The Washington herald., 1909-01-15

Taking the advice Of the special com
mission appointed under the public build
ings act 70 hold TO property owned by
the government in the District Of Colum-
bia. Senator Scott and Representative
Bartholdt yesterday introduced two bills
in Congress relating TO land titles IN the
District
By one the Attorney General is author
lied TO spend the sum Of $4,000 10 deter
mine the validity Of titles to government
land in the District, and for the inves-
tigatlon Of the rights Of all persons
claiming riparian rights on the eastern
branch OF the Potomac River.
It is provided also that si.o0o be paid to
the law clerk and examiner Of titles OF
the Department Of Justice out OF the $500
appropriated last year for the expense Of
a commission to investigate the titles Of
the United States 10 lands IN the District
sidney Bieber Deal.
The other bill provides for the expendi-
ture OF $1,000. which is appropriated 70
regain by condemnation proceedings or
otherwise the titles to the land conveyed
70 Sidney Bieber last year. This bill
repeals certain sections Of the acts and
statutes OF the United States relating 10
the sale Of property owned by the gov
ernment in the District.
The third section Of the bill provides
that no sale Of public lands shall be
made except under the special act OF
Congress: that provisions for such sale
or abandonment OF titles shall never be
included IN the appropriations or general
acts. and that all proposed bills for the
sale OF land belonging 10 the United
States shall be submitted 10 the Attorney
General for investigation before the act
is passed
The report OF the special commission,
composed Of the Attorney General. the
Secretary OF War. the chairman OF the
Public Buildings and Grounds Commit
tees Of both Houses Of Congress. and
Commissioner MacfaFland. was made
public yesterday. and was a strong ap-
peal for the government 70 hold fast
10 titles 70 District property now IN its
possession. and 20 fight 20 regain and
clear up titles that are in doubt,
The creation OF the commission followed
the agitation caused during the last ses-
sion Of Congress relative 10 a grant OF
power 10 the Secretary OF War 10 sell
certain lands. Il was sscertained when
the question OF sale came 10 be passed
upon By that Official, that lands which
are now OF no considerable value would
probably become important a6juncts TO
the proposition 10 improve the Anacostia
Potomac. In connection with this pro-
vision Of law. which established a com
mission, there was a provision for the
extension Of the operation Of this So
called Bieber grant, with the suspension
Of all other legislation BIZ which the lands
belonging 70 the United States may be
sold.
Conditions Unchanged.
While, as has been pointed out BY the
commission, there is doubt If this Iegisla-
ton affected the right OF the Secretary
Of War in his discretion 10 grant a quit
claim deed from the government to p-i-
vate owners who have been in undls-
turbed possession Of land IN the District
for twenty years. no administrative ac-
ton has been taken under the Secretary
of Wars authority during the life Of the
commission. and the status OF the United
States TO any land IN the District OF
Columbia IS unchanged from that which
existed July /. I9os
The commission reported that It found
nearly Leo cases where titles 10 govern
ment property we're involved and urged
the appropriation OF s6oSo0 to gain clear
titles
Report of Commission.
Relative to the titles Of the government
in the District, the commissions report
said:
As reSilt of this inquiry It appears thst the
title to large proportion Of the lands beng those
enumerated in the schedule appended 70 this TepozL
marked Exhibit B. regularly passed from the United
states. and. IS sh0Ea b. these records thra Is
nov no colcr q title IN the Federal eogerumst %
any Of the parcels of land includsi in the said e1-
hibit
AAAl+N aNA-a--. A-ttscAcl ~
original holdings By the Uuited States. II regard
70 which there IS some measure Of doubt as 70 the
title Tho information obtained b. the commission
shows that Considerable proportion q this land
i held adversely 70 the United States hy private
occupants and hefore proceeding further O. making
any statement as 70 the validity Of the title Of the
United States N TIE premises t IS deemed Deces-
saTy that careful examination should be made q
the title 70 each individual parcel Of lsnd and Sub
eil1s!on thereof, IN order that 10 in5ustcs may Be
done BY questioning the title Of any present ocr-
pant Of land who nay have acquired Z good title
to the said properly
L Is estimated that there world Be nearly Loo
titles 70 b examined should the chain Of title b
carried through q the present clsiusut- II would
therCfoTe. in order 70 csTy ont fully the woEk CT
teInpa.ed. be necssssry 70 secure an spProTTzatfou
Of S69e3 for this WO-k- II. however, 1t should bs
decided that the examination Of the title need be
carried no further than the point a. which the title
undoubtedly passed cot Of the United States, The
expense involved would bs materially less. rTob-
ably AZ the outside not more than Sl5ooo. and the
commission reo07HReDss that this w0Tk he tTst
undertaken.