Evening Star Newspaper, January 18, 1923, Page 1

WEATHER. Cloudy and much warmer tonight, with temperature above freezing; to- morrow partly cloudy and Temperature for twenty: Full report on page -four hours ended at 2 pm. today: Highes 2 p.m. today; lowest, 23, at 2 a. colder. 42, at today, Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page ;6 Entered as second-class matier No. 28,752. post oifice Was ch hington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C, FRENCH COURT-MARTIAL MAGNATES, SEIZE COAL; PARIS GROWING UNEASY Soviet Rushing War Plans; Troops on Way to F rontier Divert 120 Cars) and 7 Barges to Own Use. MINISTRY SEES | DANGER AHEAD| ] German Resistance to Invasion Is Still Growing. By the Assoctated Proes. ESSEN, Janutry 18.—The French Rpllitary authorities today instituted court-martial proceedings against six Ruhr coal magnates, whose names were withheld. They were charged | with “refusing to obey the orders of the military authorities in the ter- ritory under state of siege.” | The magnates have not been taken into custody. PARIS, January 18.—A Havas dis- patch from Duesseldorf says the six | Ruhr coal magnates against whom | court-martial proceedings were In tlated by the French military authori- tles are those who were present at Tuesday morning's eeting with the French mission. They include, a cording to the dispatch itz Thy: sen, son of August Thy tive head of the variou terests, CABINET SEES PERIL. I Passive Resistance Fraught With Danger. By the Associated Press. PARIS, January 18, ¢ the Frenel cabir ficial qu After a meeting t today it was rters that the policy adon! garded as of great dan- trouble 5 pointed out thaf the r bad already been felt in Upper where secret s eties are reported to be exerting & fforts to bring about ion t Poliey to Faeilitate. h policy in the Ruhr, it) was emphasized. is to facilitute the Industrial activity in the Ruhr rather than to place obstacles in the way, as charged by the Germans, In reply to the Gern N note pro- testing to all the allie against the | occupation of the Ruhr, it was again explained that the movement Is fun- damentally economic and that the action taken cannot be construed as # war measure. France, it was r iterated, occupied the Ruhr be cause of Germany's failure to meet her just reparations debts The Belgian government is declared to be in full agreement with the French view that firmness must be used in the face of Germany's atti- tud The Italians also continue in accord, and definitely approved the plans for seizure of the German state forest on the left bank of the Rhine. Britain True to Attitude. Following an important conversa- tion in London terday between Prime Minist, B r Law and Count de . the French amba sador, it was further explained today that Great Britain remains true to the attitude she assumed at the time of _ the Paris conf > breakdown, and that she has no intention of prote ing a st the further which France has been forced to take in the Rubr. Considerable significance is attached o these expressions. Notwithstanding the many rumors now afloat, especial- ly concerning Italy's reported disin- clination to approve further military occupation of the Ruhr, French offi- seem confident that the allies continue to give their support and that Great Britain will not pro- teat. The Irencl COAL CARS SEIZED. 120 Halted and Diverted to Metz Area. DORTMUND, January 18—One hun- dred and twenty cars laden with coal, consigned to the interfor of Ger- many. were halted at the limits of the occupational zone this morning and diverted to Metz. GELSENKIRCH January 18.— Seven barges, carrying coal destined for various cities in Westphalia, were stopped by the French while travers- ing the Rhine canal here today and yeconsigned to Strasburg by way of Ruhrort and up the Rhine. STILL HOLD PROPERTY. French Do Not Take Over Mines as Expected. By the Assoclated Press, ESSEN, January 18.—Ruhr valley coal operators, who thought for a time last night that the French were to take over the mines this morning, found themselves still in possession of their properties today and learned that only coal mined and above ground came under the revised requisitioning order of the French. The magnates also learned that they face court-martial, instead of actual arrest. as a result of their gefusal to deliver coal to France. Selze Mined Coal. \ The ecoromic commission M reach- fng its final decision on the policy to be followed concluded that because of the shortage of technical experts it would be better to requisition only coal ready for delivery and to T route to France all shipments intend- ed_for German domestic consumption. It was also said that certain na- tions, notably the United States and Great Britain, looked with disfavor upon the term “confiscations,” as it had been applied to the French Ruhr policy by the Paris press. ¢ ‘What attitude labor would take, in thie event tho mines were