The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-03
LAND WORTHLESS,
SAYS COMMITTEE
Sidney Bieber Didn't Rob
Government, Congress
Is Told.
Special Board 10 Look Into
Titles in the Dis
triCt.

That sidney Eieber bought from the
United states Government a piece q
land that is practically worthless ls The
report Of tie subcommittee Of the
House Commute on Public Buildings
and Grounds appointed 5y Chairman
BsrtbOIdt 10 snvestiE gate Senator Car
ter-s charge that Mr. Bieber mad Teen
guilty Of rUbbing the Government o[
land by getting a bill through COEgrezs
giving HIM title % land along tLe Ana
costa river.
The report. which Is signed by Rep
resentatives Andrus. Norris. Nre John
son. and Burnett, vas made Dubsc -es-
terday- ard j. merely written form OF
the report which was made orally 10
the fun committee several DAYS ago ~
Mr. A2drUs
To Look Up Titles.
into tie titles Of lands conveyed by the
Government 10 individuals. throuEhoz-
tho D.strict.
The report is as follows
The land IL, question is located along
the south side Of the Auacostia rivcr.
near the Pennsylvania avenue bridge
u Is mostly GOV cred with water and
81 high tide is practically under water
some OF II so q depth OF seven OF
eight feet For All practical purposes
the land IS really useless The only
way IN which 10 could be- made Of any
value would be 10 build 2 wan alouz
the front % 10 and IU ir with earlu.
This would uecessitste very large ex-
pense- and would be unwa--auted zs
a financial investment. There are no
buildings or improvements tn the viciH-
.J- OF the land. and the authorization
az its sale vas no doubt included IA
the omnibus public buildings bill. with
The idea tlu- the land was OF no value
and could not be used for any practi-
cal purpose
The War Department. TO walsh JEe
special bill providing for the first sale
vas referred returned II with the re
port that there was no objection 20 the
Transaction Hence the second sale Vas
authCrized fin the belief that the policy
OF the Government was 70 dispose OF
the lands IN question The only way ID
which these lands would be OF any
value 70 The Government would be u
the carrying 0gy OF a plan stared sew
eral years as0 OF fllinE in the marsh
lands along the river for parking pur-
poses Under an act Of Congress pass
ed several years ago. This Wor6 has been
Progressing with considerable rapidly
along the Potonsc river w-s- o. the
mouth u the zEa-o=Eia river.
. In rrauy instances members OF YOUR
committee are OF the opinion thar these
attempts aye made BY virtue Of TAX
l--ies secured by recording quit claims
&C Government property from persons
having no shadow whatever o. title
Win 2 view. by such illegal transfer.
"a 5,s--inS the land put on the tax llsC
aEd l,en by paving the taxes thereon,
obtaining a shadow Of title thereto.
Recommends Investigation.
"Or account OF the work being done
BY all members OF your committee on
I the omnibus public building BIZ. your
subcommittee has not had time 20 i--
Z vestigate the subject fully, bur II feels
that IL has made sufficient invest Sc
ton 70 recommend that there be placed
/ IN the present omnibus public building
/ bin. a section providing for the appoint
meut OF q commission consisting OF the
I Secretary Of War. the Attorney General
the president OF the Board Or Commits
I sioners OF the District OF Columbia. The
chairman Of the Senate Committee on
. Public Buildings and Grounds, and the
chairman Of the House Committee on
B Public Buildings and Gro -. whose
duty II shall be 10 investigate the title
! to all the real estate IA the District %
{ Columbia. or parcels or tracts OF land
/ owned by the United States and re
I a map OF the same. with a view OF as
( cartaiuing what. II any. legislation IS
/ necessary TO protect the interests OF the
: Government in such tracts
I'VE further recommend that such sec
/ ton provide that until the coming in %
such report and the action thereon bv
Congress all sales authorized by any
I general or special act OF Government
property in tho District o. CoIum BIZ
. which have not been cOnsuaUa1ed have
{ completed. OF IN which contracts have
not been entered into ny legal AUTHORITY
OF the Government. 80 as 70 bind the
/ Government. shall be held IN sbeyauce. 90