Evening star., 1923-02-19
SEEK WAY TO SAVE
j. s. GIRLS HOME
Senators, Led by Fernald,
Will Consider Removal De-
mand by B. & o. Road.
ONE MORE YEAR URGED
New Legislation Necessary for
Property to Be Bought by
Government.
ONE MORE YEAR URGED

Senator Fernald OF Maine, ei1ete-
man of the Senate committee on pub
lie buildings and grounds. has called
. meeting of his committee tomorrow
morning to consider the situa t4ota
which, has arisen in regard TO the
dormitories for woman employees OF
station plaza, due to the fact that
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad is
insisting that the buildings be re-
moved from this land.
Senator Fernald is strongly In favor
Of having the dormitories retained at
least for another year or two. He
said today that his committee would
try to work out a plan whereby an
agreement could be made with the
Baltimore and Ohio to permit the re-
tention Of these dormitories for the
present He expects to have before
the committee tomorrow the head of
the housing corporation, which. has
charge Of the dormitories
Congress Only Salvation.
Only an act OF Congress can save
the homes Of. the girl workers who
OCCUPY the rooms in the government
dormitories on the property of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad at the
Union. station.
Investigation Of the situation today
developed the following facts:
The condemnation proceedings which
would have transferred tho land to
the government were without result
because the railroad and its holding
company refused to accept the award
of the second board OF condemnation.
There is In the Treasury. already
appropriated. s1.7sS.139.27 for the
purchase of this property. Practically
All of it Is money offered to the Bal
timore and Ohio railroad. and which
II % has refused to accept, as 1t is about
100000 less than the amount 1t de-
mands.
Doubts Right Of e. 8. q.
The Attorney General has express
ed the doubt as to whether the
United States would have the right
at this time to force tho railroad
company to accept the second award.
The Attorney General suggested as
one solution that proposals be in
vited from the owners and, IL found
acceptable, to appropriate sum suf-
ficient to purchase the property at
the price set.
The government, by abandoning
the old award &of condemnation, has
not forfeited it's right 70 further
Condemnation proceedings and acqui
sition Of the property by virtue OF
The Attorney General said that the
practical obstacle to the acquisition
Of the land is the act of October 22.
therefor Of any sum in excess OF its
Cost MUS 6 per cent interest.
He said that since the owners, have
refused to accept this 1t was impossi-
BILE under existing legislation to ac-
ouire the property. He did say that
repeal Of this, "proytso In the act
would remove the obstacle. -.
Hits Heating Plant. 80
while square $751; bounded by E
s+reet. the Plaza. Delaware avenue
and North Capitol street, is the only
n,ece Of Baltimore and Ohio proper
ty occupied by dormitories proper,
square $50. bounded by c, ID and
North Capitol streets and New Jersey
avenue. talsoA Baltimore and Ohio
,,ron.rtv.. contains the heating plant
for the whole system, and thus II the
rovernment lis forced to abandon this
- wilI preclude the use of the dor
noitories on land already acquired by
the government, unless 1t Is decided
To incur the heavy expense Of moving
the heating plant.
There are two other squares and a
nortion. of another which are owned
Nv the Baltimore. and Ohio railroad.
Howeyer. these are not occupied by
anv government activity. They are
souares 6s2, bounded by the plaza,
Delaware avenue. 1st. and D streets
northeast, and square 684, bounded
nv New Jersey avenue, c, D and 1st
sfreets northeast. The Baltimore
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