The Washington herald., 1914-03-31
PRESIDENT HEARS
PLAZA OWNERS
Executive Is Noncommittal on
= Question Of Settling
Awards.
INSIDE FACTS REVEALED
.,
INSIDE FACTS REVEALED
Herald Learns Reasons Why House
District Chairman Objected to
Payment of Claims.

Six men and six women called at the
White House yesterday and had a fifteen
minutes audience with President Wilson.
Each of them is the owner of property
condemned by the United States govern
Tnent for the Union Station plaza. They
had a pathetic story to tell about me
position in which he or she found her
self as a result of the Presidents re-
fusal two weeks ago to approve tne
awards, on the ground that some OF
them are seriously excessive
President Wilson received the commit
tee of twelve courtesly. smilingiy. he
listened attentively to the resoiuuon OF
the federation of property owners, reao
by Chairman Carmody. This resolution
asks the Chief Executive for immediate
relief for the men and women who are
suffering extreme distress Then aiter
Mr.. Wilson had heard the resolution,
three widows whose last few cents are
in jeopardy, stepped forward and asked
him to hear their individual appeals.
-Visibly touched, the President stated that
he would be glad to read their state
ments, but that 1t would only add to the
main and misery to have these stories
told.
The President, while expressing deep
regret at having been forced by the cir
was noncommittaI. In fact, he warned
the petitioners not to allow themselves
to foster false hopes" not to expect
promises that could not be made, and
could not be kept. The delegation then
left the White House, disappointed, and
discouraged.
Reveals EInside Facts"
Shortly after, The Washington Herald
learned some significant inside fact"
Of the agitation carried on by Represent
ative Ben johnson, chairman of the
House District Committee. against the
approval of the plaza awards
The Herald is thus enabled to state
the principal objections of Representa-
tive johnson against the claims Of III
small property owners in the Union Sta
ton plaza. They are:
! The charge that the money for the
awards. If approved, Will really not go
to the property owners themselves. but
largely to real estate owners who have
secured options upon the properties in
volved.
C9 That the condemnation proceedings
against the property wanted by the gov
ernment for the Union Station plaza was
followed by improper and unfair" trans
actions on the part of Washington real
estate interests, who bought up options
on this property. thus deriving exorbit-
ant profits, while the owners are TO suf-
fer a great loss.
CD That the square ground between
New Jersey avenue c and d and North
Capitol streets was really the property
of the United States government and
therefore not to be awarded to the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad.
4. That the property of the Balti-
more and Ohio, east of the station. |
and behind the property owned by
Mrs. Harriet Storch, valued at sI0e, 60o. :;
was excessively appropriated. and !
therefore should be held up by the |
government.
Johnson Wants Absolute Control.
Apart from these principal objec-
tions of Representative johnson. an
other important fact was ascertained
by The Herald last night, namely:
That Mr.. Johnson, since the disap-
proval of the awards by the President, /
has exerted every influence and power
at his disposal to move Congress to
adjudge to him what is regarded by |