Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-29
MILLIONS IN DEBTS
. ARE OWED TO D. c.
Some Accounts Have Run for
is Years and Only a Few
! Suits Have Been Filed.
Continued from FIRST Page.)

debtedneSS to the District is what are
known as the lighting bills" which
total $147, 277.S2 and are against the
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washing
ton Railroad Company to the amount
AZ $77,243.48 and against the Washing
ton Terminal Company to the amount
OF $70,034.S4. In fact, the former
corporation owes much more than
that amount because the $77,234.4S
covers the period from December 81,
1908, to April 80, 1925. Suits have been
filed covering bills to July, 1923, so
that the charges from that date to
the present must be added. The bill
Of $70,034.S4 against the Washington
Terminal Company covers the period
from January 81, 1908, to April 80,
1925. Suits have been filed covering
the bills up to and including August,
1928.
Relocation of Tracks.
Then there is another item of $780,
6S7.96 against the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company growing
out of relocation Of tracks on Wiscon-
sin avenue. This was referred to
the corporation counsers office by
the auditor last January and the suit
is being prepared by a young law
clerk.
Congress appropriated $350.00G for
widening 80 having Wisconsin ave-
nue. and for relocating the street
railway tracks, with provision in the
appropriating language that the Dis
trict should receive refund from the
street railway company in accordance
with the law. The street railway
company contends that it had a
charter right to tracks on the side of
Wisconsin avenue and that 1t was
not liable for any cost of removing the
tracks to the center of the street.
The District did the job under con-
tract and is now suing for the cost
involved to determine the question of
law.
In the tunnel cases the biggest
amount is $50, 083.72, charged against
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
the Washington Terminal Company
and the Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Washington Company for resurfacing
First and B streets. Suits are pend
ing in all of these cases. The others
include: Capital Traction Company,
for raising tracks to grade on First
street. S1,0SS.51; Washington Railway
and Electric Company for raising
tracks to grade on First street, $22,-
125.05; Capital Traction and Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company,
IL
S15,4S6.91; Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, Washington Terminal Com
pany and Philadelphia. Baltimore
and Washington Railroad Company,
for laying water main, First and B
streets northeast, s1,115.0S; Philadel-
phia, Baltimore and Washington Rail-
road Company, restoring surface con-
ditions, $486.96; Philadelphia, Balti-
more and Washington Company, cost
n f1-JYa e.fI IL
virginia avenue southeast, $500, and
the same corporation for cost Of re-
pairing sidewalk near First and B
streets, $3.50.
To Sue for Coal Bill.
Against the Commercial Coal Co.
there stands a ledger item of $54,333.1O
on excess cost of coal due the District
or Columbia under contract as per
statement of November %, 1917. This
mas been referred to the corporation
counsel's office, and the latest infor-
nation was that suits would be
brought against the bonding company.
Iamp-poSt damages, listed and refer
red to the corporation counsel last
year, and on which all bills were rem
dered June 2, 1925, amount to
$9,972.47.
Against the City and Suburban Rail-
over Monroe street, Brookland, dated
from January IS, 1919, there is a
charge of $7,314.91. Under the act of
Congress of March 2, 1907, one-sixth
of the cost should be assessed against
this corporation. The corporation
counsel's office considers this case
dead"
Against the Packing House By-Prod-
uctS Co. stands a claim for 5000 16.
col 10
chase approximately 100000 pounds
of grease removed from garbage dur
ing the period from February /, 1924,
to April "a, 1924. This matter is now
in the hands of the corporation coun-
sci.
Running since December 81, 1915, is
a charge against the East Washington
Heights Traction Railroad Co. for S400
to be paid annually to the collector of
taxes for the use of Pennsylvania Ave-
nue. Bridge across the Eastern Branch,
by order of the Commissioners on
March 8, 1915.
There is also q ledger charge of
$4,145.S7 against William F. Cush and
bondsman growing out of contract
for construction Of Canal street retain
ing wall between the Aqueduct Bridge
and Foundry Branch.
Against the East Washington Rail
charge of $2,S65.18 for removal of
abandoned tracks and structures, as
directed in the Commissioners order
of April Z, 1925. &
Damage to Fire Engine.
Against the Highland Baggage Ex-
press Co. there is a charge of $1,597.61
resulting from damage to fire engine
No. by a Ford truck owned by that
Ar.1r - zx~YG 4
Q streets, April 10, 1922. This has
been placed in the hands of Assistant
Corporation Counsel Wahly.
Also on the District ledgers are two
claims that total about $4,000 against
the Federal Treasury. One OF these
is for $10,927.S8, being the amount
received from the sale of certain Dis
trict property located at Seaton place
and S street northeast, to the SAM.
tary Grocery Co., by special act Of
Congress. This money was turned
into the Federal Treasury. The other
item of $S6,460 is a book charge to
run against the Federal Treasury
until such time as the Federal Fuel
Storage and Distributing Yards, under
administration of the Bureau of
Mines, are sold. Under the appropri-
ations act of 1919 the District of Co
lumbia was compelled to pay out of
District taxpayers money one-fifth
of the cost of that coal plant, so that
when the plant is disposed of the Dis
trtct should get a credit for one-fifth
of the sale price.
The Gibson subcommittee which
made a preliminary investigation of
the municipal administration, and as
a result of whose report an extensive
investigation by a larger subcommittee
of the District committee has been.
ordered, had this to say IN its report
regarding these outstanding accounts:
t'nNhe subcommittee finds that there