The Washington herald., 1908-03-11

ADhtAhueu from ~ f-t OhNs
forma manner under the general impress
sion that a cloud existed on the title
that the bill was intended 10 remove.
Acquires Bed of River.
Somewhat encouraged by the success
OF that operation. Mr.. Bieber proceeded.
through a section in the public building
bill of 1906. to have the Secretary Of
War directed TO convey 10 him four
other squares. reaching across the Ana
costa River 10 its Eastern shore In
time the Assistant Secretary OF War
executed the deed, so that Mr.. Bieoer
thus became. as the grantee Of the
United States the owner Of a succession
OF blocks, extending from the Congress
iOnal Cemetery, and said 10 include a part
Of IL. over 10 and including some of the
shore on the Eastern side OF the river.
That deed is now Of record, and the
jurisdiction Of Congress has ceased
But Mr.. Bieber IN 1907. returned and
procured the insertion of Section 13 in the
public building bill. which directs the
Secretary 70 convey 10 the purchaser
OF these five blocks ali the land owned
by the United States south OF X. which
would embrace all OF the tide flats Of
the Anacostia River south Of the blocks.
practically down 10 and including the
landing at the navy yard. According
90 the broad language Of the section, Mr.
Bieber could demand a conveyance Of a
strip Of ground extending through the
grounds OF the National Hospital for
the Insane.
Government Improves His Land
'The government. contemporaneous with
this line Of proceeding. was arranging. on
a large scale. for The Improvement Of
this identical ground. and for deepening
and widening the channel Of the river
from its entrance into the Potomac to
the District line A large sum OF money
was expended during these years upon
that channel Il has been widened 10 43l
feet, and a depth OF twenty feet OF water
has been obtained up 20 and above the
navy yard. over 100 acres OF land OF great
value. with the riparian rights attached
have been reclaimed IN the process OF that
improvement. This conveyance, which the
Secretary Of War has not made. but Is
By law directed 70 make. would deprive
the government OF a goodly portion OF the
property il has reclaimed and transfer
10 an individual, who has neither shadow
Of claim. nor right, this property. which IS
time viii become OF very great value.
Might Buy Capitol Site.
Il draw attention especially to the BILL
because it discIoses a very great peril &c
public property in the District It would
be impossible 10 procure title 10 property
200 or $500 miles from here on the public
domain in any such irregular manner
There would be special agents 20 protecr
the public domain. But this transaction
indicates that any individual may convey
TO another the very ground on which this
Capitol stands, and thereUpon the Dis
trict assessor viii place the land on the
assessment books. subject 70 assessment
and If the taxes are not paid viii sell tho
property for taxes. Any other square IL
the city may be encumbered and cloudec
as TO title In precisely the same manner
/ in which this operation was carried into
effect.
--One Of the things connected with the
transaction that is somewhat alarming
rests in this: While this legislation mad
Ivertently passed through Congress, an ex
ecutive officer did not hesitate. before
carrying the act into effect. a sufficient
length Of time 10 admonish Congress OF
the effect Of the law. II carried out.
should Serve as Warning.
Two former deeds were made very
promptly, considering the manner IL
which tie departmental business Is con.
Quoted. after the law was passed.
/ sincerely trust that this lesson may h,
Of sufficient force to restrain the assessor
Of the District or the Commissioners hay.
/ ing its affairs IN charge from permitting
any one to list the public property OF tn,
/ United States in the District for assess
ment.
In the case OF the section which II Z,
/ proposed TO repeal the Secretary OF Wa
/ has faltered. lie appointed a commission
/ 10 examine the ground and ascertain il.
value. and then referred the bill 10 tn,
/ Attorney General for HoCeTrafnfuE
whether. under all the conditions, he wa.
/ bound TO convey the land as prescribed b,
t Congress Because Of these DELAYS. tn,
/ title OF the United States 10 this valuabl,
property has been preserved 10 the gov
eminent"
Committee Calls II Fraud.
The report Of the District Committee
| to the Senate is in part as follows:
The Committee on the District Of CO.
| lumbia- having had under consideration
Section Is Of an act Of Congress com
rionIy known as the public building bill
! approved March ?. 1907 and believing thai
\ the immediate repeal OF that section /.
demanded by the public interest and tc
/ prevent the consummation OF A frauC
upon the government. herewith present,
a bill providing for such repeal and rec
! onmend that the same do pass"
Reviewing the transactions leading VI
TO the enactment of "this extraordinary
/ section" the report states that by al
act approved March 4, 19O4. the Secretar,
OF War was authorized and directed L
( convey to Sidney Bieber, his heirs anC
assignees. all the right, title. and in
/ terest OF the United States I'm and {,
all OF certain square OF land" in Wash
] ington, which was described as sGuar,
I 131,
On July %. following the approval o.
the act. the Acting Secretary Of Wal
conveyed the square named TO Mr. Biebei
by deed. in consideration OF $1,000. al
though says the report, -the land thus
conveyed was the property Of the UniteS
States, located on the TiGewater Flats o
the Anacostia River, and said to extend
to- and embrace. a part OF the Congress
sional Cemetery
/ Genesis OF His Deed.
"Bieber." the report continues. ''baseC
his shadowy claim on what was mani
festly a fraudulent transaction, whereof,
a person without title or claim Of right
decided the land 10 one Mary Z Sweetzer
lwho. IL due course caused the same 10 b'