Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-24

ExAMINED-cAREFUL SEARCHING OF TITLES
WHAT U.s. DISTRICT ATTORNEY COLE SAYS
THINGS BEING SHOWED ALONG.
The government is taking its time in buying
the site for the city post Office for Washington.
1t is rather a serious business the purchase Of
an entire square Of ground, and the details Of
title and ownership are being looked into with
most careful scrutiny.
To q casual outsider the delay that has en-
sued between the final approval of the report
Of the commission by the President and the
commencement of the work might seem an
unnecessary unroiling Of red tape, but a STAR
reporter was assured By various officials today
that there cannot be too much of that material
used when the purchase money for q big piece
Of city property is to be paid out
SEARCHING THE TITLES.
Title searching has gradually become so diff
fcult and responsible an operation that in the
present instance there are no less than three
men we'll trained in such business and endowed
with the keenest of eyes when it comes to mat
tiers of title law now working hard in an effort
to be sure that when the government has paid
for the square opposite The STAR Office it will
own it forever.
One of these men might be just as good as
three if he were infallible. but the theory
seems to be that in searching for titles no man
can be held to be absolutely sure. Hence the
tripicate system of searching for flaws that is
going on. The titles are first examined by an as
sistant of the United States district attorney, Mr.
Hugh Taggart who reports upon the cases to
the Department of Justice, where they are
gone over again by Judge Bentley, the ex-
aminer Of titles for the government. He is a
careful, methodical man, with a due sense
Of. Of the i. importance Of accuracy in mat
sends the papers, when satisfied with the case,
to the Secretary of the Treasury, and they soon
find their way to the office of the supervising
architect where they pass through the hands
Of the law clerk, Mr.. st. Julien Da Pray.
Ii the case seems good one-and all have in
ton is made upon the treasurer for the amount
named in the report of the commission and,
after further scrutiny by the first auditor and
first controller, a warrant in that sum is made
out and the money is paid by check.
IN CASES OF DOUBTFUL OWNERSHIP.
In cases where there is doubt as to the legal
owners, the check will be sent, through the
district attorney, to the Circuit Court and de-
posted there, with proper orders as to its
being made payable to whoever may
court. 1t is probable that all such cases, which
form a majority Of those involved, will be set
tied at once and all Of the money deposited on
one order.
Thus 1t will be seen that a conscientious dis
charge Of duty on the part of all five of the
legal watchdogs-the three title examiners and
the two other oficials--necessarily requires
time and causes delay. 1t may be stated, how
ever, that as much progress is being made as
possible.
Tho ond is not far off now, but no one likes
to make time predictions.
WHAT DISTRICT ATTORNEY COLE SAYS.
District Attorney Cole said today: "There is
no hitch in the proceedings, as far as this office
is concerned. We have certified as to the title
in every case but one and there is nothing
awkward about that. Fully two-thirds of tine
cases involve doubt as to ownership, and in
all such instances we have 80 notified the De-
partment Of Justice.
In those cases the Secretary of the Treasury
will request us to take the proper steps toward
paying the purchase money into court, and we
that end. There is no possible way for us to
set a definite time for the completion Of all
these payments, as We have but the initial step
to take. do not believe that the final acqui-
sition OF title by the government will be long
delayed"
AT THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECTS OFFICE.
At the Office Of the supervising architect the
reporter was informed that that Office was
showing the cases along as rapidly as possible
and that the papers had evidently accumulated
on the desk Of Judge Bentley in the De-
partment Of Justice. That official re-
marked that he was Saving wood" He had
made as much progress as he could, but his
desk was piled high with other matters, and he
was working alone. II sent the papero in the
case of the Stone property"-that occupied by
the auction establishment on the corner Of
1lth and the avenue-"to the Treasury
on Saturday, and do not believe that much
more time will elapse before certify to the
last parcel. would hesitate, however, before
making any promises l think that Just little
more patience on the part Of the iong-suffering
public will be amply rewarded"
ANOTHER WARRANT ISSUED.
A warrant was issued from the Treasury De-
partment today in favor Of c. C. Duncanson of
Washington for S23, 425, in payment for lands
taken for the site Of the city post Office.