Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-16
A ProVisO Which May Delay the Work
Above the Bridge.
WHAT COL. HAMS SAYS sRorr TT

STAR reporter asked Col Hams this morning
what VIII be the effect OF the provision in tn,
clause OF the river and harbor BIN appropriatine
Sl5o,OOO for the reclamation OF the Potomac Oats
which requires a report to the Secretary OF Wal
from the Attorney General the validity OF the
Ute OF tne Unted states to such flats before any
part or The above sum shall be expended
~ cant teli az present what the effect will be
d9Pga rolonei hains ut may prove very ser
GUS obstacle 70 the prosecution OF the work OF re-
Claiming the Hats, While on the other hand n may
t not interfere with the work at ALL don't believe
that there is any doubt as to the validity OF Title
OF points below the Long bridge, and presume tine
money 10 De appropriated could be expended for
Improvements there so that that particular branch
Oh the work could be continued But the provision
telerred 10 might cause delay in The work above
Tue prioge just at the stage when a delay
Noui hovet De mo, most unfortunate. It may
On THIS point When the first appropriation OF
SoOOOOO was made for improving the fats In 1852.
IL was provided that the Attorney General should
see that the government shoul secure a valid iiiie
10 the land TO be reclaimed, and should have The
mater settled in the courts II necessary and
II was desirable that the work should be
commenced as soon as possible and pending the
ssSteinent OF the title question, It decided by
.ne ATTORNEY General. with the consent OF the
Claimants TO the flats, that there was nothing 10
pieeenI tne commencement OF the work. AMI the
Attorney General so reported to the War dppart
menL Under this decision the wori, was
commenced and prosecuted up TO this time
now IL may be. that the Attorney General has set
ments for settling it without delay. About that I
Know nothing. II the question has been settled
everything VIII move without hitch II II hasn't
~ WIZ nave 10 De, before any OF the $50 900 can be
expended 1Or the work above the flats
WHAT SECRETARY LINCOLN SAYS
secretary Lincoln. when asked by the reporter
replied that the only report received by him from
the Attorney General the subject was the one or
1852, winch stated that the work could be com
meGceu pending the settlement OF The title cues
uon "A 1e" months ago." said the Secretary ~
sent communication 10 the ATTORNEY General
giving history OF the work ACCOMPLISHED and
called bis attention to the law, requiring him 10
nave the title question settled and report TO the
war department Since then nothing has been re-
1ect" 0A WIG 'u'-
WHAT WAS SAID AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JrsrIcr
AT the Department OF Justice IL was learned tina,
the only action taken in the matter by the depart
ment was an opinion in 1882 to the effect that there
was no obstacle TO the commencement OF the work
ana communication was sent to the War denarr
ment last September. Tbs STAR reporter was re
IeTred 10 the War department to learn the contents
Oh the latter, and found that &c WIS
an opinion OF the Attorney General 70
the eject that the former opinion
OF 1852 was applicable to the expenditure or the
tSO,OOO, the second appropriation which was made
last summer Tor the fats Improvement. AS far as
could be learned, therefore, there Is nothing M
snow That the question OF the validity OF title had
Deen settled, Or that active operations have been
to that end. ~