Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-12


samples. Congress might find out some
day that it had decided away the whole
Capitol building.
Mr.. Bieber's Statement.
Mr. Bieber's reply follows:
THE statement of Senator Carter, made
on the floor Of the Senate Tuesday after
noon. concerning several legislative enact
ments giving me title to parcels of land
along the Anacostia river. was so full OF
gross inaccuracies that I am compelled to
accept them as Intentional and not mad
vertent.
Senator Carriers statement, in sub
stance, If not in FORM Is practically iden.
teal with the arguments contained In a
12O-page brief prepared by legal counsel OF
the Pennsylvania railroad, and laid be-
fore the War Department and the De.
partment Of Justice in an effort to pre-
vent the enforcement of the bill which
the Senate voted to repeal.
Il call attention to a few of the mis-
representations made by Senator Carter
Senator Carter stated that the law ir
question gave me land clear up to the
navy yard. This is absolutely untrue. AS
matter of fact, the nearest boundary OF
this land Is more than three-quarters OF
mile distant from the navy yard
Senator Carter stated that some Of the
land in question was now comprised
within the limits of the Congressional
cemetery. This Is absolutely untrue.
Senator Carter stated that under the
bill 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 or
the other side of the Anacostia river, and
fully two miles distant.
An Absurd Statement.
Senator Carter stated that under the
bill 1 would be able to claim land on the
opposite side of the Anacostia river This
also is absurd.
Senator Carter's remarks throughout
were calculated to give the impression
that Congress, through irregular and
legislation to make me gift of these
several parcels of land. This Is entirely
erroneous. and I cannot but believe that
Senator Carter in making these misrep-
reservations did so willfully and ma
liciously.
lin December, 1902, Representative
Allen of Maine notified me by letter that
the House District committee desired
further information before acting on the
bill To quit-claim all interest of the
square 1881. in Washington, D. c.. to Sid
ney Bieber.' In reply, l wrote Mr.. Allen
in part as follows:
1.-The real point in the matter is this:
The square Of ground is actually in ex-
istence, with no other eligible or pros
pective claimant than myself So far as
the District government Is concerned.
am the lawful possessor of the ground In
question, and my desire is to remove any
cloud on the title that may exist by the
action of the highest authority that can
be given In such matters. the Congress Of
the United States AS the bill states,
will pay into the Treasury Of the United
States a sum which may be deemed proper
and just for. any interest the United States
may hold.
However. the -istrict of Columbia has
borne square 1871 on its tax rolls since
1853 and the taxes since that date have
been paid. For your further information
1 will state that l hold abstract of title
covering this square. issued by the Wash
ington Title Insurance Company the first
transfer having been made March %, 1858
when Joseph Mccormick decided the same
to Mary z. Sweetser but the grantor ap-
peared not to have any title of record at
that time. Since then this property has
been sold for taxes three OF fou.' times.
but the interests of the parties to whom it
was sold were transferred to my father
Samuel Biebe-.
:. This was in 1889. He has since trans
ferred the property to me.
Ofdcial Communications.
p That letter. a portion of which l have
quoted, and official communications Oh
the bill from then Acting Secretary OF
War Sanger, Judge Advocate General
Davis. Chief of Engineers Gillespie, Act
ing Chief Of Engineers Mackenzie. Maj
Theodore Bingham. District Commissioner
mcfarland and Secretary of the Interior
Hitchcock. all commenting on some phase
of the measure, and none interposing
obje ctions to the passage of the bill
lit
brought before the House of Representa-
tives by Representative Jenkins of Wis
consin, then member Of the District
committee. but now chairman of the
judiciary committee.
'.The open and above board history OF
tina. enactment has been thu. history OF
several enactmentS to which ..enatOr Car
ter took exceptions in his remarks in the
Senate.
Each of these bills. against which
Senator Carter raises the cry of irregu-
larities' and fraud provided that the
land should not be decided to me until
should pay to the government price to
De fixed by the Secretary of War. ] have
already paid nearly $1,000 to the govern
ment for any interest it may have had
cannot now say positively that there are
no other outstanding interests. and neither
can Senator Carter-and the parcel Of land
mentioned in the law which the Senate
voted to repeal has been appraised by a
board appointed by the chief of engineers.
U.S.A.. at the direction Of the Secretary
of War, at ST. go. which figure l did not
accept.
The Whole Trouble.
THE whole trouble is just this: The
Pennsylvania railroad has been a squat
ter, without shadow of right or title,
on that land for many years. The Penn
sylvania railroad has. and does, view
with alarm any proceedings to establish
the rights of any individual holding title
to any portion of that property So far
as have been apprised. the only reason
these legislative enactments are irregular
and remarkable and fraudulent is that
they are obnoxious to the Pennsylvania
railroad.
LAS an evidence of the manner in which
the Pennsylvania railroad has fought me.
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