Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-20
ACTION BY HOUSE
ON NP[NAAWARDS
Adopts Johnson Plan, Which
Calls for the Appointment
| Of Commission.
METHOD ADOPTED IN LIEU
OF THE POST RESOLUTION
Matter Goes to the Senate for Its
Action-Compromise Will
Be Necessary.

The House today passed the delayed
plaza award resolution, but preferred
tn eJohnson resolution, which calls for
a commission appointed by the Presi-
dent to the Post resolution which was
supposed to offer a quicker solution
to the difficulty. The johnson plaza
resolution won over the Post resolu-
tion by vote of 80 to II, and a point
of no quorum was not made because
nearly every one in the House was
anxious that the long delayed pay
ments should be made.
| The resolution will go to the Senate,
where a resolution on the same sub
ject has already been adopted. How
| ever, the Senate resolution is different
in form from the House resolution, and
for that reason compromise must be
effected before the awards can be paid.
Offers Substitute.
Representative Post offered his plaza
award substitute resolution, which pro-
vides for commission composed Of
| an assistant attorney general, the Of
f1cer in charge of public buildings and
grounds and the superintendent of the
Capitol buildings and grounds. The
commission is to acquire the disputed
property by purchase or condemna ton.
| In purchasing the price agreed upon
snail not exceed the amount of the
award made in the first instance.
Representative Johnson's resolution,
on the other hand, provides that the
President shall appoint a commission
OF three men, who shall have power to
purchase any Of the real estate III
| volved at fair market value The
resolution distinctly states that there
shall be paid for the Baltimore and
| Ohio property the actual original cost
plus per cent from the date of pur-
chase by the Baltimore and Ohio, for
| the Real Estate and Improvement Com
pany of Baltimore, 1t is stated. which
is Baltimore and Ohio corporation.
It also provides that no member of
Congress. no ex-member, no one who
has served on a jury of condemnation
in the District OF Columbia within the
last FIVE years. or on any other cammis-
sion. shall be q membAE of, tia pro-
posed new commissions to settle the
plaza matter.
States Result Of Investigation.
In Offering his resolution as a sub
Post said that he had Investigated the
cost, Of the Baltimore and Ohio prop
erty.
He said that some of the property had
been bought nearly 100 years ago. and
at per cent the government would be
forced to pay for 1t nearly $3.50, 600,
which is several hundred thousand dol
lars in excess of the awards against
| which Representative johnson made
his protest.
Representative johnson limited that
| the President would again hold up the
payment of the plaza. award If the
Post substitute resolution should be
adopted.
Representative Post Opens Debate.
Representative Post. of Ohio opened
the debate, which was confined to forty
minutes, the House then taking up the
resolution for amendment. Represent
ative Post urged the House to adopt
his resolution, which, he said, was a
simpler method of paying the long-de-
layed claims. Representative Burnett
of Alabama, ranking member OF the
tee, also urged the adoption of the
Post resolution. Representative Clark,
chairman of that committee called at
tention to the fact that the Johnson
plaza resolution PROVIDES Ior SdidIieo
commission, and feared that members
of the commission would want to hang
onto their salaries forever, instead of
settling the plaza claims Immediately.
Representative Clark answered Rep
resentatiye Ben Johnson's criticism
against Supt Elliott Woods of the
Capitol building. Mr.. Woods was
member Of the commission appointed
nv Congress to acquire the property in
nnestfon. and Mr.. johnson has found
fault with him.
Not a one-Man Commission.
Representative Clark defended Mr..
Woods. saying that it was not a one
man commission, as Mr.. johnson had
claimed, and that the attorney for the
commission was not Mr.. Woods per-
sonal attorney, but one assigned by
the Department of Justice. Further
more. Mr. Clark read from a memo
randum furnished by Mr.. Woods, in
which it was stated that the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad was actually award
ed $4,000 less than it wanted for it's
property in the disputed area.
"My resolution could be we'll en-
titled "A resolution to save the United
States 100000" said Representative
johnson in winding up the debate,
"and the Post resolution could be
called "A resolution to pay the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad 100000 moro
than it Is entitled to-"