Evening star., 1909-07-11
T|TLE|NUN|TEDSTATES
Bill to Enable Purchase of
Prison Sites
INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS
Passage at This Session Urged by
District Commissioners.
CONDEMNATION PROVIDED FOR
To Meet Situation in Maryland,
Where Desirable Site Is Held
at Price Regarded as High.

10 overcome legal QlUCultieS,
suggestion made by Attorney General
wickersham. the Commissioners have for
warded to the chairman of the House and
Senate District committees, with re-
quest for it's enactment the draft of a
bill to amend the provision in the last
District appropriation act for the pur-
chase of sites for a new workhouSe and
a reformatory in a way to enable the Dis
trict heads to take title to the new sites
in Virginia and Maryland in the name of
the United States.
The immediate enactment of this bill
at this special session is requested by
the Commissioners in order that the pur-
chase of the two tracts of land can pro-
ceed without delay and the District can
take possession and begin promptly the
establishment of the new penal instltu-
tions I'm their new locations.
The amendment also gives the Attorney
General power to take land desired by
condemnation. providing satisfactory
prices cannot be agreed upon or salts
factory title cannot be furnished
Draft Of Proposed Measure.
The bill, which was drafted by Corpora
ton Counsel e Fl. Thomas and approved
by Attorney General Wickersham, pro-
vides:
That the titles to the tracts of land to
be purchased for workhouse and re-
formatory provided for in the act ap-
proved March >. 1909, being an act MAX
| ing appropriations to provide for the ex-
penses of the government of the District
| of Columbia for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1910 and for other purposes,
shall be taken directly to and in the
satisfactory price cannot be agreed upon
for the purchase of either or both of said
tracts. or in case the title to either or
! both of said tracts cannot be made salts
| factory to the Attorney General of the
United States. then the latter is directed
to procure said tract or tracts of land by
condemnation. and the expenses of pro-
curing evidence of title, or Of condemna-
ton, or both, shall be paid out of the
appropriations made for the purchase of
| the tracts.
Tweedale Discovered Difficulty.
! The legal difficulties in the way OF the
establishment of the Districts penal insti-
tutions in the states of Virginia and
Maryland were pointed out by District
Auditor AIonzo Tweedale.
After a satisfactory site for the work
house had been picked. near Occoquan,
Va. the Commissioners issued an order
to the auditor to purchase the tract in the
name Of the United States. 1t was recog-
nized as doubtful if the District officials
could establish and maintain proper legal
jurisdiction over the prisoners in penal
institutions outside OF the National Capital,
! If the land was held in the name OF the
| District or of the District Commissioners.
| Auditor Tweedale questioned his author
| ity to take title to the land in the name
| of the United States under the act max
| ing appropriations for the purchase of the
land. Attorney General Wickersham up
| held his view and recommended that the
act be amended to provide specifically
! for the taking of title in the name of the
United States