Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-23
WAY TO UNION STATION
BY GRADUAL PURCHASE
conferees Propose Plan
Which Meets With Oppo-
sition in the House.

Congress Is pledged to the purchase OF
the twelve squares of land between the
Capitol grounds and the Union station
plaza and the authorization of the ex-
penditure of $4,000 a year for its ac-
QUESTION. as result Of the acceptance
Of the report Of the conferees on the SUM-
1ry civil appropriation bill. filed in the
two houses of Congress today.
The Senate amendment. appropriatinG
SIS, 100000 for the purchase of all the
twelve squares Of land. has been one OF
the points in controversy in the confer
ence on the sundry civil bill.
Gradual Acquisition.
At a meeting of the conferees yester-
day afternoon a compromise amendment
was agreed upon, practically assuring the
purchase Of the land, but providing fol
its acquisition gradually.
1T is hereby declared to be the pur-
pose of Congress to ultimately acquire
all of squares numbered 632, 633, 634, $50
ISL, 6S2 6o.}, 6S4. 6S5, 721, 722 and 723 for
the enlargement of the Capitol grounds,
land for the construction of direct ave-
nue. of about $50 feet in width. from the
junction of Pennsylvania avenue and LIST
street northwest, to the Union station
plaza, the center line to be located on
the axis of the Peace Monument and
plaza. m
The Vice President. the Speaker of the
House and the superintendent of the
Capitol building and grounds are author
condemnation or otherwise, and to ex-
pend for that purpose not more than
$500, 900 in any one fiscal year, commenc-
ing with the year 1911. and these per
sons shall annually. within said limit
purchase whatever of said property is In
their Judgment offered at the loves,
prices relative to its actual value, pro-
vided that they shall not purchase any
property at above its fair actual value"
Condemnation Provision.
The amendment also specifies that II
in any one year there should not be Of.
fered property substantially worth $500
600 at it's fair value or less the three Of
ficials are authorized to institute con-
demnation proceedings to acquire what
they estimate to be $4,000 worth in any
one year.
To carry out the plan for the next ils'
cal year $5OO,0 is to be appropriated.
The report of the conferees was called
up in the House shortly after noon by
Chairman Tawney of the House appro'
priations committee.
The principal items still in disagree
ment are the proposition to appropriate
$1OO, 900 for testing structural material a
Pittsburg under the bureau of mines, anG
the provision declaring that no parts OF
the money appropriated to permit the
Department Of Justice to prosecute viola
tons of the antitrust law shall be uset
for the prosecution Of labor unions.
Opposition in House.
Chairman Tawney had explained the
agreement as to the proposed purchase
of land for a thoroughfare to the Union
station. Representative Underwood OF
Alabama took the floor In opposition.
There Is now as much space in front
of the Union station" he said, "as there
is in front Of the great railway station
at Frankfort-on-the-Ma which Is con-
sidered to be the finest railway station In
Europe
ostion to purchase this land, but il 1t wer'
to be purchased the Senate proposition ap
propriating $3,6O0,OOO in lump, was, II
his opinion, much better than the agree
ment reached by the eonferees for an ap
preparation of $4,000 for seven years.
Representative Smith of Iowa of thu
appropriations committee and one Of tn
House conferees on the sundry civil
BILL urged that the conference report b.
agreed to. He called attention to thu
500, geo for Office quarters in Washington
and that this tract which II was pro
posed to buy would not only provide ,
magnificent avenue from the Union sta
ton to the Peace monument. but q fin'
park which would, II desired, a6or(
splendid sites for public buildings.
Mr. Smith declared that, heretofore
there have been only two methods TO-
government acquisition of property In thu
District-by purchase at the owners prize
and by concentration proceedings. Both
methods, he said. invariably resulted In
high prices.
Consequently the committee revised this
plan, which it believes would result In
competition between owners of the land
which it was desired to purchase. to sci
their holdings to the government at {
reasonable price. He admitted that the
plan was experimental but thought II
would work out all right
\ Mr.. Hull Of Iowa opposed purchasing all
the land between the Capitol and the
Union station. He recognized the de.
STABILITY Of purchasing from the station
UP to G street.
He said 1t has been the understanding
that further public buildings were to be
located on ths south side of Pennsylvania
avenue, and the government will eventual
ly own all that territory for the location
Of public buildings.
The plaza purchase, he said, would be
for park purposes only. He doubted the
wisdom of purchasing land to extend the
park system.
Mr. Rucker of Missouri also opposed
the proposition. as unnecessary and un-
economical.