Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-17

Matters of vital interest to real estate
owners of the District of Columbia are to
be investigated by a special committee of
the Chamber of Commerce during the
next few weeks as the result of action
taken at the monthly meeting of the or
sanization during the last week. AT that
time number of members OF the cham
Der spoke on what they declared to be an
apparent indifference on the part OF Con-
sresS 10 real estate owners of this city.
Inc delay in the final settlement of the
Plaza condemnation proceedings was cited
and also the delay on the part of Con-
greSs in expressing its intentions with
regard to the property between Pennsyl-
wanna avenue and the Mall. The method
OF assessing benefits against property
owners for street and alley improvements
also was the subject OF much criticism.
me attention of the cha mber was Gale
to these matters by George Y. Worth
inston. Others who spoke in this con-
nection were William F. GUIDE. A. Left
W1ch Sinclair, Robert n Harper. r. P.
Andrews and Charles w. Clage,t A spe-
clal committee of which Mr. Clagett is
chairman has been instructed to prepare
report on the method followed in the
District with regard to assessments for
benefits This will be submitted to the
chamber at its next meeting.
In bringing the matter to the attention
OF the organization Mr.. Worthington said:
Believing most firmly that each dol
lar OF added wealth to this community
benehts indirectly every citizen, l also
pelleVe that, conversely, damage done
or financial loss put upon individuals
indirectly Injuries the whole citizen
ship, therefore, ! do not hesitate to APP
peal to this body of citizens to take
steps to right certain wrongs perpe-
trated upon the real estate owners of
the District of Columbia by made
quate and careless legislation
Damage Is Unintentional.
we all realize that many congress-
men view with apathy and Indifference
the affairs of the District So engrosscd
are they with the affairs of the nation
at large and of their respective states
and districts that they are willing to
give but passing thought to the ma
tlons capital. resulting often in unin-
territorial but most serious damage to
many of our citizens; look at the poor
unfortunates involved in the plaza
award case. Their treatment has been
outrageous and unWarranted because
in the minds of Congress matters of
more moment demand the entire atten-
ton of our legislators.
Then. again, great financial loss has
been suffered by many owners of the
property between Pennsylvania avenue
and the Mall east of 14th street, be-
cause few years ago a bill was intro
duced in Congress to appropriate $780,
100000 for the purpose of buying the
named-nothing was done, yet
the agitation damaged the property
it's most advantageous
location for various kinds of business,
no one will locate there, knowing the
tenure to be so uncertain; tenants will
ing to occupy the present improve
ments cannot afford to pay rents at all
commensurate with a fair return, fig
ured on the basic value of the prop
erty, and. consequently property can
not be sold for so cents on the dollar
of its former values and a large por-
ton of it is vacant.
Should not something be done at
once to induce Congress either to buy
this whole area or announce it's inten-
ton of abandoning the idea of buying
~