The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-02
RUMORSOF GRAFT
MAYBE C[EAREDUP
Inquiry Into Congressmen's Con-
nection With Land Purchase
Proposed.
BIG IDEAL" IS SUSPECTED
Property Government Wants
Has Increased Vastly in
Value.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch. !

~ ne n.
Washington, D. c., July 1.-Repre-
sentative sisson. of Mississippi, through
resolution of inquiry introduced In
the House to-day intimates that mem
ners OF Congress or their friends are
interested financially In the purchase
Oh valuable track of land to add 10
the Capitol grounds and to afford n
broad avenue entrance to Union
Station.
purchase of this ground. or It's con-
demnation. is under the direction OF
a commission. composed of Vice-Presi-
dent Sherman, former Speaker Cannon
and Elliott Wood. superintendent of
the Capitol and Capitol Grounds. The
original purpose of the purchase was
to create a park or plaza from the
Capitol to Union Station. The cost
was estimated at S3,500,000 Mr.. Sis
son says the cost will be nearer S.,
100000. The original resolution of
Congress authorizing the purchase
provided that the land should be ac-
CURED by special committee, consist
ing of the Vice President the Speaker
of tho House and the Superintendent
OF the Capitol. Last September, after
the Democrats had carried the House.
1t was amended so to provide that Jo-
seph Cannon should be member of
~ Pu' COMMISSION, instead OF
the Speaker" No purchases have
been made by the commission. The
law limited the expenditure in any
one year to 100000 There is now
available for use by the commission
100000. two years having past since
the resolution was enacted.
Some Ugly Rumors.
For some time there have been ru-
mors that a Baltimore land company
,frt.x 49,
needed to make the park and avenue
planned by the government Its off,
GERS are not known. but MT. Slsson
throws about the transaction a sus-
picion that they may be known to and
he friendly with certain high officials
who will be influential In the final
purchase of the land. Mr. Sisson
wants TO know why the law was
changed in the last Congress substl-
tuting Mr. Cannon for the Speaker
of the House after the Democratic
landslide. when 1t became evident Mr..
Cannon would not continue to be
Speaker, but was to be supplanted by
Champ Clark.
Mr.. S'sson does not mention the
names of any persons of official prom
inence. but his resolution proposes the
creation of Il special committee of Ave
members of the House. three to be
Democrats and two Republicans, to
make n sweeping inquiry.
Several years ago, when the act
authorizing the purchase of the great
tract to be- added to tho Capitol
grounds was up In the House. the
statement was made that tho land
would cost the government $500. 600.
Mr.. Sisson said to-day 1t would In
volve an expend ture OF not less han
sS.000.0OO.
There have been ugly reports in
Washington relative to the ownership
of the land and the motives that
prompted the passing OF the law au-
thorizing Its purchase.
1T is to clear up these suspicious
and to ascertain the exact facts of
the situation that l introduced this
resolution to-day" said Mr.. Sisson.
Flagrant SqunnderinS.
! THE property supposed to he ac-
| CURED" said MIR Sisson lis not need
| ed, and the expenditures authorized
| constitute a fragrant squandering. a
! few days ago introduced II bill O.
pealins tho law authorizing the pur-
chase.
"It Is very curious thing that
! with the Capitol grounds as large as
they are now. there should be sucl
demand for this property, which
when taken. would simply be destroy
r tcontlnued on seoond PagNl