Evening star., 1915-11-08
INTRODUCED AT HEARING
ON FISCAL RELATIONS
Senators Criticise Statement That
U. S. Supreme Court Failed to Set
tie Disputed Question.
JOSEPH 1. WELLER IS HEARD
Replies to Views Expressed by Mr..
Newman Before Joint Committee
Regarding Condemnation Pro-
ceedings in the District.

An echo OF the case in which
Commissioner Newman's right to
hold Office as District Commits
sioner was challenged in the
courts was heard today during
the testimony OF {. c. Lancaster
before the congressional commit
tee investigating the fiscal rela-
tions between the United States
and the District.
Mr.. Lancaster declared that
residents here regarded Commits
sioner Newman, the tax collector
and the superintendent of play
grounds as foreigners. insisting
that they were not properly con-
sidered residents OF the District.
He protested vigorously against
the appointment OF non-residents
OF the District to Offices here.
Senator Chiffon. chairman of
the investigating committee,
| called attention to the fact that
the Newman case had been set
tied by the Supreme Court OF the
United States.
No, it hasn't, not by jugful,"
said Mr.. Lancaster. The Su-
preme Court lodged the issue
Criticised by Two Senators.
| Senator Chiffon and Senator Works
sharply criticised the statement OF Mr.
| Lancaster. Senator Works said that he
had been a member of the Senate Dis
trct committee which passed on Mr.
Newman's nomination. and that while
the evidence submitted was both for
and against Mr.. Newman's eligibility.
still the courts had settled the mat
ter.
Mr. Lancaster declared that the citi-
zens of the District were going to Con-
gress to get the law amended SO that
they would be able to test such cases
as Mr.. Newmans in the future.
Joseph l. Weller appeared before the
committee today to reply to state
ments made by Commissioner Newman
before the committee in regard to con-
demnation proceedings in the District
Mr.. Newman had contended that cor
demnation proceedings could not be re
lied upon in finding the real value OF
property.
Submits Letters of Citizens.
When the committee assembled today
Senator Chiffon. the chairman. laid be -
fore it a number of letters from citi-
zens interested in the hearings. II. Mar
tin Williams suggested in one letter
that Frederick c. Howe. a writer on
German municipalities. be asked to ap-
pear before the. committee. and also
that Louis F. Post, assistant secretary
of labor. a single taXer. be requested
to take the stand.
S. l.. Phillips. Il lifelong resident of
the District. living at 1850 Massachu-
setts avenue, wrote to the committee
urging that new fiscal plan be adopt
ed for the District by which the gov
ernment property here should be as
sessed to meet the share of the govern
ment in the expenses of the capital. He
suggested also that the District of Co
lumbia should be made state with all
the rights of statehood, and with two
senators and members of the House, ac-
cording to population.
C. c. Lancaster Resumes.
c. c. Lancaster. who began his state
ment before the committee Saturday,
was the first witness heard today
Il wish to say" said Mr.. Lancaster,
in opening. that l hold no brief from
any special privilege in Washington.
but that ! do hold a brief from the
plain citizens"
He attacked the act of 1S9? provid-
ing a permanent highway plan for the
Distric- He charged that by this act
from one third to 40 per cent of the
agricultural land owned in the District
would be taken by the government for
streets. without any recompense. and
used for national objects. since the
building up of wide streets and ave
nues according to the highway plan
could only be considered national OBJ
jects. He complained that owners of
this agricultural land were paying too
Are not the high values placed on
agricultural land purely speculative"
asked Senator Works.
Yes. sir" answered hlr. Lancaster.
they are all speculative"
why should the owners of these
lands object if their assessments are
as high as the values they put on the
lands themselves? asked Senator
Works.
Mr.. Lancaster replied that the only
way to "get even" was to put high val
ues on this agricultural land with the
hope that some day purchaser would
be found.
some sucker is coming in there and
is going to get burnt said Mr.. Lam
caster.
washington, like all other cities,'
said Senator Works, has been the vic
tim of real estate SPECTATORS. I don't
know how far you yourself have been
guilty in this respect, Mr.. Lancaster"
Hold on, SENATOR" said Mr.. Lancas-
ter That's not so. Taxes have been
put SO high that land holders must PIT
up the price to get their money back.
Statement in Illustration.
"Say that bought ten acres of agri-
cultural land purely as a speculation"