Evening star., 1922-04-14
Union Station Plaza May Soon
Be Made Feature of Beauty

| this purpose. In July. 1911, con-
demnation proceedings on two
| squares were carried through to an
award aggregating $1,11S.035. which
was confirmed, approved by the Pres
ident and paid. In August. 1912, pro-
lands were begun and carried through
to an award acceptable to the COM
! mission. which on February "a, 1918.
was confirmed by the court. The
sundry civil appropriation bill OF
+ isiS .s ss, . carried an appropriation Oh
All Of this legislation was based on
the condition whether the President
thinks the public. interest requires
it." President Wilson. on March 1s.
1914. announced his decision that the
public interest required that the real
estate here In question should not be
acquired for the sum fixed in the ap-
praisement as confirmed by the court.
Thereupon the Department of Justice
ordered the proceedings discontinued
| and dismissed.
Next. Congress- by the joint resolu-
| tion of October 20. 1914, created a
commission to purchase part Of these
| lands at their fair market value, not
exceeding the award already referred
TO- IT specifically directed that the
purchase price for any of this prop
| erty held by the Baltimore and Ohio
| railroad or by the Real Estate and
i Improvement Company Of Baltimore
| should not exceed the bona fide price
| PAID by either company, plus per cent
| interest.
| All the land sought was purchased.
| except that belonging 10 the two
companies. which refused to accept
the price thus fixed. Their land was
demnation proceedings A portion OF
their land is now being used by the
| United States as a government hotel
| for federal employees under con-
| tract which provides that occupancy
| shall terminate and the buildings are
| the exchange Of final ratifcations Of
| treaties of peace. These companies
| receive no compensation except relief
| from taxation during the period OF
| government occupancy.
\ X
The Attorney General points out
| that the practical obstacle to the
| acquisition of the real estate is the
act OF October 90. 1914, which for
| bids payment of any sum in excess
Of the actual cost plus 6 per cent
interest. He suggests that "if in its
| wisdom" Congress should not deter
mine to acquire the property, the
| following courses seem to be open:
% To invite proposals from the
owners and. If these be found accept
able, to appropriate a sum sufficient
to purchase the property at the price
set. (2) To pass an act repeating the
limit of price and to appropriate a
sum equal to the appraisal made by
the court. The Attorney General
doubts the expediency of this course.
He doubts whether the United States
acceptance of the earlier decree. He
| is not convinced, he says. that it is
now binding on the government.
Then he suggests third course.
since seven years have elapsed since
the effort to purchase at the price set
by Congress failed. If at the present
time Congress should declare that
the public interest now necessitates
acquisition of this property. and if
it.. Furthermore, be of the opinion
price is impracticable. the Attorney
General expresses the opinion that
power exists to take it by condemna-
tien, and. that consequently compen-
sation justly due the landowner may
be ascertained in such manner as
scribe. without reference to the old
award. He lays stress on the prin-
ciple that If the former proceeding
to condemn the property has been in
good faith abandoned, the condemn
ing party-in this case the United
States government-has not thereby
forever forfeited the right to bring
new proceedings to condemn the same
property.
Architect Woods and others who
have for years been working to have
the Capitol plaza to the Union station
properly developed-as bef1ts the ma
tion's front yard-are hopeful that
this advice of the Attorney General
will lead to a reopening of the case
and a final settlement. SO that the
approach to Uncle Sans front door
may be properly fixed up.