Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-24
DIVIDES THE COST
Bill for Acquisition of Land for
Park Purposes.
ADHERES TO ORGANIC ACT
Representatives of Citizens to Sub
nit Measure.
INTENDED AS SUBSTITUTE
Objections to Plan Proposed by the
District Commissioners for Ana
costa Section.
ADHEREs TO ORGANIC ACT
INTENDED AS SUBSTITUTE

Advocating strict adherence to the half
and-half principle of appropriating for
the District under the organic act of
1873. representatives of citizens associa-
tons of Northeast Washington last night
instructed subcommittee to report bill
for the condemnation of land along
Anacostia river for highway and park
purposes which shall be based on this
principle, to be recommended to Con-
gress in place of the bill introduced at
the request of the Commissioners of the
District
Not only is the proposed measure to
provide the half and half principle, there
by differing from the Commissioners bill,
which stipulateS that the cost of con-
demning the land in question shall be
assessed as benefits against adjoining
property, but it is TO require, in addition,
that the condemnation proceedings shall
be directed by the Attorney General of
the United States instead of by the Dis
trict heads.
Committee to Report Saturday
The subcommittee appointed to draft
the bill is composed of Evan H Tuck
err president of the Northeast Citizens
Association: d. A. Edwards, president of
the Lincoln Park Association. and ALBEIT
Schulteis, chairman of the Chamber of
Commerce committee on the improve
ment of the Anacostia river. This body
will report next Saturday night to the
representatives who last night author
lied the action at meeting to be held
at the residence of Evan II. Tucker.
Those attending last nights meeting, in
addition to MeSsrs. Tucker, Edwards and
Schulteis included NJ |. Weller, chair
IF ri nd barDOrS ap
of the Board of Trade; Capt. William NJ.
Potter. president of the East Washing
ton Citizens Association; DR.. f. d.
Thompson, president of the North Capitol
and lexington Association: Herman E.
Blau of the North Capitol and lexington
Association; C. A. Barker of the handle
Highlands Association, and W. j. FriZ-
Zell of the Northeast Washington Asso-
citation.
Although the association representa-
tives decided that one-half of the cost
of condemning ground along Anacostia
river for highway and park purposes
should be paid out of the revenues OF
the District of Columbia and one-half out
of the funds of the federal government,
an informal discussion which followed
the decision indicated that the representa-
tiveS might reverse their action when the
subcommittee brings in it's report and
adopt a report recommended yesterday
by the Chamber of Commerce committee
on the Improvement of the Anacostia
river.
The discussion also brought out the
fact that several of the representatives
would favor the calling of a mass meet
ing of citizens residing in the northeast
section of the city to act on the bill which
finally may be proposed
Commerce Chamber Suggestion.
The recommended ton of the Chamber of
Commerce committee. of which Mr..
Schulteis is chairman, is that the bill in
troduced at the request of the Commits
sioners be amended so that benefits to be
assessed to cover the cost of the proposed
condemnation be not spread over speci
fled area, as proposed, but assessed only
in those instances where benefits shall be
found to have resulted from the building
of the highways and parks.
Under this plan it is provided THAT, If
the value of the benefits agreed upon by
a jury is less than the cost of the con-
demnation proceedings, the difference
shall be made up by an appropriation on
the half-and-half basis. On the other
hand. If the benefits should be OF greater
value than the cost of the condemnation,
the difference shall be paid into the
Treasury, one-half to the credit each OF
the local and federal governments.
Mr.. Schulteis. in presenting the recon-
mendation of the Chamber of Commerce
committee to the association representa-
tives last night, commended the plan as
being b.th equitable and practicable. The
arrangement proposed he said. should
meet with the approval of Congress, and
he thought the residents of the District
should not object to it. inasmuch as
jury would determine what property act
tually had been benefited by the inn
provements along the river and would
assess benefits accordingly.
Recognition of Organic Act.
Mr.. Schulteis stated that the plan pro-
vides for a full recognition of the half
and-half principle as well as all other
equities involved in the situation.
After the meeting went on record as
opposed entirely to the assessing of
benefits for the contemplated improve
ments several of the association repre-
sentatives in attendance left. The Cham
Der of Commerce plan was then discussed
informally, and, after Mr.. Schuteis had
explained more in detail certain of it's
features several of those present indicat-
ed a desire to have the action of the
meeting reconsidered.
IT was decided. however, not to reopen
the matter, although one or two men,
bers declared that a the next meeting
they probably would offer amendments
to the bill which the subcommittee was
instructed to prepare.