Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-24
Senator Gray's Bill to Buy the Old
Blaine Property.
WILL STOP TEE THEATER BUILDING
A Former Effort to Obtain the
Ground Was Made.
IT'S APPROXIMA ATE VALU E

The general opinion at the Capitol seems
TO be that the effort of Senator Gray to
stop the construction of the new Lafayette
Square Theater by providing for the pur-
chase OF the property by the government
Is more than likely to succeed. There are
indie ations that the amendment introduced
by him day before yesterday for that pur-
pose was drawn after consultation with the
appropriations committee. and IL that be
true. Ii would seem as though the plan had
been semi-officially discussed. The House
Is debating the sundry civil bill, to
which this has been offered as an amend
ment. and action by the Senate is not ex-
pected for some time yet Meanwhile the
pros and cons of the suggestion are being
widely discussed. and the drift of opinion
is that this scheme will eventually succeed.
OF course. If the amepdment should be
enacted into a law ii will at once estop the
construction of a theater by virtue of the
exercise of the right of eminent domain by
the government. Such law would be
mandatory on the Secretary of the Treas
ury to secure the title to the property, ire
spective of any other consideration.
The govern mcnt would deal directly with
Mrs. Blaine as the owner OF tie property
and the only person who could pass pa e the
than probable that condemnation proceed
ings would have to be resorted to. es the
existence of the lease for ninety nine years.
given by Mrs. Blaine to the Chicago firr1,
might so embarrass the situation that 1t
would be difficult to reach agreement
Hs to price.
The Lease Not Considered.
This lease will net be a consideration as
far as the government is concerned in
the least. 1t Is a ma.yer solely between
Mrs. Blaine and the lessees. and would, of
course. cut an important figure in their
subsequent relations. The government has
absolutely nothing to do with the clouds
Lpon the titles of tn, property which 1t
takes by condemnation. and that is the
object. largely. cf the laws under which
such proceedings now had. The pro-
cess Is for the government to take the
property at fair valuation, to be fixed
upon by commission appointed by the
court.
Should there be no dispute as to prior
ownership and no question as to title the
mercy Is usually paid directly to the
clouded title. or dispute as to terms be-
tween joint owners. and forth, the
money is paid by the commissioners into
the court. and there held until it's division
shall be determined by process of suit and
Judgment.
This course of proceedings is absolutely
necessary. otherwise the government would
seldom, IL ever, De able to exercise it's right
this right to be nullified by collusive suits
for title or by leases given for the real
purpose of blocking the condemnation. The
exact status of the lease holder in the pres
ent case is matter of adjudication in
court, probably on a suit brought by the
lessees against the lessor, Mrs. Blaine, to
recover damages for violation of contract.
In the event of the condemnation, the
lessees would probably set up in such a
suit the plea of damages resulting from
less OF time. money expended for the pre-
paration OF plans, for the destruction of
the old building and for the general post
ponement of the completion of the enter
prise. representing perhaps loss of profits.
All of these would be matters of nice ad-
jUstment with which the government would
have no concern.
The mere passage of the law coAtem-
plated by Senator Gray would probably be
the signal for a discrimination of the
work on the theater site. Such an event,
however, Is not eminent for several weeks.
What Senator Gray Says.
Senator Gray in further discussing his
amendment with Star reporter, said to-
day: II have not meant to reflect upon
the character or the stability of the new
theater building. when I alluded to 1t as
fmsy and infiammable. I merely meant
to convey the idea of the inappropriate-
ness at that point of theater structure,
which. in the nature of things, Is more in
fiammable and less soldly constructed than
an office building The theater will prob
ably prove to be all that the architect
claims for IL. 1t is apparently planned to
be very valuable building. That is all
the stronger argument for the government
to purchase the property now. before the
building is completed and before its value
has been greatly increased. This is by no
means a new proposition. 1t has been
made before in the Senate and just such an
amendment was once offered to a pending
appropriation BILL
Former Proposition to Buy.
A close search of the records of the Sem
ate fails to show that any definite action
was ever taken by that body on such a
proposition. although the Congressional
Record of February 20. 1893. contains an
interesting paragraph verifying Senator
Gray's recollection in this matter. On that
day. the sundry civil bill being under dis
cussion, and the proposition to acquire ad-
ditional ground adjoining the Maltby House
being under debate. Senator Vest said:
Ten years ago. at my instance, the COM
mittee proposed to purchase what is now
known as the Blaine mansion, which would
have given us the whole of that square,
back to alley adjoining the property
of Senator Cameron. 1t was offered to the
government 1 think. for $4,000. but there
was nobody who seemed to be disposed to
second the endeavor. and afterward Mr..
Blaine bought the property, and there he
died. III we had bought that property and
utilized 1t for Supreme Court building
and law library 1t would have been eX-
actly what an ordinary business man
would have done in regard to his own
affairs"
1t is understood that for the purpose of
drawing the lease, under which the present
operations are now proceeding, the property
was valued at 100000, and that is the sum
which is now generally in the minds of the
Senators who are considering this amend
ment although the amendment itself car
ries only appropriation in blank.
Considering the economic spirit of the
House there Is some doubt expressed
whether the appropriation necessary for
this purchase can be got through that body.
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