The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-11
SCORES
GRANTS Of TITLE
TO SIDNEY BIEBER
Inquiry Into Realty Titles
in District May Follow
Disclosures.
Scheme to Obtain Gov
ernmentLots Explained
by Carter.

In connection with remarkable charges
made against Sidney Bieber on the
Senate floor yesterday. Just before the
repeal Of an act 70 grant a plot OF
Government land IN Washington TO Mr..
Bieber, some strange statements are
made and some curious things are
limited
II is intimated that for half a cen
tusy operations of most anomalous
character in Washington real estate
have been carried on by certain per
sons. These operations consist in max
ing putative transfers Of realty actually
belonging to the Government; thus III
tin RteIy securing tax titles as the basis
Of claims, and later inducing the Gov
eminent 20 clear these.
The chances are that a thorough in
vestigatlon Of the property titles Of the
District viii be a result OF the state
Hent made by Senator Carter yester-
day in the Bieber case.
Carter Explains Scheme.
IT would appear possible" he said.
that a citizen Of the District might
give deed 10 the land on which stands
the Capitol OF the United States. The
grantee might record Il; It would be
placed ON the assessment rolls Of the
| tax collectors: taxes would be paid
for a time; default would ensue; the
land be sold for taxes; a tax deed Sc
cured; and then the holder OF that tax
deed appear before Congress, ask that
his title be cleared Of "a cloud, secure
legislation authorizing a deed 10 him Of
the property. and thus actually set Il
turned over TO MN
This marvellous statement of a possible
case is in fact an exact parallel 20 what
senator Carter charges has actually
taken place with reference 10 other Gov
eminent property in Washington
II is charged that a number OF years
ago q person without the shadow OF
right, title. or interest transferred %
Mary =. Sweetzer a certain plot OF
ground 10 the east OF the C0ngression-
al Cemetery. The deed was recorded
the land placed on the assessment rOils,
taxes We're paid for time. then de-
faulted: q tax deed was secured by the
purchaser at tax sale.
Biebers Title Cleared.
The tax title was transferred through
various hands TO Sidney BIeber. d we'll
known citizen OF the District, and Mr.
| BiEbeT, representing that the para
mount tile OF the Government 20 the
! property was merely "a cloud on his
title secured legislation authorizing a
settlement with himself through the War
Department. The settlement was Sc
cured, and Bieber was given the Gov
erumeuts deed TO the property. which
at all times prior 20 this had been he
absolute property of the Government"
But this Is not all that Senator Car
ter alleged from the Senate floor He
/ declared that following this transaction,
Mr. Rieber secured first the Govern
ment's deed to a string of lots from
this land to and including part OF the
high ground on the east shore OF the
Anacostia river This deed was au-
I thOTized by an cncCtmeDt OF Congress
which directed -he proper executive au-
th0rities of the Cove -ument 10 make
/ the transfer. Terms were agreed upon
and the transfer made. Later stiu. the
| trinsfer to Mr., Bicoer Of certain other
/ adjacent property was authorized by an
other item in a law Of Congress, for
which a consideration Of nominal char
Gcter was agreed upon.
Calls Property Gift.
This transaction, Senator Carter NJ
legged. was engineered apparently with
out even any claim of right or title
on the part OF the grantee; Congress
I-sirply gave the property away. It was
claimed by Senator Carter that this
last transfer might easily be construed
| IT, include the ground on which stands
/ the Government Hospital for the In
sane.
The War Department officials who
were authorized to execute the transfer
under the last act hesitated. and held
| ii up. Investigation resulted. with the
outcome that n bill was drawn 10 re-
/ peal the enactment authorizing the last
| transfer from the Government. This
/ bill. following Senator Carter's expla-
nation. was promptly passed.
In a report 10 the Senate on the sub
iecJ, which was read in c0n4eCtion with
Senator Carriers explanation. Ii was
stated that there was apparently no re-
! course for the Government in the mat
| ter of tho first two transactions, unless
. proceedings could be sustained II can
/ eel TIE deeds. which have already been
/ issued.