Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-14
COMPLETING PLANS
CONFERENCE REGARDING CON-
GREssIoNAL OFFICE BUILDING.
Committee Of Representatives Urge
That Condemnation Proceedings
Be Instituted at Once.

Mr. Morgan H. Beach, United States at
torney for the District OF Columbia, today
received a visit from Representatives Hep
burn and Richardson. who, with xRepresen-
tative Cannon. constitute the committee to
arrange for the acquiring of land and the
erection of an Office building for the House
Of Representatives,. The purpose of the
visit was to suggest to United States At
torney Beach. that proceedings be instituted
with the least possible delay having in view
the condemnation OF the land IN the square
bounded by Nsw-sJersey avenue. and LIST
street, B and streets southeast, which
has been selected? as the site fUr@the office
building. The United States. attorney will
proceed in the matter forthwith
The United States attorney will make ap-
piicat:on to the Supreme Court Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, by petition. at a general
Or special term Of that court. for an as
sessment of the value OF the real estate,
about sixty lots in all. cont aimed in the
square. The petition will contain particu-
lar description ct the prop say with the
names OF the owner or owners thereof and
his, her or thelrnresidenee, a.. far as the
same can be ascertaiEed. The court is au-
thorzad and,Teauired, upon such application,
without delay. to notify the owners and oc-
cupants of each parcel. and to ascertain and
assess the value OF the same by appointing
three commissioners to appEaise the values
thereof. and to return the assessment to the
court. and when the values are ascertained,
and the Secretary of the Interior shall deem
the same reasonable, the sum or sums so
ascertained shall be paid into the court for
their use.
Title to Pass to United States.
The fee simple of all premises so appro-
priated for public use and Of which an ap-
praisement shall have been made Under the
hall
upon payment into the court of the amount
SO ascertained and assessed as to each par
Gel, be thereupen vested fully in. the United
States and the right of possession thereof.
The court may direct the time and manner
in which possession Of the property con-
demned shall be taken Sor delivered and
may, If necessary enforce any order or
issue any process for giving possession. The
cost occasioned by the Inquiry and as
sessment shall be paid by the United States:
and as to other costs that may arise, they
shall be charged or taxed as the court may
direct
Whenever and as title to the several
parcels of the real estate shall be acquired
In the manner indicated. and the same shall
be ready for delivery, and the sufficiency
shall be certified by the Attorney General
of the United States. the Secretary of the
Treasury Is hereby authorized and directed,
upon the requisition Of the Secretary of the
Interior, to pay into court the condemna-
tlon price OF the properly parcei Dy parcel.
Previous Condemnations.
In view Of the desire for haste in secur-
ing the site for the House Of Representa-
tives office building, it Is explained that
the proceedings for the condemnation Of
square 323-the post Office site-were begun
October %, 1890, and the awards were made
September %, 1891 The case lasted for
some time longer, the parties fighting
among themselves until 1899.
The proceedings for the condemnation Of
part of square 624 for the addition to the
government printing Office were begun Sep
TENDER 81. 1898, and lasted about nine
months. There were twenty six parcels Of
land condemned. and the amount appro-
priated was sos 900.
The proposed site for the House of Rep
resentatives building contains sixty par
GELS of land, and the appropriation is $780,
600 p
In the calendar years 1898 and 1890, dur
which the government printing Office con-
demnation case was disposed Of fourteen
civil cases were received in the office Of
the United States attorney for the District
Of Columbia for attention. In 1890 the
number was seventeen. In 1901 there were
ffty-two cases. In 1902, forty seven cases,
and since January l. 1903, eleven civil
cases have been received In the Office
During the fiscal year ended June 80.
1899. 4,2S4 criminal cases were disposed Of
In the office. and during the fiscal year
ended June 30. 1901, SGT criminal cases.