The Washington times., 1914-03-18
WILSON OVERRULES
AWARDS FOR PLAZA
Action Follows export of Unfair
Assessment in Favor of B.
& O. Railroad.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
tion plaza, with First street east as
its eastern boundary and New Jersey
avenue as its western limit. except ar
respects the block between and c
streets, which extends west to Arthur
place.
Excluding the two blocks bounded
by B and G streets and Delaware and
New Jersey avenues, which had pre-
Sl,1ls.03e.5", the entire cHst NJ this
property. as ascertained by the con-
demnation jury. was $2.204.434.7s
which, together with the two blocks
before enumerated. brought tn" entire
cost OF the ground for the enlarge
ment Of the Capitol Grounds up to
23,471.2S.
Attorney General Wickersham was
of the opinion that this was an ex-
tremely reasonable price. and in sup
port of his opinion quoted many prom
inent real estate experts IN the city
and referred to the hearings before
the subcommittee Of the Appropria- =
tions Committee of the House, when
some Of the best-informed members
Of the committee on May 81, 1912.
expressed the opinion that the cost of
acquiring the property would be w.
00c, 900.
Million For B. & o.
OF the $3,204, ,437.7S awarded for the re-
mainder of the property, 1000 1890 is
for property owned by the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad: $70S.665 for that
OWL ed by the Real Estate and Improve
ment Company of Baltimore. and $3.50
for that for which the present tit e
rests with the Washington Terminal
Company. Thus the B. e. o. and its
81. .7s1. .s37. as against 81 49,. .5oos to be
distributed among the hundreds OF pri-
vate owners.
OF these latter the largest benefici-
aries will be the Abner & Drewry
its real estate: Samuel Mcdowell, sl35,5ss:
the Clark estate $34.sSO: Harry Nor
mert. SO, 2S1: Clarence r. Norment $1S,-
S17; the American Security and Trust
Company. $37, ,234; the National Savings
and Trust Sempany eao! $50; ra1 Eranels Go, >.
pany. $s,ss. and the Washington City
Orpt an Asylum 3.233.
The acquiring Of this vast tract Of
ground was authorized in the sundry
which authorized the acquiring Of the
property for the enlargement of the
CapitoI Grounds and for the construc-
ton Of a direct avenue of about 159
feet in width from the junction Of Penn
sylvania avenue and First street north
center line Of said avenue to be located
On the axis of the Peace Monument and
the site of the westerly fountain in said
plaza"
The Commission.
The comm's ssion designated in the
act to have charge of the proceedings
was composed of the Vice President
of the United States, James S. Sner
man; the Speaker Of the House of
Representatives. Joseph G. Cannon.
and the Superintendent of the Capitol
Building and Grounds. Elliott Woods.
This commission was limited In the
amount of property to be acquired in
any one year to 10000, and under this
the appropriations Of isl1.
1911 and 1872 we're expended in acquiring
the two blocks Immediately adjoining
the Capitol Grounds.
Being convinced that the most
economical way of acquiring the re
ma ming portion Of the ground would
whole in one proceeding. .'and this
course having the approva, Of the
Attorney General, the commission on
August e. 1912. requested the Attor-
ney General to institute condemnation
ngs against all the remaining
squares" II was under this appraisal
that the remaining ne and one-ha!f
blocks was found to be valued at S.
oc4, i3i7S, and the commission recon-
!pended to Congress that this amount
less the available balance $3Se, 4f2 43,
Of former appropriations on hand.
namely s2s23 972 IS. be appropr' ated by
Congress at the present session to sat
isfy the awards when confirmed By the
court and thus Immediately vest title
10 the property in the United States.
Contained Item.
In conformity with this recommenda-
ton the sundry civil act Of June %,
1913, contained the item recommended
by the commission. Under the usual
procedure the Attorney General would
have Immediately applied to the court to
approve the findings of the jury, but be-
f"re this action could be taken Chair
man Ben johnson filed certain charges
with President Wilson, and asked that
further action be delayed until he could
furnish proof of certain alleged irregu-
larities.
Since then the papers have been bGf-
fett6 q back and forth between the White
House and the Department of Justice
while the small holders of property have
seen their equities disappearing in the
Interest charges piling UP on outstanding
trusts. In some cases. involving widows
and orphans, il is alleged that the delay
has resulted in the practical confiscatiOn
Of their properties.
In addition to the propertyholders,
her etofore. enumerated the following
owners of record will appear TO claim
the sums set opposite the properties
owned by them: Clara II. Granger,
sI5, lis; Edward w. Byrn, s4.753; the
District of Columbia, $4.5907s; James
Brcvoort, sI4l,3OO Linda A. Painter.
1851: Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Company, s12,582; and Josephine
w. Hester, s14,005; all being in square
s?2
In square 6S3. in addition to the prop