Evening star., 1916-01-05
Plaza Commissions Price Is
Thought Too Low by Rail-
way Officials.
HOLD OUT FOR VALUATION
THE PRESIDENT REJECTED
Amount Fixed by Former Condemna'
ton Body $5s5,556.46 Greater
Than Second Award.

The commission OF awards fol
the proposed extension OF Cn1o:
Station plaza has offered SI,I43,
443.54 to the Baltimore and Ohlf
Railroad Company for its proper
tv holdings in the area involved
in the extension. The offer ha;
been declined.
The amount offered represents
the aggregate prices paid by th<
railway company for the various
parcels OF realty, plus g per cent
interest thereon. This is the
maximum that the commission
was allowed to offer under the
conditions OF the Joint resolution
OF Congress under which the
commission is authorized to ac-
quire the properties involved III
the proposed extension.
Property May Be Worth More.
That the price offered is the maxi
mum allowed by the resolution APP
pears to indicate that the commission
has found the fair valuation of the
property at least as large as the maxi
mum fixed, or larger. No Information
as to the estimated fair valuation Is
obta ina BILE from any source II ls' now
ever. known that the commission maoe
such a valuation with the object OF
determining whether the offer should
he less or should be more than the
ma ximum.
The attitude of the railway company
seems to be to stand pat on the
valuation fixed by the FORMER con-
demnation commission, whose findings
were rejected by the President, with
the result of the appointment OF the
present commission. The Valuatlon oy
the former commission was sl,'29,ooo
so that the railway company would
stand to lose $5S5,5o6.4o by acceptance
of the present ofrer.
The fair values on other holdings
fixed by the commission OF awards ap-
proximated a reduction of about per
cent from the awards of the former
condemnation commission. Had the
same ratio Of reduction been applied
to the properties of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company, the reduced
price would have amounted to sl,o49,-
$40, S79,160 less than the old valuation,
as compared with more than hall
million dollars. There was reason to
believe it is said by persons familiar
with the situation, that the railroad
might have entertained an ofer of a
valuation at the same ratio of reduc-
ton as made to other property owners,
accepting the loss of less than hum
dred thousand dollars rather than con-
fipue an issue that is costly.
President to Get Findings.
The commission will submit its findings
to the President, who is required by the
Joint resolution to approve them. AS the
finding is not accompa by an accept
ance. it has not the general status OF
the other awards made, but the President
may announce it as an award
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad. it is
stated on excellent authority. will resist
the taking over of it's property at the
value fixed The courts will be invoked,
il necessary, to enjoin any seizure of the
property on further condemnation pro-
ceedings, on the score that Congress has
no power to fix the price ar which Ii will
acquire land regardless of it's value. it is
also said, and reliance will likely be
placed in the condemnation award of
the former condemnation commission.
II is likely to be contended, 1t Is
stated that the terms OF the resolution
violate the property rights of the own
ers Of the properties that the govern
ment wishes to acquire. as FAR as the
price fixed can be regarded as manda-
tory of acceptance by the baltlmore
and Ohio Railroad Company. There is
also "A nice point OF ia"' "h'cn ~ hkeiy
ia he availed of. it is suggested. as to
whether or not the old award does not
stand as a court order, not revoked and
for the awards made by
the former condemnation commission
were fled with the court with the APP
nrovaI Of the Attorney General. The
interference alone inter-
rupted completion of the transaction.
Hamilton. Yerkes & Hamilton are
counsel for the railroad corporation.
Mrs. Spencer Rejects Award.
Only one other property holder in all
the area involved in the proposed cx-
tension has refused acceptance of the
award made by the commission of
awards Mrs Mary Spencer has de-
clined to accept about 100000 offered
NOR for her holdings on Massa chusett S
avenue northeast. in square 123 There
are two or three other acceptances of
awards where the titles have not yet
been proyen and acquired by the gov
on,,..nt otherwise the commissions s
work is done, save its final report to
the President.
Having practically disposed of all it's
, ffairs the commission is expected to ad-
iourn probably within a week or ten days.
subject to the call OF the President
for the official completion OF its work
,rha commission is understood to be
now preparing its report to the Presi-
dcn, raciting all it's official acts.
This report will probably show the
properties acquired and those which
has been ma hlp n
a',ir. in the plaza area. 1t is expected
,bat the report will also show the ex-
nenditures of the commission for sal
80 ~ the commissioners. employ