The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-12
BARTHOLDT CLEARS
GRANTS TO BIEBER
Representative D cellar S
War Department Fixed
Proper Price.
Bieber Asserts Carter
Statement Follows
P. R. R. Brief

representative Bartholdt of Missouri.
chairman of the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds. made a speech
IN the House today defending the ac-
ton of his committee IN having reported
for passage a bill which allowed Sydney
Bieber to obtain possession of certain
land on the AnaCOsJia river.
Incidentally. his remarks were a refu-
tation of The public charges that Mr..
Bieber had secured possession Of the
land by irregular methods.
Il was satisfied" he said, THAT since
the whole matter was left to the war
Department and even the price was
10 be fixed by that department. Con-
gress would be on absolutely safe
grounds in enacting this legislation.
We felt that the legislation authorized
nothing moro nor less than a legitimate
sale Of unused land belonging to the
Government and a legitimate purchase
OF that by a citizen on such terms as
the agents Of the Government would
deem proper.
Bieber Issues Statement.
Mr.. Beiber stated that these tracts
We're Of no use to the Government and
he was perfectly willing 10 pay the
price which the War Department would
deem proper. Thereupon the committee
referred the bin TO the War Depart
ment and in due time the bill was
returned with its approval"
Beiber has also issued a statement
III his own defense. in which he says;
The statement OF Senator Carter.
MADE on the floor Of the Senate Tues
day afternoon, concerning several Iegis-
lative enactments giving me title TO
parcels Of land along the Anacostia
river. was so full of gross inaccura-
Cies that 1 am compelled to accept them
as Intentional and not inadvertent
Senator Carter's statement. in sub
stance, if not IN form, is practically
identical with the arguments contained
IN d 120-page brief prepared by legal
counsel of the Pennsylvania railroad,
and laid before the War Department
and the Department of Justice in an
effort 10 prevent the enforcement of
the blu which the Senate voted to re-
peal.
Il call attention to a few of the mis-
representations made by Senator Garter:
Senator Carter stated that the law
in question gave me land clear up &c the
navy yard. This is absolutely untrue.
AS a matter of fact, the nearest bOun-
Diary of this land is more than three
quarters OF a mile distant from the
navy yard.
Senator Carter stated that some OF
the land in question was nov comprised
within the limits of the Congressional
Cemetery. This is absolutely untrue.
Cannot Claim Asylum.
Senator Carter stated that under the
bin I would be able TO claim land within
the boundaries OF the Government Hos
pital for the Insane. This is absurd.
The Government Hospital for the Insane
IS on the other side Of the AnacOstia
river. and fully two miles distant.
Senator Carter stated that under the
bin I would be able to claim land on
the opposite side of the AnaCOstia river
This also is absurd.
Senator Carriers remarks throughout
were calculated to give tho impression
that Congress, through Irregular and
fraudulent representations. had enacted
legislation to make me a gift of these
several parcels of land. This IS entirely
erroneous and 7 cannot but believe that
Senator Carter in making these misrep-
reservations did so WilflIily and ma
hciously.
Carter Persuaded.
1t appears that the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company has Induced a mem
Der of the Senate 20 believe, or 10 pro-
TESS to believe, that Irregularities and
frauds in connection with several leg
islative enactments threatened danger
TO most valuable Government posses
sIOus
Reputable gentlemen Of the Senate
a nanHIad 4rf1
bills which. at different times, have been
before four committees Of the Senate
and House. No question along the lines
of Senator Carter's argument has ever
been raised before, although each of
these legislative enactments has been
subjected TO the closest and most COM
pTehensiye scrutiny, not only in both
branches of Congress, but in several Of
the departments as WE'LL
EEHHr sGEn fyTEEgs