Evening star., 1895-02-26
THE BLAINE PROPERTY.
The Sennte Adopts the Amendment to
Purchase 1t.

Purchase 1t.
Late yesterday afternoon, by a vote Of 81
to 25, the Senate accepted the amendment
of the committee on appropriations to the
sundry civil bill providing for the purchase
of the Blaine property on Lafayette square.
The debate on this item, which began
shortly after noon, continued after o'clock
The amendment was somewhat modified
before 1t was finally accepted. On sugges-
ton Of Mr.. White, line was inserted con-
veying to the United States all the rent,
issues, profits of the property under the ex-
listing lease. Mr.. Palmer raising the ques-
ton that 1t would not be legal for the
United States to acquire byi the exercise
of the right of eminent domain any prop
erty without specifying the use to whi ch
1t was proposed to put 1t, Mr.. Gray offered
an amendment. which was accepted. stipu-
lating this use as follows: For the erec-
ton of buildings for the Department of
Justice or for the transaction Of other pub
lie business of the United states.'
The One Flaw In the Title.
Mr.. White insisted upon understanding
perfectly the flaw which, earlier in the day,
Mr.. Hale admitted to be in existence in the
title to this property. 1t was developed
that this flaw, which Mr.. Blaine found
when he proceeded to buy the property,
consists of an infinitesimal share held by
an aged woman of unsound mind. 1t was
shown by Mr.. Hale and others friendly to
the amendment that it Is altogether i'm
probable that this claim would ever be
pressed to embarrass any owner, whether
public OR private. Mr.. Blaine thought it
of so little consequence that he was will
ing to take risks on buying the property,
and 1t was not held to be of enough con-
sequence to interfere in the transaction be-
tween Mrs. Blaine and the lessee. The
suggestion was made that this defect could
be cured by instituting condemnation pro-
ceedings, but Mr.. Hale pointed out that
Mrs. Blaine did not desire condemnation
proceedings, and did not wish to be thrown
upon the mercies of the jury. Mr.. White
proposed an amendment inserting after the
provision for acquiring the title from Mrs.
Blaine these words: "Or any outstanding
interest in the premises that may not be
included in or transferred by deed as
Blaine"
The Vote in Detail.
Later. Mr.. Vest moved an amendment to
substitute for all this a provision to ac-
quire fee-simple title from Mrs. Blaine.
This was lost by a tie vote-27 to 27. Mr..
White then offered an amendment provid-
ing for the acquisition of Mrs. Blaine's
title and the interests of the lessee by con-
demnation proceedings similar to those in
voked in the purchase of the post Office
site. This was lost-23 to 80. The amend
ment of the committee, as amended, was
then accepted. The vote was as follows:
Yeas-Aldrich, Allen, Allison, Blanchard,
Brice, Butler, Cameron, Clark, Cockrell,
Daniel. Davis, Dixon, German, Gray, Hale,
Hawley, Lodge. Mcmillan, Mantle, Morrill,,
Murphy, Power, Proctor, Quay, Ransom.
Squire. Teller. Villas, Voorhees,, Wilson of
Washington, Wolcott-31.
Nays-Bate, Berry, Caffery, Call, Cullom,
Faulkner, George, Harris, Hunton, Jones of
Arkansas, Kyle, Lindsay, McLaurin, Mar
tin, Mills. Mitchell of Oregon, Morgan,
Peffers Platt, Pugh, Stewart Turpie, Vest,
Walsh, Washburn-25.