Evening star., 1923-02-17
1900 Women May Be Forced
to Seek Other Shelter by
Conclusion of Lease.
LEASED BY CONTRACT
FOR "WAR PURPOSES"
Railroad Places Site in Hands Of
Realty Firm-"For Sales"
Signs to Be Erected.

REIMBURSEMENT by the government
of the property in squares $50 and
6s1 and part of square $50. on the
Union station plaza, now occupied by
the government hotels. has been re-
quested by the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, Secretary of Labor Davis
announced today. The railroad.
which owns the property in question
and which leased 1t to the govern
ment under a contract signed July 8,
91S, "for war purposes" requests that
the property be vacated by April 1,
1923
With view 10 disposing OF the
property promptly, the railroad COM
pany has placed it in the hands OF
the Thomas J. Fisher Company. a real
estate firm, and has authorized the
erection of for sale" signs on 1t. The
government has been urged by the
railroad to instruct the superintend-
ent in charge of the buildings not to
permit any one to interfere with the
signs.
More than 1900 woman occupants
of the government hotels, who make
their permanent homes In Washing
ton at the government hostelries. Will
be either forced to seek residence
elsewhere or will be put to great In
Gates the buildings on the property
owned by the railroad, as requested.
The various buildings located on
squares 632 and 6S1, according to
Secretary Davis, constitute the most
vital part Of the entire plant and
the abandonment of the entire
project.
Cnsble to Pay Rental.
The government is presented in the
role Of the tenant who Is unable. due
20 existing statutes, to pay rental on
the property leased from the railroad
company. In letter to c. II.
real estate agent of the Bal
tiniore and Ohio. dated February II.
Davis says that the gov
ernment is prohibited from paying
rent for use of the property by the
act OF March 8. 1877, which pro-
hibits any expenditure by an execu-
tive branch of the government for
rental purposes in the District Of
Columbia in the absence of specific
by Congress-" He adds
that the requisite funds for payment
of rental for the property, since ex-
piration Of the agreement November
II, 1922. would, therefore, have to be
provided through appropriation by
Congress.
Notwithstanding that Congress has
Iaiied to specifically provide authori-
zation for payment OF rentals due the
railroad company for use OF the prop
erty, the continued occupancy OF the
hotels to capacity indicates that the
temporary purposes for which the
. buildings were constructed have not
letter written to Mr.. Moran early In
the present year by Secretary Davis.
OF the contract or agree
ment under which the government
utilized the property was asked by
the Secretary in the letter
Says Situation Changed.
Mr.. Moran, in reply, said the situa-
tion had changed after the agreement
had terminated one year after ratifi-
cation of the treaties Of peace, or on
November IA, 1922. He said Attorney
General Daugherty had filed a report
with the Senate in reply to a Senate
resolution inquiring as to permanent
acquisition by the government Of the
property, in which he held that the
government had, in good faith, aban-
doned its intention to secure the prop
erty, and Mr.. Moran further claimed
that abandonment of the intention
to acquire the property by condemna-
tion proceedings means that the own
er the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad)
Is no longer bampered in the disposi-
tion or use of the property
In support of hfs contentious, Mr.
Moran claimed that the property had
lain idle for almost dozen
years, that the railroad company had
paid taxes on it ali this time, and
6o1 hof hn Ia
ure executed because the railroad
company wished to help the govern
ment as much as possible during the
war.
The letter Of the Labor Secretary,
written under date Of February IL,
says that although the contract ex-
pired November IA, 1922, "the success
sive appropriations which have since
been provided for operation of the
hotels indicate that in the opinion of
Congress there Is still the need for
the service which the hotels were
designed to furnish"
U. s. I'm Lease With Road.
The United States government en-.
tered into lease with the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad concerning the
property on July 8. 1918, the govern
ment being represented by Secretary
Wilson. Tho lease, according to the
files OF the Labor Department. pro-
vides that the United States of
America could enter upon and erect
and maintain certain houses, dwell
ings and buildings on certain parcels
Of land in squares 6s2, ss1. es2,. 6sa
and 684 in the District OF Columbia
and occupy same for the period Of tho
war and until twelve months after
the exchange of the final ratification
OF the treaty or treaties of peace
which shalf'conclude the same. unless
the United States of America desires
sooner to terminate the said tempo
rary occupation.
Secretary Davis In ono Of his let
ters to the agent of the railroad sug-
Eested that the entire matter be
brought to the attention Of CONGRESS-
He said he had sent copies OF the
regarding the hotels
to Senator Fernald and Represents
tive John w. Langley. ohairmen Of
the Senate and House committces on
public buildings and grounds which
exercise Jurisdiction over the United
States Housing Corporation.
.In view of the statutes. n which
you call my attention. says q letter
tary Dav!. today, .prsyenting the
payment OF rentals by the govern
ment, believe you Will appreciate
that II is only the more neeAssary
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