Evening star., 1918-06-11
HOUSE MAY VOID
LEASE OF MARKET
Committee of the Whole Ap-
proves Pending Bill as
Amended.
JOHNSON IS SHARP CRITIC


government would annul the lease Of
the Washington Market Company.
which has a half century yet to run,
and take over the property by paying
the market company just appraisal
on the building, is being considered by
the House today.
Chairman Johnson of the House Dis
trict committee and other members Of
the committee on the floor of the
House have criticised the methods by
which the Washington Market Com
pany during the last half century has
been occupying one Of the most valu-
able pieces Of property in the District
at a nominal rental, while the govern
ment itself has been renting back
part Of this property at nearly twice
the rental which the market company
Is paying for the entire property.
Amended in Committee Of Whole.
The bill was amended in the COM
mittee of the whole SO that its provi-
sions shall become effective so days
after the approval of the act. The
ment shall not increase the rental OF
the market stalls over the present rate
was stricken out.
The bill was favorably reported to
the whole House by the committee OF
the whole. Chairman Johnson OF the
District committee called up the nill
to amend the weights and measures
law of the District of Columbia.
Rental Down, Realty Up.
Chairman johnson in explaining his
Company stands as a monument to
one of the most discreditable things
ever lobbied through Congress.
Little by little. through unholy
work." he said. this company had sue
ceeded in getting the rental reduced
until it now pays less than 1T agreed
to pay, although the land has in
creased in value by leaps and bounds
and the lease still has fifty years to
run. Chairman johnson pointed out
that the rental fixed at $25,000 a year
nearly q half century ago has been
decreased to $500 year, while the
value of the land has increased from
$3.50 to $12 a foot.
Rent Intended for Poor.
Representative J.. Hampton Moore
of Pennsylvania wanted to know how
such a thing has come about without
the consent of Congress. Mr.. johnson
replied that, from 1873 to within two
years ago, the District Of Columbia en-
joyed the revenue and the general
government contributed an equal
amount toward the expenses OF the
District, although it was originally
provided that the rent should go to
the benefit of the poor.
Chairman johnson then proceeded to
review the history Of the company as
has been set out in an extensive re-
facts of which have already been print
ed in The Evening Star.
Neither law, justice, right, or hu-
man life has been permitted to stand
in the way of the Washington Mar
ket Company" said Representative
johnson.
Value and Rental Of Property.
Representative Mapes Of Michigan.
ranking republican member Of thepHouse
District committee, told the House that
property is assessed for 100000, is
worth S1,20O,00O, and the company is
paying rental only Of $500 for that
property. He said the pending bill does
no one any harm, amply protects the
market company in compensation for its
from leasing property worth more than
s., ,0O0, 900 for $500 a year for another
fifty years.
1--WE are proceeding very cautiously
and very equitably," said Representa-
tive Mapes, land no one can complain
under this bill, unless it may be that
the market company wants the gov
ernment to make it free gift for an
other fifty years."
Representative Walsh Of Massa-
chusetts expressed the thought that
a special committee ought to make a
further report before passing the bill.
He criticised the renting of a por-
ton of the market to the govern
ment for $4,000 by tenant of the
company, when the company pays
only $500 for a whole property.
He asked that a subcommittee be ap-
pointed to look further into the
case. Representative Walsh doubted
whether the lease can be annulled
now, since the old city government
did not take advantage of the oppor-
tunity to annul it before. However.
he said he would not oppose the bill.