Evening star., 1924-05-12
Approval of Phipps Measure
Giving District S4,5O0,OO0
Believed Assured.
BLANT0N QUITS MEETING
AFTER HOT DISCUSSION
Accused by Kunz of Declaring He
Would Oppose Report Before
Hearing Testimony.

Strong indication that the special
subcommittee of the House District
committee which is Investigating the
question of the approximately 'fory
and one-half million dollars surplus
in the federal Treasury will report
favorably on the Phipps bill. which
provides for making this surplus
available for the District, and the
subcommittee will promptly report
the bill faVorably to the House were
evident when the hearings started
today before the subcommittee
District Auditor Daniel J. Donovan.
who has followed the investigation Of
the fiscal relations between the Distric,
of Columbia and the national govern
nent during the entire period covered
by the Phipps bill. and Representative
Hardy. Republican. Colorado. a mem
Der of the special joint committee
which investigated the question OF
surplus and on whose report the Phipps
bill is based. made strong statements
positively declaring that this surplus
exists and is due the local munici-
pality.
Representative Thomas L. RIanton.
Democrat. Texas. on whose demand in
the District committee last week this
investigation by subcommittee was
authorized, and who is a member of
the subcommittee. left the hearing in d
hum, declaring that he would file Il
minority report.
Hits BlantOn stand.
Representative Stanley II Kun.
Democrat, of Illinois, emphasized thai
Representative Blanton, after request
ing the investiga ton, had gone on
record as intending to make a minor
ity report before he had heard any tes-
timony or had any idea whether the
committee would report in favor or
against the measure under considera-
ton.
Representative Blanton opened lha
hearing by an attack on member of
the United States Senate. whom he
mentioned by name, and endeavoreG
to put in the record Il prepared state
ment covering the real estate hold
ings and taxes paid by that man a.
an indication that such property hold
ings Influenced his legislative action "n
the matter under consideration.
Strenuous objection was made Ds
the other three members of the CON-
mittee who were present, Representa-
tive Beers, Republican, of PennSrl-
vania, presiding: Representative Kun.
Democrat, Illinois. and Representa- ="
Lampert Republican, Wisconsin.
Representative Stalker, the other
member of the subcommittee. was not
present.
These other members argued that
Representative Blanton's statement
was irrelevant and questioned the
integrity of legislator.
BIanton Presents Argument.
NO man is fit to be a United State :
senator or member of Congress who
cannot come here and do his sworn
duty without being biased by his
own property ownings," Representa-
tive Beers declared, and he asked
Representative Blanton if he meant
to imply that he himself would be
Influenced by his own property own
ings in matters of legislation.
Representative Blanton started to
leave the committee, declaring thai
he had much evidence he wished to
give, but would cover it in minority
report. Representatives Beers and
Kunz, who had made the point OF
order against Representative Blan-
tons attack. which had been Sus-
tanned by Mr.. Beers, presiding. both
assured Mr.. Blanton that they want
ed all the evidence that they could
his seat on being allowed to put
part of his statement into the record
without mentioning by name the
property owner to whom he referred
Representative Blanton then read
at length from the Congressional
Record to show the broad scope of
the investigation ordered by Com
Gress on the fiscal relations and sur
plus and on which the joint special
committee of the House and the Sen
af ad "a al ft-or
the minority report of Representative
r. T.. Evans of Nebraska, contending
that while the committee was direct
ed to cover the fiscal relations since
July l, 1874, it had in reality only
covered them since from 1911 to 1872.
Lampert Opposes BIanton.
Representative Lampert interrupt
ed with comment that he did not
think it was fair for Representative
Blanton to take up all the time Of
the committee. Whereupon, Repre-
sentative Blanton gathered up his
books and papers and withdrew from
the meeting.
Maj. Donovan was then invited to
testify. He made it plain that the
existence of approximately four and
a half million dollar surplus has been
established by the report of the Spe
cial joint committee, headed by Sena-
Phipps, on which a favorable report
| was made, signed by five out of the
| six members; by the approval of the
| controller general; by the books OF
| the Treasury Department and by the
books of the auditors department of
| the District of Columbia.
He made il clear that he spoke for
| the municipal officers of the District
| of Columbia in assuring the com
| 40
| to the District after the District had
| States government that could he
! found outstanding.
| Surplus Started in 1916.
Mai Donovan emphasized that The
special joint committee, as required
! by law, had employed expert ac-
countants not residents of the Dig
trict, so provided that there would be
no question of the status of the fad
ings, that there is an accumulated
fund belonging to the District of
s4,438,154.92. This surplus revenue
| began to accumulate in the year 1916
| Maj. Donovan made plain how this
| surplus was piled up not from any
| appropriation made by Congress. as
| some members of Congress have mis-
understood, but from taxes paid !nto
the federal Treasury from property
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