Evening star., 1914-07-09
HASANEWPLAN
|NP[MAAWARDS
Chairman Johnson Introduces
Resolution Providing for
a Commission.
WOULD END LONG WAIT
BY INDIVIDUAL OWNERS
Limit Placed on Amount Which
Could Be Paid Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad.

Ohio Railroad.
The House District committee today
dissented from the Senate resolution pro-
viding for a quick method of paying the
property owners in the plaza award
cases." and Representative Ben johnson.
chairman of the committee. introduced
into the House a substitute for the
measure which has passed the Senate.
The principal feature of the johnson
substitute provides that the individual
property owners could be paid in five
minutes after its adoption by both
houses, and that the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company will have to accept
about s6NOOOO less than the sum awarded
to it by the condemnation process which
has been the couse of the delay.
Agreed on Smaller Sum.
Although Charm L johnson keeps his
own counsel on the reasons why he was
so actively engaged in holding up the
awards. it has become known at the De-
partment of Justice that one of the in
f1uencng elements was the fact that
Chairman James Tawney of the House
appropriations committee made the state
ment on the floor Of the House June %.
1910. that the Balti-lore and Ohio rail-
road was willing to take the original cost.
plus per cent. for the property for
which the condemnation jury offered
about 81 1.SOonnO. which is 100000 more.
in round numbers, than the price which
Tawney quoted.
1t is understood that is the under
lying objection which Representative
Johnson has urged upon the President
and all others. and it is possible the
entire facts in the case. viewed by
Representative johnson. may be laid
before the House Monday. if the sub
stitute resolution is brought up at
that time.
Debate in 1910 Is Cited.
1t is also understood that Repre-
sentative Walter l. Smith. who in 1910
was asked questions regarding the ap-
preparation and the legislation then in
for Capitol ground purposes. gave the
wood that the Baltimore and Ohio
road owned no property in the zone
which the commission wished to ac-
quire. During debate on the sub
ficial who is well Informed in the mat
ter. Representative Underwood and
others asked Mr.. Smith IL the Balti-
more and Ohio owned or was interested
in any Of the property. This official
said today:
Instead of saying yes or no, Mr.
Smith replied in sentence of some
length. Mr.. Underwood and others took
1t to mean no. 1t now develops that the
Baltimore and Ohio owned nearly two
the reasons why the award has been
held up
The Baltimore and Ohio and it's holding
company have gone to law concerning
trict committee resolution of today is
worded Is that the Baltimore and Ohio
had better get out of court and accept
the price which Representative Tawney
is said to have offered in 1910 Other
property holders. the individuals, can be
paid out of court in a jify.
Provides for Commission.
The resolution introduced today and
which will be brought up in the House
Monday provides for the appointment
of a commission of three men which
shall have the power of purchasing any
Of the property at a fair market value,
not exceeding the amount of the award
made for any Of the property. The reso-
luton has a provision regarding the
which prevents the commission from pay
ing to either Of these concerns for "any
of said real estate which was owned by
either" at the time the condemnation
ceeding 1.-The bona fide actual original
cost thereof to either of said companies.
plus per cent interest thereon from
the date of purchase by either of said
the court confirmed the awards made in
the oforesaid District Court action"
The President must approve the pur-
chases made by the proposed commits
AS to the personnel Of the commits
sion the District committee substitute
provides that:
mo person who has within the last
five years served on any commission or
on any jury in any proceeding to con-
denim real estate in the District of
Columbia shall be eligible to be a mem
Der Of the commission herein provided
for: neither shall any ex-member Of
Congress or any member of Congress
be a member of said commission"
Stringent Oath Required.
Each of the Commissioners herein
provided for shall. before entering
upon the duties of his position, state
under oath or affirmation that neither
he nor any member of his family owns
or has a lien upon any real estate or
has any financial interest whatever in
any real estate within the zone herein
set out: and, further. that neither he
nor any member of his family has,
since the institution of the court pro-
ceeding hereinbefore referred to owned
any stock in any corporation which
owns land in said zone: and, further
that neither he nor any member of
| his family is the creditor of any one
who owns land in said zone: and. fur
ther. that neither he nor any member
of his family is the officer of or has
any stock In any bank. trust company
or other corporation which Is the
! creditor of any person who owns real
estate within said zone: and. further.
that he Is not financially indebted to
any person, firm or corporation which
owns real estate in said zone or who
has any loan to any person who
| owns real estate in said zone; and fur
| ther. that he is not indebted to or en-
ployed by any person. firm or corpora
| tion which owns has a lien on real
estate in said zone: and. further. that
neither he nor any member of his fam
lily has. since the institution of the court
proceeding hereinbefore referred to. ac-
| cepted or used any pass or other form of
free transportation upon any railroad OF
| subsidiary thereof which owns. directly
or indirectly. any real estate within said
| zone"
There will probably be considerable dis