Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-29
THE POTOMAC IMPROVEMENT.
Pressing Need of an Appropriation to
Continue the WOrk-Required Legis
latiOn by Congress.

In regard to the failure of the House COM
mittee on rivers and harbors to recommend
any appropriation for the purpose ofcontinuing
the improvement of the Potomac river and
flats, Col Hams, the engineer officer in charge,
says that he can see no reason why the ques-
ton of title to disputed section should keep
back the appropriation because not cent of
the flats upon which the improvements are
almost entirely completed. Work under the
existing contracts will be competed about
July. and without new appropriation all work
must be stopped Col. Hams says that if some
thing is not done the result will be detrimental
to the Improvements and expensive to the gov
eminent. Ii the work is suspended, but short
period will be enough to undo all the work &C.
cOmplished. The dredging will not be finished,
filled with mud, so that the channel will be no
better If not a great deal worse, than when
dredging was begun.
THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE WAITING
FOR LEGISLATION BY CONGRESS.
The Department of Justice has not yet re-
piled to the request of the House appropriations
committee for information as to the disputed
titles TO the Potomac flats, but will send reply
in a day or two, although there is little infOr.
nation to communicate. The position of the
department was given at length in an article in
THE STAR of March 3, which is in effect that
the department is awaiting legislation by the
the last session which provided not only for the
settlement of the question OF title to the Kid.
we'll bottoms and all other water front claims
but also for eXtinguishing the titles in case
any should be found valid. The order
OF Attorney General Brewster last year
to the district attorney to institute pro
ceedngs to settle the title question of the Kid.
well bottoms was made under the law of 1881,
which made no provisions for acquiring title fol
the government. In view of the more radical
legislation proposed proceedings by the distric.
attorney were suspended, for it would be neces
sary togo over the whole ground again in settling
other claims and eXtinguishing titles. 1t is
held at the department that the matter can be
settled at an early day, thereby obviatng all
difficulties in securing appropriations for the
flats improvement in one of two ways-either
by making law of the Senate bill referred to
which would permit of immediate legal pro-
ceedings with provisions for condemning the
lands Unnecessary, or by Congress investing the
Court OF Claims with authority to decide
upon the validity of titles to the disputed sec.
lions. A proposition to the latter effect has
been submitted to the Attorney General by the
legal representatives of the claimants to the
HOWELL bottoms, and the Attorney General
now has that proposition under consideration
as stated in THE STAR last week. In view oj
the fact that none of the money to be appropri.
ated is 10 be expended upon the sections Of land
in dispute, it is hoped that the river and har
Dor committee may withdraw from their stand
of no title, no money, and recommend an ap
preparation for continuing the work which
would be greatly injured by suspension of any
length.