Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-21


basis as required by the act of June
! 20, 1922.
Il replied at the moment that knew
some time in September that this large
sum was accommodating. At the time of
my testimony did not recall that Col.
Ladue and I had discussed with the
auditor of the District of Columbia this
| question some time in the latter part
of August or the early part of Septem-
ber at which time Commissioner Italia
| ferro was not present, as he was out
! of the city on leave Since consulting
with Col Ladue and the auditor, and
| refreshing my memory, I find that
some time following the receipt of the
letter from the director of the Bu-
reau of the Budget informing the Com
misioners that their final estimates of
appropriations for 1880 could not exceed
a tentative maximum total of $39,962,-
LOT, the general subject of the DISPOSE
ton of the accommodating revenues of
the District of Columbia was considered
with Col. Ladue and the auditor present.
The auditor stated at that time that if
the District should receive no greater
total of appropriations than the amount
approved by the Budget Bureau in 1880,
and II the tax rate of $1.70 should be
continued for that year, with the United
States contributing $4,000 900. the Dis
trlct would have a surplus of revenues
In 1880, in excess of appropriation
charges, of over $3O0O,00O
In addition to this, attention was
called to the fact that on June 80, 1927.
the free cash fund of the District in
the United States Treasury amounted
to about $4,000 600; that in 1923 it APP
peared as though excess revenues of
81 900, 900 or more would be collected;
that in 1929 excess revenues of approx
lmately $l,000,000 would be collected:
and in 1880, based on the Budget Bu-
reauS approval, over $3,000,000, in ex-
cess revenues would be collected. thus
making total sum approXimating $10,-
100000 of free cash money of the Dis
trict IN the Treasury in 1890.
Discussed Use of Money.
"Out of this sum it was believed that
about 100000 should be retained as
the amount required by the District
to operate on a caSh-paying basis and
about 81 100000 should be reserved for
deficiency and supplemental appropri-
ationS, thus leaving something in the
nelghborhood of 100000 that could
be considered as being available for
appropriations.
Col. Ladue and T. with the auditor
then discussed what would be the best
".
was pending in Congress a bill to pro-
vide municipal airport for the Dis
trict of Columbia and also a new farm
ers' produce market. The Commits
sioners contemplated submitting to the
present session of Congress a bill to
provide for a municipal center, includ-
ing the acquisition of land and the
erection of buildings for the several
municipal courts and the recorder of
deeds, and bill for the disposal of
city refuse. The Commissioners real
lied the fact that to carry on these
projects within the next few years
would require a very large sum of
money, and they believed, and reached
tentative decision accordingly, that
1T would be the part of wisdom and
good administration to hold in reserve
the excess revenues in question to meet
the cost of carrying such of these
projects into execution as Congress
might authorize by the enactment of
law. The Commissioners did not be-
lieve. according to what they under
stand to be the rules of the Budget
Bureau, that estimates of appropria-
tions would be approved by that bureau
Tor transmission to Congress for any
projects of major Improvements in the
absence of authorizing legislation. For
Wills iedooh ITO SuCIl Recommendations
were made to the Budget Bureau in
connection with the budget estimates
for the fiscal year 1880.
1.-THE Commissioners feel that they
should submit this letter to you for
your information and to remove the
impression which may be present that
they had not knowledge of the fact
that these excess revenues of the Dis
trict of Columbia were accommodating
and that they had not given any con-
sideration to the manner in which they
should be used.
"As have previously stated, Commits
sioner Taliaferro was not in the city
at the time the general subject in
question was discussed by Col. Ladue
and me. and consequently he did not
know at the time of his testimony
what had really happened"