Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-21

1t 10 desirable that the litigation over the
title to part Of the land improved in the recla-
nation Of the Potomac flats should be termi-
mated as speedily rs possible. But the situation
Is not such as to justify the proyiso attached by
the House committee to the appropriation for
continuing this work, that no part of the APP
preparation shall be expended until the suit
has been tried In the lower court with de-
cision favorable to the government This action
gives undue importance to the Kid
well claims, and attaches undue sig
nifieance to a decision. which, on the
principle that the impossible always happens,
might come from the District court that there
Is some substance to these claims. Every
lawyer who has examined the subject for the
government. whether a representative OF the
Department Of Justice or a member of the
Senate or House committee dealing with the
question. has satisfied himself that there
Is no foundation for this claim of title. Ii
might be perfectly safe to make a continuation
OF the flats improvement dependent upon the
defeat of the Kidwell claim. but why should 1t
be made thus DEPENDENT What logical con-
nection is there between the suit and the ap-
preparation? When the suit was authorized
to settle this title. it was provided by the same
act that. if the claim of title was sustained, the
land was to be viewedGs condemned by the gov
eminent as OF a date prior to the improvement.
and damages were to be awarded by the same
court to the Kidwell claimants representing the
value Of their land at the same date, before
any improvements whatever had been made.
And in excess of precaution Congress has pro-
vided concerning various appropriations for
fats reclamation tina: no part of the money
shall be expended upon the land concerning
the title 20 which there is dispute. So
shat the situation is this. There
does not seem to be one chance in a
hundred Tor shaking the title of the govern
ment to a foot Of the ground. IT, however, the
Ridweu claim is sustained, the same court
which sus-ssins Il mus; give damages to the
claimants representing the value of the
property before this Improvement was
begun, when the lots we're water
lots and confessedly almost worthless.
The proviso suggested BY the House committee
Onsht to act as a spnr 70 hasten the speedy
trial Of the litigation, but the Poto-
rIac Improvement upon which so much
has already been spent ought to
lie hastened to completion without
any reference to the law DELAYS and uncer-
tainties in respect TO a suit which, however. it
may result. is not as Dir. Toots would say, ''of
~ slightest consequence In the fats
reclamation and in other respects the Poto-
mac shoRld be made in the immediate
future the sceHa OF soE!e OF the greatest pub
lie Improvements for the benefit of the capital
The present Long Bridge with The distractions
TO the flow OF the river which il offers should
be removed New bridges across the Potomac
should be built and the harbor should be
deepened. TIE health and business Of the city Will
both be benefited by these improvements. The
reclaimed flats should be so guarded at the
outer edge as to serve as a wall to the lower
city against floods. The removal Of the Long
bridge cam and the deepening OF the channel
will also aid in tie protection Of the city
against Invasion by the Potomac.