seized, also veceived the commission's serious congideration, for it is realized that the French would be under & heavy *~4Gontinued on Pagé 2, Column &) fransactions AT By the Associated Press. STOCKHOLM, January 18— activity in the Dvina river region tic provinces) are printed by the It asserts that the military clared in a state of war, that al Vitebsk and Smolensk have been Reports of pronounced military of Russia (east of the former Bal- newspaper Tidningen today. district of Smolensk has been de- Il the soviet troops garrisoned at sent southwest (toward the Polish frontier) and that passenger traffic on the railway between Polotsk and Mohilev (south of Vitebsk) has been suspended and the trains requisitioned for the mi tary. Fortifications are being built in the Dvina district, the news- paper also says it has learned. (There is no confirmation of [TALY ILL AT EASE AT RUHR ADVANCE Takes Definite Steps to Im- press Apprehensions Upon British and French. IS FEARFUL OF CLASH Protest of Germans Declared to Have Made Deep Impression Upon Mussolini. ¢ By the Associated Pre Italy has taken definite steps to im- press upon the British and French governments that she regards the present situation in the Ruhr as fraught with great danger, and, al- though not taking the position of an actual mediator, has earnestly suggested that any further forcible steps toward the collection of Ger- man reparations be taken only after the most mature consideration. The Italian government f{s under- stood to have acted after the German ambassador at Rome called attention to the fact that the French army in the Ruhr and the remnants of the German_military forces are facing each other across a space of only a few miles, presenting a situation re- garded in Germany as involving the most dangerous possibilities. Mussolini Acted Promptly. The representations of the German envoy are believed here to have made a deep impression on the Italian authorities, who from the start have been reluctant to see the French ad- vance beyond the military zone estab- lished under the treaty of Versailles Premier Mussolini is sald to acted promptly, instructing the Italian ambassadors at Paris and London to} make it plain that Italy sees in the present status of the Ruhr movement the possibilities of a great catas- trophe. What the French foreign office has sald in reply Is not known here, al- though it is taken for granted that inasmuch as Italy outwardly is going along with France in her reparations policy, what she has to say on the subject would be received with the greatest consideration. It is noted that the French commander in the Ruhr_has announced his forces have completed their occupation of German territory, but only by inference has any connection been -established be- tween this announcement and the presentation at Paris of the Italian position. Courts-Martial Alarming. On the other hand, dispatches to- day from Essen, saying that the French have ordered the court-mar- tial of some of the German coal mag- nates in the Rubr are received with apprehension in those quarters in Washington where hopes have been entertained for an alleviation of the forcible measures of the French. Neither American nor diplomatic of- ficials here will comment on this phase of the situation. BULGARIAN ARMY NOT ON BORDER, SAYS SOFIA Government Denies Concentration Along Rumanian Frontier or Even Having Army. By the Aseociated Press. SOF14, Bulgaria, January 18.—~Rep- resentatives of the entente in Sofla have drawn the attention of the Bul- garlan government to rumors cur- rent in Europé of a concentration of Bulgarian troops on the Rumanian frontler. The government expressed aston- ishment over the rumors, saying Bul- garia had no army. The entente was assured that Bulgaria was resolute- 1y opposed to any war. have | these reports from other sources.) EMBASSY 70 DEAL WITHU.S. ONDEBTS British Commission Departs | Amid Expressions of | Optimism. Il ‘NOTHING STANDS IN WAY’ ! American Spokesman Sees Agree- ment Before End of Con- gress Session. Negotiations between the American and British governments looking to the refunding of Great Britain's war | ried forward through the British em- bassy here after the return of the British debt commission to London. This announcement was made at the conclusion today of the joint ses- sions of the British and American commissions which have been in progress here for ten days. The | British commission left Washington for New York at 1:10 today. Sees Nothing in Way. An official spokesman for the American group declared there was nothing that should stand in the way of a complete understanding between the two governments and that there was reason to hope that an agree- ment in principle could be reached in time for submission to Congress at the present session. Chancellor Baldwin expects to ar- rive in London Friday night, Janu- ary 26, and take up the matter with the British cabinet on Saturday morning. Results of the conference will immediately be transmitted by cable, it i3 expected, to Ambassador Geddes here. Thus, the prospects to- day pointed to a resumption of ne- gotiations the last week in January. BRITISH COMMENT BRIEF. No Pessimism Over Suspension of Negotiations. By the Associated Pres: LONDON, January 18.