The Washington times., 1913-01-25

the price paid for the land in Rock
Sreek Park was eight times the as
sessment. | did not know whether
mat was the fact Or not, and, there
Iore, did not saw whether ii was the
Iact or not When Mr.. George first
maoe the statement I answered as in
a. question with the word, "Yes?" and
snouid have been so reported. He re-
peated the statement (page 43l Of the
record OF the hearing before this CON-
mfttee) as follows:
George Said Price Was Too High.
Mr.. George. And the sum paid
was $1,l2o,215. and the assessment
was for Sl33, ,S34; so that the Govern
ment paid sos times the assessed
value of the property.
All said was:
Mr.. Glover. Property was not
looked upon as very valuable out
In that section.
And on page 42s of the hearing, when
MI Chairman johnson asked me a
direct question s to the assessment of
the land taken for Rock Creek Park, /
said:
Mr.. Glover. / do not know what
the assessed value of the property
was, but / know ii was taken at
vastly more than its real value
Says He Quoted No Value.
So I put no value upon it before this
committee or elsewhere.
The latter portion of Mr.. Sims ex-
trsordinary speech of January 10, 1913,
on page 1870 of the Congressional
Record, contains some of his most eX-
traordinary statements. He says that
ne Is. and has been, opposed to taking
advantage of options on land secured
Tor the benefit of the Government, and
prefers that the land should be ac-
nra r-l Ht- h. ~ Iar,a r,nT Tffnf,
and that the owners should get the
fun value for IT. Speaking of this par
ucuiar case, ne says:
do not think It reflects any credit
upon a banker of large means to
have acquired an option on land at
not much more than one-third Of its
value from private owners, ana then
sell IL to the Government even with
cut profit. which is abundantIy able
to pay all that it Is worth.
Cites Another "Insinuation."
In that last sentence he stuck in the
phrase, .'even without profit in fur
therance of the insInuation upon which
] have already commented. But, leav-
Ing that out, he says that he would
rather pay three times the value of
land acquired by the Government than
take Il under an option secured to save
the Government two-thirds of its value.
This win be interesting reading to his
constituents, and to all who talk about
economy In Government expenditures,
and to all who desire to get things
cheaply for the Government.
He says in the next sentence:
Another thing: do not approve of
the members of the District govern-
rnent going around and getting op-
tons on land in this District and
then lobbying in either house to
have US purchase il.
This is his ungrateful allusion to the
methods by which the District Com
for the District government in purchas-
ing lands for public uses, bv securing
suitable options. than could possibly
have been obtained under condemnation
proceedings. as the record of condemna-
tion proceedings here and elsewhere
abundsntly proves.
Land Now Worth Millions.
Finally, Mr.. Sims. after once more
Claiming credit for saving to the Gov
eminent $4,000 for the ravine now dedi-
Gated for park purposes by the owners
Of the tract-s7o,Oo0 IL it had been OBJ
tafned under the option, and, as he
says. ..in round numbers, 10000 II the
property had been acquired by condem-
nation" he winds I'D by saying that
the owners of the property ought to be
thankful for the defeat of the bill. since
e.
600 o,ooo to s4ooo0oo"
or course, IL Mr.. Sims had not defeat
ed the bill the Government would now
have had that land. according to his
cocoon. the National Capital would now
have had loo-acre addition to the
Rock Creek park, preserving all the
remarkable natural beauties In the vi
cinity Of the Connecticut avenue bridge
and the Massachusetts avenue cause
way (Which together cost the District of
Columbia 81. 10000; and also the begin
ming OF the park connection that must
be made. and that will be made, but
park on the south.
Sims Proud Bill Was Defeated.
1t is hard to see how even Mr.. Sims.
rs a member Of Congress, a Rrepresen-
t3tfve of the people of this great coun-
Try. who desire their National Capital
10 be the most beautiful on earth. and
VINO desire their Government to acquire
Isno on the most reasonable terms, can
say, To the extent that had any part
m defeating that bill am proud of it"
still less IL IL possible to understand
how any man Mt to sit in the House of
Representative could take pride in so
mieusing his privileged position as to
malign private citizen for his years of
effort to serve the National Capital.
The very last words Of Mr.. Sims
speech OF January Is, 1913. are these:
Now, ] have not said any unkind
word In the way of adverse comment
on Mr.. Glover, but / will leave the
question to you as -te-whether Mr..
Andrus or myself ought to be ex-
pelled.
] am perfectly willing to leave the |
matter just where Mr.. Sims left it, with |
cut further comment !
Option Was Extended.
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT made |
a nd concluded this 18th day of January, |
in the year of our Lord nineteen hun |
ored and eight. by and between Charles |
J. Bell, Amos II. Plumb and John Cas-
sells, trustees, under decree entered |
April is, 1908, in the Supreme Court of |
the District Of Columbia, in EQUITY |
Cause 1886, parties of the first part, and |
Charles c. Glover, of the city Of Wash
Ington. party of the second part
WHEREAS by an agreement bearing
date OF the 9Th day of March. 1906. an
option was given TO Charles c. Glover
to purchase two certain parcels of land,
a copy Of which agreement is hereto
z attached and made a part hereof: and
THEREFORE II is hereby mutually
, greed to and with each other that the
said option shall be held and considered
as continuing and being I'm full force,
operation, and effect until the termina-
ton of the first session Of the present
Congress (the Sixtieth Congress). and
for such time thereafter as NAV he |