The Washington herald., 1908-03-11

acquired py NOngreSSiOndl enactment Ndl-
liable property in the District Of Colum-
bia the title to which had been vested
in the United States government since the
territory now embraced within the Dis
trict was decided to the United States by
the State Of Maryland, in l7Ss, was
brought out on the floor Of the Senate
yesterday.
1t was also stated that IL a bin intro
duced by Senator Carter. from the Dis
trict Committee. were not speedily passed.
Mr.. Bieber would become possessed OF
large additions to his one-time govern
ment property. those additions probably
including the landing OF the Washington
Navy Yard and portion Of the grounds
Of the Government Hospital for the IN
sane.
The bin, which proposes 20 repeal sec
tion I3 Of the so-callcd public buildings
act OF 1907. was passed without objec-
tion. after Senator Carter, VINO introduced
the measure for the committee. had ex-
plained 10 the Senate just what had al
ready happened. and what would happen
II the bill did not receive the approval OF
Congress and the President II remains
for the House to pass the bill and for the
President to sign IT, so that M Bieber
stiu has a fighting chance TO obtain i'm
portant public property. II the statements
made on the floor OF the Senate yesterday
are correct
Bieber High In Politics.
Mr.. Bieber. who is named as the high
hnancier in this interesting case. is chair
man Of the election board which will
conduct the forthcoming primaries 10
elect delegates from the District to the
Republican national convention At Chi
cago, and he Is also treasurer OF the Re
publican Congressional committee for the
District OF Columbis. lie is one OF the
and was formerly FIRE marshal Of the
District He IS on close terms with many
politicians. and is good friend Of Speaker
Cannon. II has been understood that
the District delegates would be instructed
for Mr.. Cannon for President IL Mr.. Bic
| ber's candidates Win in the coming pri-
maries.
AS a retired FIRE marshal. Mr.. Bieber
draws pension OF $50 a month by Con-
gressional action
Declines to Make Reply.
Mr.. Bieber was asked last night what he
had 10 say regarding the occurrences in
the Senate. He declined TO make a state
ment. but said that he would make public
his side OF the question later, when he
had seen the Congressional Records ac-
count Of what happened on the floor.
The statements made in the Senate. re-
duced TO their lowest terms. may be thus
briefly recounted: Mr.. Bieber purchased
lot OF ground. OF which the United
States owned the title. but which was
held under tax-sale deed having been
repeatedly sold for taxes after having
been decided by some irresponsible person
TO one Mrs. Sweetzer hfty-four years ago.
Mr.. Bieber secured the passage by Con
gress Of A bin granting him a clear
title. through the Secretary OF War. FOR
which he paid sl.o0e. This In Iso4 There
for 1906 a section which granted 20 Mr.
Bieber three other parcels of alleged gov
ernment property adjoining the property
which he had acquired. Last year a sec
tion was incorporated in the public build
ings bill authorizing and directing the
Secretary OF War to deed to the owner
OF the ground which Mr.. Bieber had
acquired other tracts Of government land
lying south OF his possessions. This deed
Mr.. Taft held up. and after consulting
the Attorney General brought the matter
to the attention OF Congress.
without Precedent, Says Carter.
Following is the statement which Senator
Carter made or the floor Of the Senate
yesterday. in urging the passage OF the
bin to repeal the SECTION instructing the
Secretary Of War to deed more property
to Mr. Bieber:
7 regard these successive enactments
as the most extraordinary that ever
passed Congress within my knowledge.
bill was passed. apparently to cure
defects or remove a cloud ui,on a title
to a block OF land IN the Congressional
Cemetery. This alleged cloud really con-
sisted OF the paramount and undisputed
title Of the United States 70 the land.
but It was called a cloud because, for
soOth. many years before an individual
who had no right, shadow, or claim of
title. decided the property to Mrs.
Sweetzer.
Mrs. Sweetzer defaulted in payment of
taxes. after having listed the property
for taxation Strange to say. this prop
erty Of the United States was sold by the
District OF Columbia for taxes. repeatedly
thereafter sold. and finally became the
property OF MIR. Sidney Bieber Mr..
Bieber proceeded to remove the cloud on
his tax title. and Congress passed an act
providing that the Secretary OF War
should deed the block 10 Mr.. Bieber for
such consideration as seemed lust.
The first bill OF 1904 passed in a pro
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