Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-13

ing that 1t has at any time failed to
discharge all its obligations to Con-
gross and to the community. If its prop
oKty or any part Of 1t is needed by the
l6vernment because of war conditions
no effort will be made to obstruct the
government In carrying out Its pro-
gram of acquisition. but Chairman
Johnsons bill is not that kind of a bill.
nor is 1t based on the theory of govern
ment necessity or war emergency, but
rather is. or seemingly is, a bill to for
felt the charter of the company ON the
IDEA that the market company has vio-
lated the conditions OF the charter and
haa failed to do and perform the duty
owing by it to the people of the Dis
frfct Of Columbia.
Cannot Justify Seizure.
$ast made by enemies of the corpo-
ration and to Congress and then to
the courts; appeals have been made,
until the final hearing before the Su-
preme Court Of the United States, the
position in all these respects of the
company 10 unassailable and cannot
Justify the seizure proposed in Mr..
J0hnson's bill.
Ell the property is wanted, Congress
can condemn In the usual way, pay
valuation Of the buildings and improve
knsatg as the charter provides. Speak
ang for the directors and stockhold-
'efs OF the corporation, all the COM
pany asks Of Congress is to be treated
like other citizens Of this and other
communities
Tho charter Of the company, under
which the great Center market has
eu1l faith in which large investments
In the stock and bonds of the company
nave. been made, is not a scrap of
paper. to be torn into pieces and
thrown aside by any one. Mr.. Johnson's
bill provides that the property of the
company In Center market be seized
and taken possession of by the Secre-
tAry OF the Interior on July 1 next; that
employees Of the government be then
placed in control Of its extensive and
Intricate details of business. and that
thereafter the bondholders and stock
holders must struggle before a COM
mission and in the courts possibly for
years to obtain pay for their property.
most invarfable practice of providing
Tor a'valuation and then, upon payment,
take possession Of the property.
Provision Of Charter.
The charter provides that the priv
1logeS conferred shall be enjoyed until
desire to possess the Center market
take possession Of the same upon pay
ment- to the company of a fair and just
valuation Of the buildings and improve
Ments.'
Fl have no doubt that when all the
facts are known to the members of the
House and Senate that sthe bill that
will be enacted into law (if any, will
bs fair to the market company. the
people of the District and to the
tnited States.
at do not regard this as a proper
time or the newspapers as the proper
forum for a discussion of this sub
sect In any detail. The unjust features
81 the bill will be brought to the at
teution of the two houses of Congress,
In due course, and the errors of fact
that inadvertently crept into Chair
man Johnson's report will be correct
the market company has been guilty
Of prodteering-double profiteering-
eaunot pass unchallenged.
."Ar: Johnson's charges are not war
rented by the facts.
'-Ths annual franchise rental to be
paid by the Washington Market Com
pany was for the mere naked ground
purely ground rent on condition
that 1t construct market buildings
which would at the end of the ground
rental or leasehold period revert to
and become the property Of the United
States.
sThe improvements put on the ground
ssst more than 100000. nave
The 5000 per annum paid for the
armory. including light, heat and re-
pairs. was for the rent of buildings
net naked ground. The militia vacated
"Not Warranted by Facts"
THE charge that part of this armory
aDace was rented to the Mammoth
Amusement Company for $4,000 per
0nnum, then sublet by the amusement
e. -
q $4,000. with the implication that
the market company was a party
e the transaction. Is not warranted by
TIE iacts
directly or indirectly interested in the
Mammoth Amusement Company, of
which e. K. Fox 10 president and own
o.. OF this lease to the government
vhtil possession Of the hall was taken
~ the government. and for the trans
fer Of this lease consent has never
tssn obtained fron the market COM
aThs large hall space with its ap-
Yfoaehes occupied by the amusement
company was leased to that company
fer $3.50 per month, inclusive Of heat.
.H asooe ssusss feet This
q remembered that the many improve
Nsonts were made by the market COM
Deny prior to the occupancy of the
8y0UDSmouI company LOT lI8 special
uses a. Q skating rink, music hall and
0ther entertainments.
Made With Government.
This lease Of Mr.. Fox. we are told b,
HIN. was made with ofiicers Of the gov.
eminent, who required immediate oc.
0ppancy, its conversion to needs of 9
large clerical force. the lease to b.
Terminated at tho close of the current
Aecel year. June 80 next. Under tn.
Had Of Rental for this short period
NJ. Fox states he included. with ap
prevail OF the government officials
Rsny special expenses incurred-thi.
- cover alterations. new plumbing
etc. But with this transaction, I re.
peat. the market company had nothing
e do.
1.-THE amusement company's lease from
1Ae market company was made near,
three years ago-hence before the wal
sad war prices and without any refer.
oace to the needs or possible needs o,
the government. 1t was purely and ex.
eiusively an ordinary business contrac
between landlord and tenant-not II
any way subject to any Just criticism
Mr.. johnson speaks in his report O.
Droperty near Center market for tn,
rental OF which the government pay.
y per square foot per annum, which
rate II was expected would be raised I,
% per square foot per annum. The Dis
triet militia rented firm the marke
cemDany. for twenty years 81 200 squar,