Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-18
REVERSAL SOUGHT
FOR M'CARL RULE
City Heads Ask Controller to
Lift Limitation on Unspent
S154, 900 Balance.

Controller General McCarl was
urged by the District Commissioners
today to reconsider his decision tha,
reappropriation of the unexpended
hala nee If S1S4.oOO in the current Dis
trict appropriation act 10 subject ="
the law limiting land purchases for
schools and parks To price - per
cent above the assessed value.
The commissioners based their ar
peal for reconsideration on q report
by Daniel !. Donovan. District audi
tor. which reiterated his original
opinion that the appropriation was
available for the purchase Of sites
without regard To the limitation In
question. The controller generals
opinion reversed Mr.. nonovan's ruins.
Donovan cites Report.
Auditor Donovan cited tho report
Of the conferees IN the District az
preparation hill. as we'll as the views
nf RepreSe ntative Funk in the COW.
Sressional Record. to show that II
was not the intent of Congress ~
subject the Sl54 0Oa iten To the =
per cent restriction
Questioning NcCarl's interpreta
ton. Donovan said Inv his letter To the
commissioners that the auditor is
not advised Of the evidence hefor"
the controller general which iusti
fled his conclusion that " WAS ~"
Intention of Congress that tho ="
appropriated uneyperded balance IF n
FORMER appropriate nj S154 .hon was
subject in It's expenditure 70 the AZ
plica tion 81 the limitation ~ IS p"r
hove assessed value
The intent ~ Congress IN tho
premises as the auditor views Tho
matter. is very clearly disclosed hv
the report of the conferees ON tho
District hill for the fiscal year 49,
and statements made by the "hair
man Of the House Conferees On tho
floor Of the House of Representatives
Reference to the Congressional Rec
ord Of April -. 1875. PAGE s21a. shows
the report made To rho House NJ Rsr
resentatjves by the managers on tho
part of the House on The results NJ
the conference between c"nferCes "f
the House and Senate on rho District
hill for 49,. included in THIS re
port is the following statement with
respect to amendment No 81 relat
ing to the limitation nj ~ per cent
shove assessed value on purchases "f
land. namely:
Record is Quoted.
con No. 81. relating to rho pun
chase " school building and play
ground sites: Restores tho lir1ita
ton proposed ny the House on the
purchase price ~ sites. removing
therefrom the reappropriation NJ SlHA.-
200 on account OF the Park View
School. reappropriat!nc such sum Too
the purchase Of school building and
playground sites without limitation
as TO the price based on assessed
value"
Acair. in tho Congressional Record
of April %. 1875. page SSS2. Repre-
sentative Funk. chairman of tho MAN
ayers Of the House in The conference
on the District bill Inv discussing tn"
report Of the House ma nace stated
as follows respecting this limitation
of ~ per centum alloy" ass"ssen
value namely:
"Amendment M. g. With respect
tn the House proposal in connection
with land purchase items for school
and playground purposes. as Well as
acquisitions by the National capital
Park Commission and other Lesser
land items. that th" price paid should
moi exceed the ruil value assessment
last made before purchase plus p
per Centum Of such assessed value.
the Senate confereeS agree 10 the
House limitation with respect 20 the
lesser items--that is. sites for police
station house. fire engine house and
in connection With the Anacostis Park
project-and by way of compromiSe
ID has been agreed to except from thes
price limitation with respect to Srho"
building and playground sites The r' /:
appropriation Of $1a4 900 proposed ~
the House hill for such use. and tla".T
0O0 of the appropriation "f s6o".n "n
for the National capital Park 'or.-
mission. allowing such excepted SUM .
to Ire applied 10 the ptIrchas" vt sij' :.
without limitation as :" price has" -
on assessed valne.
The Congressional Record ~ ABR =
~. 1926. PAGE S363. shows that ~
conference rerort referred T." was -
rant od hx tho IJpnac