Evening star., 1923-02-09
DELEGATION URGES
LANGLEY PARK BILL
Civic Officials Appear Before
House Committee on Build
ings and Grounds.
BEST MINDS BACK ACT
Fear Proposed Body Would Possess
Condemnation Authority
Is Dispelled.
BEST MINDS BACK ACT

AS OISpel1eo.
Officials of the Washington Board
Of Trade. Lieut. Col. c. 0. Sheriff..
oHcer in charge of public buildings
and grounds: representatives of many
citizens associations and officers Of
national organizations interested in
civic development. heartily indorsed
the Langley bill, providing for a sys-
Fairgrounds in the National Capital
at a hearing today before the House
committee on public buildings and
grounds.
Col. Sheriff. presented witnesses
indorsing the bill. who included Ed
ward +. Colladay. president of the
Coldren, chairman OF the committee
on parks of the Washington Board
OF Trade: Charles Moore. chairman
OF the Fine Arts Commission: Pauline
James, secretarys of the American
Civic Associations Mrs. Fairfax iIar-
rison, representing the Garden Club
o.! America. and representatives of a
number of citizens associations.
Tells OF Endorsements.
Ar. Coldren told the committee that
the bill has been indorsed without
amendment by the Washington
Board of Trade. by the Federation of
Citizens Association, the Mount
Pleasant Citizens Association, the
Dupont Citizens Association, the Mid
City Citizens Association, the North
west Washington Citizens Associa-
ton. the City-Wide Congress Of Civic
Associations OF Baltimore and the
Chamber of Commerce of Baltimore,
all Of which organizationhs had rep
resentatives present to speak in be-
half of this legislation.
The Langley bill provides for a per-
manent commission authorized to make
comprehensive study of the develop
melt of the park and playground sys-
tenn of the National Capital and to ac-
quire land necessary for such develop
ment both within the District and ad-
joining territory in Maryland and Eir-
ginia and TO provide for regular an
nual appropriations to be used by the
commission for acquiring such land.
No Such Law In Existence.
In emphasizing necessity for such
law Mr.. Golden pointed out that
there is no existing law providing
for extension OF the park system.
There is no department. bureau, COM
mission or official, either OF the fed
eral government or the government
OF the District. authorized to study
or work out such q systematic plan.
There is no Official legally directed
or invited to submit recommendations
or estimates for acquiring additional
park areas. To make any park ex-
tension 1T is now necessary to have a
bill passed authorizing the acquisi-
tion OF each particular tract.
Owing TO the great broadening of
federal Legislation conditions in Con-
gress make 1t practically impossible
to secure the passage OF such indi-
vidual bills. 1t is impracticable for
the committees Of Congress to make
protracted personal investigation as
required for a comprehensive park
system. IT a bill to acquire a par
ticular area is occasionally success
ful, the result may not be in harmony
with a systematic extension of the
park system. Except an annual an
preparation OF $4,000 for acquiring
very small triangles at intersections
or streets. there has been no author
lzation for acquiring land 10 extend
the park system since 1913, 4 period
Of nine years. Meanwhile great num-
bers Of splendid forest trees and
areas Of natural scenery of inestima-
BILE value to the park system have
Best Thought Behind Bill.
Mr.. Coldren said that the best
thought Of civic leaders which is be-
hind this measure is that a system
attic, comprehensive and continuous
study by the standing commission is
the only practicable way to bring
results. The. interest OF all sections
and propositions for local Improve
ment from great variety Of sources
cannot produce happy results.
Speaking particularly with refer
ence to playgrounds, he pointed out
dren's pisysrounds ' should od 'p be es,s- ae-
auired at the earliest possible date
tE all the crowded sections Of the
city. Conditions Of automobile traffic
render 1t too dangerous for children
to play in the streets and they must
be furnished with play spaces" Mr..
Coldren said.
UFSes Buying Cheapest.
He pointed out that in several Sec
tons 1t is now essential to buy land
for Fairgrounds that Is occupied by
buildings, simply because no land 10
left not occupied by buildings "Of
located should be acquitted" he said.
but the cost will now be much larger
than heretofore"
Mr.. Coldren reminded the commit
tee that very frequently when park
and playground propositions come up
fer consideration in Congress a hue and
cry is raised that it is real estate
proposition. He insisted that nobody
at all that had any part in framing
this bill has l cents worth Of interest,
direct or indirect, In any land to be
taken. He said IL was purely a civic
association measure.
He also reminded the committee
that Congress would always have a
check on this commission through
annual appropriation, which st could
refuse to grant IL it thought the
purchase of the proposed land was
not advisable.
Objection Is Answered.
C. p. Winslow. as representative
Of the Winslow-Patterson estate,
raised the question that this COM
mission where it desired to acquire
property would have authority to in
troduce condemnation proceedings
He objected to this delegation Of au-
thority by Congress.
Representative Frank Clark Of
FLORIDA told Mr.. Winslow that no
property owner would lose any of his
rights thereby. Edward F. Colladay.
president Of the Warrington Board
Of Trade. answered Mr.. Winslow's OBJ
lection. showing that this commission
would act to protect federal appro-
pfiations for park purposes against
attempts by property owners to get
rid OF desirable tract at fancy
prices.