The Washington herald., 1914-03-24
PLAZA OWNERS
SEEK RELIEF
Six Women Property Holders
Will Urge MIR. Wilson
to Intervene.
RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
Chairman F. S. Carmody Believes
Representative johnson Will Lend
His Support to Fight.

Six women property owners. three Of
them widows, who are near a complete
financial failure as a result of the Presi-
dents veto of the plaza awards, will call
at the White House some time this week
and will present to Mr.. Wilson the condi-
tions as created by the government s
hardness in paying the claims OF the Ia
small property owners which have been
found by the Department of Justice to
be just and proper.
The women were named at a well at
tended meeting of property owners last
night at the home OF Mrs Harriet NJ.
Storch, 112 E street northeast They are
Mrs. Harriet NJ. Storch. Mrs. NJ NJ.
Barrick, Mrs. Margaret b. Rankin, Miss
MoIlie A. Oberine, Mrs Catherine s.
Ross, and Miss Ella Enoch- Their names
were added to the committee Of six men
appointed at q previous meeting for the
purpose of devising ways and means by
which speedy action can be obtained in
the way of relief.
President sDeeply Pained."
F. S. Carmody, chairman of the
committee, called at the office of Sec
retary to the President Tumulty yes
terday morning, and was assured that
the President was deeply panied" over
the needy condition of the majority Of
the property owners and that he was
1
possible. An early meeting between
the President and the committee of
property owners was promised, the
date to be set probably today by the
Chief Executive.
resolution. which was unanimously
adopted and directed to the President
reads in part:
We. the citizens. property owners
within the zone OF the Union Station
sl,ar haN-
just grievance against the government.
Recognizing that home is the sacred
refuge of life. we purchased the prop
erty in question for homes long before
there was a thought of locating a union
station in our midst. and when there
was no thought that the government
would desire it for park purposes. We
are, therefore. not spectators. buying
property for the purpose Of selling at
profit
we did not solicit nor were We di
rectIy or indirectly a party to the enact
ment of the law over eleven years ago.
or to the institution of the proceedings
pertaining to the taking of our homes.
We are now and have been ever since,
in the hands and at the mercy Of the
government and during all these years
our property has been going to waste,
due to the governments action.
From the beginning because OF the
uncertainty of the ultimate action OF the
government We have not been justified
or able TO make such permanent improve
ments or even repairs as would make our
property habitable, tenantable and profit
able. District authorities have condemned
and ordered houses torn down. OCcu-
pants have been forced to vacate. Others
remain at the risk of their health
and even their lives. AS an instance,
there were at least thirteen cases of diph-
liberia on one block. which the physicians
in attendance attributed to these cOndi-
tons solely. We have been harassed and
embarrassed by increased taxes and aC-
Crued interest on mortgages. Many have
been forced TO assign their interests; ana
foreclosures are pending and threatened.
We have been put to great expense for
expert witnesses and attorneys fees in
presenting our cases in the condemnation
proceedings, and obtaining abstracts OF
title. this latter at the suggestion of the
Department of Justice officials
Therefore. We humbly petition. beg
and urge that such speedy action be
taken as will be legal and as will do JUS
tice to all concerned"
Copies to BE Issued.
The foregoing resolution will be pre-
scented to the President by the committee
OF twelve Copies are to be sent TO Vice
President Marshall, Speaker Clark, Sena-
tor Walter Smith, and Chairman Ben
Johnson of the House District Commit |
tee
After his call upon the President, Mr.. |
Carmody Yesterday had a lengthy con- |
ference with Representative Johnson.
From what Mr.. Johnson said to me |
during our conference, l can say en- |
phatically that Mr.. Johnson has the best |
Interest of the small property owners |
at heart said Mr. CarmOdy II am
sincerely convinced that he will do all |
lie can to help US"
Unanimous praise was voiced last night !
for the efforts of Senator Sherman of |
Illinois and Representative Post, of Ohio.
for introducing resolutions in Congress
for the separation of the awards so rs
to make possible the payment of the
small property owners whose claims have
been found proper.
Another meeting will be held within 4
few days at the call of Chairman Car
mody.