—The suspen- sion of Great Britain's debt-funding negotiations with the United States is commented on only briefly in the press today. The disposition, how- ever, is to treat the situation in no wise pessimistically, and it is stated unofficlally that the government's view is a hopeful one. The Morning Post contends edi- torially that if the American offer is regarded in the strict light of busi- ness it may well be considered a very friendly proposal. Nevertheless, Great Britain i{s bound to take into account how heavily taxation now presses British industry and the great sac- rifices the country has made in order to maintain its credit. “For these reasons,” the uewspaper says, “the government feel it their highly distasteful duty to suggest a lower rate of percentage than that proposed by the debt gommission. There Is another closely related rea- son, namely, that additional taxation must further reduce both the produc- tive and the spending capacity, and acceptance of the American proposal would therefore exercise an injurious effect upon trade and commerce as a whole, in which American industry would of course be involved. We put forward these considerations in full confidence that their import will be appreciated in the United Statea” Express No Opinion. ‘The newspaper prefers to express no opinion as to whether, if the debt commission cannot modify the Amerl- can terms, Great Britain had better accept them rather than continue paying, “or rather owing,” § per cent. The Post hopes that a choice will not be necessary. The Westminster Gazette, admitting (Continued on Page 2, Column 3. MARK VIRTUALLY DISAPPEARS By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, January 18.—Virtual disappearance of the German mark as a medium of commercial exchange was reported today by foreign ex- change dealers, who quoted the Ger- man currency unit at .0042 cents, or approximately 23,800 to the American dollar, another extremely low record. ‘This represents the depreciation of more than 50 per cent within four business days. Except for the accommodation of customers, who are charged a pre- mium of at least 60 cents on_ all transactions involving less than $100, Jocal bankerw are declining to do business in less than five and ten million mark lots because the gmaller unprofitable. FROM EXCHANGE; 23,800 FOR $1 ‘The 23,800 German marks which could have been purchased for $1 to- day would have cost $5,664.40 at the normal or pre-war rate of exchange. 100,000 Marks to Pound. By the Assoclated Press. LONDON, January 18.—The foreign exchange market was utterly de- moralized today with international operations in continental currencles parctically at a standstill, any ‘busi- nesd “transacted being purely in the nature of ‘a gamble. German marks at noon were quoted at 105,000 to 110,000 to the pound sterling. The French franc stood at 70.76 and the Belglan franc at 77.35 to_the pound. The suspension of the debt-funding megotiations caused the New York terling rate to drop 1o $4.64%. debt to the United States will be car- | ¢ Foend WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ny Star. THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1923—FORTY M, Coue SEE IF You caN AKE HiM SIGHTS LURE COUE ON EVE OF “ADIEV” Autosuggestionist Glad of “Better Understanding” Won in Washington. Lectures at Continental Hall and Eno Home, and Finally, at New Willard Today. Pl:ased that the people of the Na- tional Capital are getting a “better and bettering” understanding of his message to humanity as the result of his lectures here, M. Emile Coue today spent a busy day sightseeing. taking lecturing. The French exponent of couscious autosuggestion, who will leave Wash- ington tonight for Cleveland, came to the Capital city of the United States two days ago feeling that many peo- ple had wrong ideas about him. They thought of him as a “miracle man," as one who heals, as a “doctor.” M. Coue will leave Washington to- night, according to those close to him, firm in the knowledge that he has in negative beliefs, and left most of the people here thinking of him as just a plain, simple man, who teach others fo help themselves mentall physically and morall: Visit to A ngton. M. Coue spent the morning visiting Arlington, following which he returned to the city to take luncheon at 1 o'clock with Ambassador and Mme. Jusserand at the French embassy. He glves his last lecture here at 3 o'clock this afternoon at the New Wil- lard Hotel. He probably will remain at the hotel for dinner, after which he will motor to Union station to take the Pennsylvania train