The Washington times., 1913-07-30
MARKET COMPANY
IS READY TO SELL
Denies Owing Half Million to
District, However, as John
son Claims.

The Washington Market Company
stands ready today to have the Gov
ernment and the District take over its
plant, as Chairman johnson, of the
House District Committee, wishes. 1t
does not stand ready, however, to agree
with Chairman johnson that back
rental on the premises is due the Gov
ernment. Nor is it ready to consent to
having any board deduct from the pur-
chase price the half million or so dol
lars charged of by the District Com
nittee chairman as the amount OF ar
rears On rent.
The back rent claim urged by Chair
nan johnson is fully paid, officials OF
the company declare. In. fact, accord
ing to the contention of President z. y.
Whitford and Attorney A. A. Birney'
the United States Supreme Court al
firmed the decision of the supreme
Court OF the District of Columbia, up,
holding a reduction from the orlglnal
$4,000 rental price to 1850.
Statement of Mr. Birney.
The statement of Birney, opening up
the entire situation. is as follows:
1.-The company's charter gives to Con-
gress the right to take over the Center
Ma-Sss after thirty years upon Pa;
ment of a sum equal to fair and Just
valuation of the buildings and improve
ments' then standing on the grounds.
with this provision the company
since 1902 has stood ready to comply.
It could not with propriety hasten or
retard 1t. At the same time, in the
spirit of those early in its control, 1t has
coatinued to make further improve
ments and additions In furnlshihg
retrigeration to its dealers and the
ks.s .. .,-..-
'sIn 1907 Congress amended the charter
OF the Washington Market Company so
far as to authorize the company to pur-
chase sduare 32S CTwelfth- and Water
street southwesO, and there engage IN
the manufacture of ice for use in Cen
ter Market and for sale. The company
purchased that square, and has erected
thereon a storage warehouse and an
ice-making plant. This is known as
the Terminal Plant and was built
largely from the proceeds of bonds now
held by local investors, as are the
bond issues of the Center Market plant.
Nearly all of the 5000 shares of the
ington people. The company owns no
other real estate than its Center Market
property and its cold storage and ice
plant on square 38 1t pays on lts
Center Market plant taxes, which, with
the rental of $500 amounts to over
$1,000 per year. Although the facilities
of the stailholders and Of the public
have in many ways been improved, the
stall rentals remain as they were first
established forty years ago.
Settled By Supreme Court.
The claim that rental is owing to the
District of Columbia or to the United
States because of the supposed invalid
ity Of the contract with the District au-
thorities, unde. which the front land
along Pennsylvania and Louisiana ave
nues was conveyed to the District as a
site for a municipal building, and the
rental of $4,000 to be paid by the market
company for all the land was reduced
10 1850 for the laid retained by it, was
finally disposed of thirty years ago,
when the Supreme Court OF the United
States unanimously affirmed the judg-
Inefit of the Supreme Court OF the Dis
trIct of Columbia, deciding that the
agreement was valid and binding on
both parties If ratification by Con-
zress of, a contract thus tudicially deter
mined to be valid were necessary, it
would be found in the fact that Con-
gress has caused the erection of a
public building upon the land released
by the market company, and the Gov
eminent is in the exclusive possession
thereof. The wisdom of the selection
in 1873 of this front land for munich
pal building. and its procurement for
that purpose by the then District au-
thorlties under act Of Congress. has
been vindicated by the later purchase OF
a less central site for the present Dis
trict building, also on the south side or
Pennsylvania avenue, for which there
was paid in round numbers 900.
Small Rental for Armory.
The statement several times made in
the press that a large part Of the in
come of the Washington Market Com
pany is derived from the rental paid
ty the District militia for its armory
facilities is erroneous. The rental paid
is 5000 a year, and for this sum is
given more than $1,000 square feet of
-four space occupied as company guar
tiers, drill hall. gymnasium, and shoot
ing range and the necessary heat and
light therefor. Repairs and improve
nents are paid for by the company,
and these, with the expense Of heating
and lighting these large areas, consume
a large part Of the rent paid.
The District National Guard would
find II difficult if not impossible to pro-
cure elsewhere so much for so little.