The Washington times., 1914-03-22
CALL UPON WILSON
/ FOR PLAZA MONEY
Property Owners Arrange to
Submit Resolutions Against
{ Holding Up Awards.

Resolutions calling apon Presi5ent
Wilson to aid in ending the delay IL
payment for the nine and hall
squares condemned for extension OF
the Union Station plaza, will be drawn
hy committee of property owners ir
the affected district this evening and
presented for ratification at a mass
meeting an hour later. This action
was decided upon at a meeting OF
the owners of plaza property last
night at the home of Mrs Harrie!
Storch, 142 z street northeast. The
meeting this evening will be at the
same place. Copies of the resolution
will be sent TO the Vice President. the
Speaker Of the House, and to Senator
Sherman of Illinois. and Congressman
Post Of Ohio. who have introduced
resolutions providing means for pay
ing the awards.
Further pressure upon President
Wilson to exert every effort toward
Strengthening out the tangle caused
by his disapproval of the conien,na-
ton awards will be brought to bear
by Speaker Clark former Speaker
Cannon. and Elliott Woods, saperin-
tendent of the Capitol who comprise
the commission on the plaza improve
ment. and who will confer with the
President tomorrow en- this subject
The Resolutions Committee.
The COMMITTEES named at last. nights
meeting to draw DIP resolutions en-
bodying the views Of the property
owners Is composed of F. S. Carmody,
chairman: r. NJ F.lkins. :. X. White.
w. H. FIarneberger, l. q. slime. and
meet at f:20 tonight AZ the home of
Mrs. Storch.
Stories of hardships suffered through
the long delay in payment kcr this land
condemned by the Government. were
owners who were present-at the meet
ing last night. 1t developed. too; that
where originally IL small property
owners were involved in the proceed
ings. there are now but 1S3. as forty
their holdings
Propertyowners' Experience.
One property-owner, George B. Rose.
declared he was compelled to move out
eight years ago, when the Union Sta
ton improvements were started. His
house was a nine-room dwelling, renting
for SIS a month before the grade was
changed. Later 1t could not be occu-
pied. The house he declared, could not
De replaced for $3.50. yet the Govern
ment only allowed him s2.Se0. and he
hasn't received that sum yes.
+. s.. Carmody gave his exper ence.
When the grade Was changed on his
avenue. and damages We're awarded
property-owners by reason of the
change. the Government, he said, placed
witnesses on the sand who declared
that his property was worth 81 a foot
and had been benefited, not injured. by
The changed grade. In the present con-
oemnatioa proceedings, he said, the
price was fixed at s. a foot by Govern
nent witnesses, and payment at that
price has been Withheld.
Widows In Sad Plight.
Others told Of widows lett without
support through inaoIIity TO rent Prep
erty against which the Government has
obtained Judgment, and who have 10
borrow money. not onIy'to pay interest
and taxes. but living expenses as we'd.
Stories were told where death had keen
hastened by worry due 10 the less o.
homes and the Withholding of payment.
Nearly all the property osners declared
Abdl- housSS IO TeNtl!uS.
They could not leaese the property Le-
cause they could not tell when tie
Government would take charge Ten
ants who moved into such property
rented 1t practically from day to Gay.
and demanded low rentals, winch were
Lot remunerative.
Another objection voiced by the prop
eTty owners was tnat in the conde.nna-
uon proceedings the Government made
no allowances for fees for counsel ard
witnesses. In many cases this amount
ed TO 10 per cent of the swards. e>pe-
cislly since the long delay has resulted
Chairman CaImody objected to con-
demnation proceedings which left the
property owners poorer than they were
before.
The plaza property owners organIZa-
uon- II is declared. will be continued
until the fight Is won and paymcn; Is
made for the property which the Gov
ernment has tied up by legal proceed
ings.