for Cleveland shortly before 8 o'clock. He will remain in Cleveland until Sunday night, giving two or more lec- tures there, where his coming is eagerly awaited, it was said. Returning to New York, he probably will remain there until’ February 13, when he will return to France. Repeated Triumph. M. Coue repeated last night his tri- umph of the day before, when he cured a young girl of stammering, in the presence of some of the leading physicians of Washington. Before 2,000 persons at Memorial Continental Hall the little French exponent of autosuggestion a boy about twelve years old of stammering. So easily, so quickly did he show the lad how to cure himself that it was done before the audience knew it. The self-cure came as the climax to an _Interesting evening, when the platform of the hall was crowded with persons who had stepped for- ward as volunteers in the hand- clasping and other experiments which (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) —_— HIGH OFFICIALS ILL IN GRIP WAVE, BETTER President, Postmaster General and Secretary of Labor Among Patients. The grip continued o hold a num- ber high government officials out of executive offices today, although in general there were optimistic reports of a break in the wave of sickness. Improvement in the condition of President Harding who has been suf- fering from an attack of grip for several days, was reported at the White Hous« Although indications of fever have disappeared, he can- celed engagements again today, and remained in his room. Postmaster General Hubert A. Worls also on the sick list with the grip is reported in & very much im- roved condition. P ecretary of Labor Davis, however, continued 11l with a slight fever, in his apartment at the Wardman Park Hotel, but no_apprehension was e ressed regarding his condition. He as the grip, too. Another_official on the doctor's book . is_Chairman John Hays Ham- mond of the coal commission, at his residence, 3301 Kalorama road. Mer- ritt O. Chance, postmaster of Wash- ington, also is JIl with the. gTip. l“CURES" BOY STAMMERER luncheon at the ¥French embassy and | great part, at least, swept away these | “cured” | THERE ARE LOTS OF CHRONIC REDRAFT OF .DISTRICT FISCAL BILL BEGUN Senate Subcommittee Expected to Make No Increases in Allow- i ances for Streets. | The senate appropriations subcom ‘(Q‘P on the District of Columbia tod: | began redrafting the District appropria tion bill in preparation for its report to the full committee of the Senate. It is understood that members of the sub- it- very genmerously with the District the matter of appropriations for street improvements. It is doubtful that the | subcommittee . w make increases, | therefore, for the street improvements, |and it may be that some reduction will | be made. As has been reported |tee is expected to items for the -public | Erounds which w. Bill on points of order in the Hou { The committee is driving ahcad as | rapidly as poesible, and at the same time giving due conslderation to the proposals made by the District missioners. the school officials and ! others who appeared before at the | recent hearings LABOR SENDS NEW PROTEST T0 NAVY | Machinists’ President Disap- pointed at Revised Findings ! of Wage Board. the subcomm restore {o the Dill schools and play ricken out of the | Supplementing the protest yester- lday of the Washington Navy yard | machinists agalnst the recommenda- tion of the local wage board for a 1 cent per hour reduction to ma- chinists, N Alifas, president of | district forty-four, International As- soclation of Machinists, today for- warded another letter of protest to | the Navy Department. In commenting upon the recom- mendation for a reduction, he ex: pressed keen disappointment at the “apparent impossibility of persuading the government's representatives on local boards to alter any decision once rendered. No Intention of Changing. Mr. Alifas said that the report sub- mitted to the department by the wage board indicatd on its face that there was no intention of changing the recommendation. He quotes paragraph 3 of the re- port in part as follows: “The result of this personal visit of one member of the wage board to the leading in- dustrial plants in this vicinity was to confirm the accuracy of the board's original report.” a gation with the determination in mind merely to confirm their original report, naturally nothing can be ac- complished by negotiations or the presentation of facts to such a board,” President Alifas said. Analyses Report. Regarding the local wage board's recommendation to the departmental wage board in the protest, Alifas sald in part: “Paragraph 4 of the local board's recommendation reads as follows: ““The board finds that the average hourly rate of pay paid by industrial plants for first-class mechanics Is less than that recommended by the board but that the majority of these plants work more than eight hours a day, which makes the