus in
the House would be in stronger
position. They might say I'VE cannot
act upon this now because the proper
Legislative committee IS conducting
hearings.
The government owes this money
TO the District" Representative I'm
derhill said. Il am just as economical
and as careful of the government
funds as Representativ Blanton or
any other member of the House. But
| was brought up to pay my Just
honest debts. This is an honest oeDt,
owed to the District. II representa-
tive Rlanton'S motion goes through ne
and other members of the House Will
have a great advantage when the
question of the surplus is brought up
after having passed the senate.
Representative Blanton then en-
deavored to have the meetings con-
dncted in executive session. but did
not press this purpose when 1t was
evident that the committee was
practically unanimous in opposition.
Representative Gibson recalled that
on the floor of the House yesterday
the statement had been made that
the National Capital is the poorest
lighted of any large city in the
country. He recommended that when
the surplus was declared part of 1t
should be used to install a proper
lighting system for the Capital.
Representative Gasque, Democrat,
South Carolina called to the atte1-
tion of the committee the announce
ment by Senator Phipps of his inten-
ton to offer an amendment covering
the surplus to the District apDropria-
tion bill He stressed the facS that
in this way il would he possible to
get the quickest action on making
This surplus available for much need
ed public improvements in Washing
ton.
Rspresentative Blanton told the
committee that Senator Phipps is
personally interested in this matter,
because he is a big property owner.
He spoke at length in opposition to
the $1.20 tax rate and repeated his
contention that it ought to be in
creased.
Those who voted unanimously for
sending this bill to a subcommittee,
with the proviso that it is reported
back at the next regular meeting,
were Representatives Keller tMin-
nesota). Underhill (Massachusettsl,
Fitzgerald (Ohio), Mcleod (Michi-
gam, Gibson (VermonD. Beers penn
sylvanial, Rathbone UllinoiS), Blan-
ton CTexas), Hammer North Caro-
Iina1. Kunz UlIinois), Jost CMis-
snuri) and Gasaue (South Cardinal.