The Washington herald., 1913-11-11

it, according TO parliamentarians, who
are at loss to understand where the legal
question assumes any marked proper
tions. Nevertheless, at the White House
the information was given out that the
President has not considered any charges
of irregularities in withholding action
upon the condemnation awards. His
letter. written several days ago. but
which reached the Attorney General only
yesterday, does not, it is understood, In
dicate what views Of Mr.. johnson he ex-
poets Mr.. McReynolds to consider. 1t is
understood. however, that the President
and Mr.. McReynolds have discussed the
question before, presumably at Cabinet
meetings.
johnson Is Dissatisfied.
The investigation, which Mr.. Johnson's
agent has been conducting quietly. Is in
line with declarations of belief which the
chairman Of the District Committee made
during a recent abortive attempt to dis
close something sensational in the meth
DDS employed in selecting condemnation
juries. 1t is reported that Mr.. johnson
is dissatisfied because nearly two-thirds
of the total award goes either to the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
or to agencies said to be controlled by
that company. Whether Mr.. Johnson
thinks that this amount-S1, ,s57 in all
is too much for the property involved,
or whether he believes that the Baltimore
and Ohio acquired the property as q
speculation, having advance Information
OF its probable increase in value, is prob
lematic.
The fact is that the Washington Ter
minal Company, in which the Baltimore
and Ohio is largely interested. receives
$3.50 for one lot in square No. IS; the
Baltimore and Ohio Railway Company
$1,09o.752 for property held in its
own name, and the Real Estate and I'm
provement Company, said to be hold
ing company organized for the purpose
of acquiring property for the Baltimore
and Ohio, receives SOS. $50 for its share.
The remainder Of the $3,2O4. 4S4.7S goes to
nearly 175 small property owners. These
are the people who are suffering.
Property Purchased Long Ago.
The records show that the property
held in the name of the Baltimore and
OhIo-comprising all OF squares Nos. '62
ard 6S1-was purchased long before the
new Union Station was projected. The
first was bought from the United States
in 1885, and the second was acquired from
private owners in 1873 These two
squares are the site Of the old Baltimore
and Ohio station.
But If the Baltimore and Ohio bought
these valuable squares for improvements.
the record does not indicate that such
was the purpose of the Real Estate I'm
provement Company in purchasing its
OF the holdings OF this COM
pany, valued at nearly s7500o0. all Of
square No. 6S3 was acquired between 1897
and 1902; a large part Of square No. 64s
was acquired during the same period; a
part of square No $50 was bought in 1893;
all of 6S2 was purchased between 1898 and
1902, and a number of lots in square No.
721 were acquired between 1902 and 1906,
most of them being obtained in 1906. The
years between 1897 and 1906. in which
period all of the holdings Of this company
were acquired, are those in which the
new station. project was suggested, agi-
lated, and consummated, and lap into the
agitation which resulted in the condem-
nation of all this property for park lpur-
poses by the United States.
Morgan Beach Investigating.
The Presidents suggestion that the
Attorney General look into the johnson
objections was referred yesterday to the
Assistant Attorney General in charge OF
proceedings. Morgan Beach.
Mr. Beach's report will be made to the
General at the earliest possible
lay and transmitted to the White House.
The jury appointed by District Supreme
Court to fix values in the condemnation
process. comprised Samuel Ross, John w.
Childress, and H. Rozier Dulaney.