total daily wages re- ceived more than for the elght-hour day at the navy yard. But to receive more pay per day a workman must work more hours per day “Applles to All Labor” “This paragraph it will be noted ap- plies to not only the machinists but all classifications carried in the navy yard schedule, and carries the impli- caticn that the local board has recom- mended a higher rate of pay than is justified by the mere hourly rate ob- iaining in private plants owing to the fact that some of them work more than eight hours per day. While the paragraph does not admit that it has taken the daily wages obtaining in private industry and divided them by eight to determine the hourly rate to be recommended, yet it appears that the board claims to have given some welght to the per diem earnings in private industry.” PR — 14 FRENCH DIE IN BATTLE. PARIS, January 18.—A report that a French detachment had been ambushed at Taza, French Morocco, was con- firmed by the ministry of war today. The losses were two French officers and twelve men killed and nine men ‘wounded. The French troops were at- tacked by surprise in & ravine by & band of insurgents. committee believe that the House dealt | in | Com- | “When a board starts a re-investi- | cit as the papers l “From Press to Home Within the Hour” ‘The Star's carrier system covers y dlock and the regular edition delivered to Washington homes as fast are printed. Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 93,841 PAGES. DISTRICT DELEGATE MEASURE TABLED | Report Reed Bill by ! Vote of 6 to 5. {PLEAD FOR VOTING RIGHTS | | Walters and Gilbert Ask for Delay Until Full State Representa- tion Is Allowed. The House District committee vote of wix to f make a favorable report on the Reed bill providing for a District delegate in Congress. The motion that was carried was to lay this bill on the table. Those supporting the motion | were: Chairman ¥ocht. Pennsylvania: | Walters, Pennsylvania: Sproul, Illi- | nois; Lee, New York; Brown, Tennes- flbert, Kentucky. Those no™” were: Representatives Zihlman, Maryland; Lampert, Wis- copsin; Woodruff, Michigan; Blanton, Texas. and Hammer, North Carolina. | Representatives Blanton and Ham- mer, both democrats, made impas- isfoned pleas for favorable action on Ly a itee could not justify fits action in {refusing to glve a volce in Congres ito the nearly half million people res {dent in the National Ca Delegate Would “Mau: Representatives Walters of Penn- sylvania and Gilbert of Kentucky, spoke forcefully in opposition to the bill, saying that it would not reality give {he people of the District proper representation and that action should be delaved until fuil voting representation the same as allowed to residents of any state could be car- ried In legislation. “We are all interested in the Na- tional Capital and desire to c ate in beneficial legislation.” said Representative Walters. “If the Dis- trict has a delegate on the floor with- out a vote it would just muddle ! things.” Questions Commissioners. { Other friends of the District in the House, he said, who now take a par- ticular interest in District affairs would then be inclined to be less watchful of the District’s interests. Representative Woodruff of Michi- gan sald that he is not satisfled that the District Commissioners, who are appointed by the President, always represent the wishes of the District, and this 18 not to be wondered at, he sald, since the Commissioners are not in any way accountable to the peo- ple. 1. TROOPS RUSH PLANS TO EMBARK By the Associated Press. COBLENZ, January 15.—Officials of the American troops of occupation are making every effort to mitigate crowded conditions on the transport St. Mihfel, when it takes the troops home. Servants must be left behind. Baggage will be limited to handbags. Husbands and wives will have separate quarters. Fam- ilies of soldiers are advised to proceed to Antwerp one or more days before de- parture of the transport. With Antwerp definitely fixed us the port of. departure about January 25 for the Sth Infantry, together with a num- ber of detached units, the process of up- rooting the American population of Cob- lenz continues day and night, both for offtcers and soldiers and their famlltes. They are packing and repacking, buying civillan clothes and shoes, giving and receiving farewell parties, There is marrying and giving in marriage; - there {8 baptizing, as in the case of the infant son of Sergt. David Woode, Signal Corps, and the little daughter of "Private Gustave Radke, the ceremony being per- formed - by. Chaplain' B. P. aster- brook. While the Sth Infantry will sail by the St. Mihiel, many of the other de- tachments, especially the officers, will take United States line ships early in February, . e. today refused to! | this bill, declaring that the commit-| in| b TWO CENTS. D. C. AUDITOR INSISTS $5,502,061 ISDUED. C.; i |Maj. Donovan Says in Report Cov NEW CLAIMS LISTED Accountants’Findings on Surplus Revenues Assailed as Prejudiced in Favor of U. S. Government. z(jLAlM TO DISPUTED FUNDS IS SENT TO SE ATOR PHIPPS $825.603 Deducted ers Items Not Yet Completed. ] Answering claims raised against the District’s surplus reve- | nues and calling attention to other transactions in which the fed- eral government might be indebted to the city. Maj. Daniel J. | Donovan, auditor, today replied to the findings of the accountants employed by the joint select committee of Congress. | In a letter to Senator Phipps, chairman of the joint committee appointed to investigate the District’s surplus revenues, Maj. Don- |0\'an presents on behalf of the Commissioners the city’s claim te | the money that has accumulated | the District. ! Maj. Donovan tells the joint (i 5 i free and unincumbered surplus. | Demands Whole Amount. In their report Haskins and Se {expert accountants, deducted -from | the surplus as given above the sum of $825,603. ing from certain litems that are treated in one fisqpl |year for tax rate purposes and in |another fiscal year for accounting i transactions. Maj. Donovan {argues, have not been completed and jtherefore the $825.603.69 should not { be deducted from the surplus for the i purposes of this investigation The auditor tells the joi com- mittee that it is significant at the accountants stressed transactions i which favor the United States, while | &iving practically no co: deration to matters favorable to the District. ! The auditor has been promised by | Senator Phipps that he will be given | an opportunity to supplement his let- ter by oral argument. . Text of Letter. The letter sent forward teday fol-| 10 t have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Janu. | 11th, and a copy of the report subm | ted to you by Haskins and Sells, the | accountants empioved by your com- | mittee for the purpose of conducting | the investigation into the accounts| between the United States and the Dis- trict of Columbia. .You ask me to give the committee the benefit of my views | | on this report not later than the 18th | | instant. and_vou_inform me that an | WEEKS AND BEACH | INDORSE PARK BILL 1 Strong indorsement is given by & | retary Weeks and Maj. Gen. Beach, chief of engincers, to the Dill now ! pending in the House of Representa- ! | tives providing “for the comprehen- | ve development of the park and| | playground system of the National | | Capital, and designed especially to | protect the valleys of Rock creek and Anacostia and Potomac rivers. They feel, however, that its efficiency | | would be increased by certain modi- fications. Secretary Weeks has written a let- | ter to Representative John W. Lang- ley, chairman of the House committee | on public buildings and grounds, on the subject, in w 'h he éxpresses the views of the War Department, in part, as follows: “The department is heartily in favor of the purpose of the bill as ex- pressed by its title, but it ls believed that_modification of some details of the bill is desirable. The park s tem of the District of Columbia placed by law under the immediate Jurisdiction and _control of the chief of engineers of the United States Army. He is therefore greatly in- terested in the development of the park system, and in view of that fact and of his familiarity with the needs | of the system it is believed that he should be a member of the commission { cantemplated by the bill. The pro- |Vulun of the bill requiring the ap- proval of the President of the United States on the esignation of all lands to be acquired by condemnation and all eontracts for purchase of lands ‘would impose an unnecessary burden upon the Presihlent, as the acquisition of land for the park system is al- ready surrounded by law with sufti- clent safeguards. Condemnation of Land. “Reference to the act of Congress of August 30, 1890, providing a site for the government printing office, as governing the condemnation proceed- ings pertaining to lands within the District of Columbia, is also belleved to be improper, as the provisions of that act have been replaced by chiapter XV of the Code of Laws for the District of Columbla, which pro- vides, a procedure entirely similar to that outlined in the act of 1890. An act of August 1, 1885, provides for the condemnation of land for the United States outside the District of Columbia. Accordingly a mere au- thorization of condemnation proceed- ings “as provided by law” will be sufficlent to provide for the con- demnation of land, both inside and outside the District of Columbia. It is further belleved that neither the acquisition nor control of lands not in the District of Columbla should be subject to agreements with state agencles, but that both acquisition and control of federal lands are properly to be regarded as exclusive functions of federal agencies. “It {s accordingly suggested that the blll be amended as indicated, and as. thus amended' I recommend | tavorable consideration by Congre: in the Treasury to the credit of committee that $5,502,061.34 is House Committee Refuses to | the only figure that should be considered by it in establishing the opportunity will be afforded me at early date to discuss the report orall with the committee, For this latte reason 1 shall not attempt at this time 10 enter upon extended arguments concerning certain matters brought out by the accountants, but will sub- mit my views as briefly as the im- portance of each subject shall war- rant. “The outstanding and really im- portant feature of the entire report is the finding y the accountants of the existence of certain moneys in the Treasury of the United States on June 30, 1922, properly belonging to and due the District of Coumbia, fre. of all fixed obligations. amount to £5,502.061.34. This finding by accountants completely supports and prove tness of the conten- tion of the District of Columbia that it P ch surplus revenues in the i accountants goes into varying details and stresses those financial transactions in which the equities would appear to favor the United States, but it is significant that the report gives practically no con- sideration to any transactions in ich the equities would appear to or the District of Columbia. In this respect the present mccountants seem to have followed in the footsteps of those employed by congressional committies in conducting similar in- vestigations -in the past. “The accountants fail to set up, for instance, that to June 20, 1922, the District 'has paid entirely from its own revenues appropriations aggre- at £4,195,608.39 notwithstanding the fact that Congress, under the or- ganic act, agreed 'to share in such appropriations. Items Omitted. » “The accountants fail to show that the United States has paid no part of $3,065,672.85, expended In the payment of pensions and other allowances to retired members of the police and fire rtments and to familles of de- a4 membe ountants faii to show t government pavs nothin whatever for water consumed by it and that this cost Is met from the pockets of the people of Washington and further, that of the entire cost of the maintenance, operation, extension and improvement of the water s to June 30, 1922 totaling $32,312.- 346.74, only $8,830,028.38 has been de- rived from the revenues of the United States. “The accountants fail to show other than by a four-line reference to the subject. that while the District paid one-half of about $900,000, the rost of reconstructing the courthouse. years paid 50 per centum of laries and expenses of the S e Court of the District, and is aying 60 per centum of such ap- propriations (the appropriations for the current year amounting to $204.- 657), the United States receives credit for all fees, fines. forfeitures, collat- erals and costs collected in that court. “There are other items favoring the District which might have been pre- sented by the accountants for the consideration of the committee, in- cluding a one-half credit in $43,120. the amount offered to and accepted by the Commissioners for the Arthur School property more than seven Years azo, this property being includ- ed within the taking lines for the ex- tension of the Capitol grounds. “Al] these matters are at least en- titled to consideration by the commit- tee, as much so as those items set up by the accountants in favor of the nited States. “The report of the accountants is prepared with chapter designations The several chapters will be consid- ered in order. NERAL" (Pages 1 to 10). Controller's Report. “On page 4 of the report is repro- duced a certificate of the controller general's office showing a balance of $8.136,674.44 in the Treasury of the United States on June 30, 1922, due the District of Columbia. This total is made up of a balance in the general fund of $7.574,416.90, and $562,157.54 belonging to certain special and trust funds of the District. This latter amount does not enter into the ques- tion of surplus revenues of the DI trict. The following comments, ther fore, deal with the general fund bal- ance. This fund s made up of moneys paid into the Treasury, derived from taxes, privileges and miscellaneous revenue itei and represents the revenue proper of the District of Co- lumbia available for appropriation puroses. “The accountants call attention (on page 6) to a discrepancy of $5.260.67 between the general fund balance certified by the controller general's office on June 30, 1922, and that shown by the generul ledger in the office of the auditor of the District of Colum- bia, the District claiming a balance of $7,579,677.57. as against $7,674,416.90 found to be due the District by the controller general. This difference, which had not been located st the time of closing the ledger for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1932, has since been reconciled in part, so that (Continued on Page 13, Column &3,