Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23
PROPERTY EXPERT !.
| FORD. c. SELECTED
A. H. Bell, Jr., to Handle Con-
domination Cases at Sal
{ airy of SIS, 200 Yearly.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

To carry out a pledge made tC
Congress during hearings on the
District appropriation bill, when the
high cost of school and other Dis
trict building sites was severely
criticized and while the Gibson sub
committee was investigating the
municipal administration, a special
ist in condemnation work is to be
established in the office of the cor
poration counsel.
An attorney is to be given charge
of this work at a salary comparable
to the duties involved and with the
understanding that he is to remain
in the position for a term of years
and make himself an expert on con-
domination work for the municipal
corporation of the District.
Alexander H. Bell, jr., now N
charge of the corporation counseFs
work at the Police Court, has been
selected for this position. 1t was ex-
pected that the appointment would
be made today, but certain formal
tiles have to be complied with through
the classification board Frank Z.
Madigan, who temporarily has been
in charge of condemnation cases In
the District Building, will be trans
ferred to the Police Court as MIR.
Bells successor.
Salary to Be $500.
The District budget, to be sent to
Congress when it conveneS in Decem'
Der, will carry an estimate for the
next fiscal year for man to super
wise the condemnation work at
minimum salary Of 5000. Francis h
stephens, corporation counsel. today
repeated the statement he had previ-
ously made at congressional hearings
that this is a job in which continuity
IN office is extremely desirable. and
that the purpose is to induce MI.
Bell to continue indefinitely in that
position.
There are now two young assist
ants to the corporation counsel who
have been working on condemnation
cases, Mr.. Madigan, who has been
In charge and who has also handled
miscellaneous cases, and Edward w.
Thomas, who in addition to con-
demnation cases has been preparing
suit against the street railway
company for relocation of tracks on
Wisconsin avenue.
Up to few years ago, Mr.. Stevens
explained, all condemnation work in
the office of the corporation counsel
was done by one man, James Francis
Smith, who was competent and thor
oughly understood actions under the
right of eminent domain. He was
the only one in the office who did
know about it, and no one else was
trained in this branch of the law work
Of the District When Mr.. Smith died
It left a number Of cases still active
and with nobody understanding them.
Two Assigned to Work.
Two men were then put on the
condemnation work, who in turn be-
came acknowledgement Hart and
George P. Barse The latter resigned
and went into the Attorney Generals
office at a much higher salary. Then
James C. Wilkes was substituted In
Mr.. Barsa's place, and he subse'
quently resigned to go into private
practice. Mr.. Hart was taken off the
condemnation work and put to trying
miscellaneous cases of an important
character before juries. Mr.. Hart
some time ago announced his deter
mination to retire from the District
service and was induced to remain
on the Job until certain cases had
been disposed of. He is now being
seriously considered by President
Coolidge as a possible successor to
Commissioner Fenning.
During recent months MessrS.
Madigan and Thomas have been try
ing to familiarize themselves with the
condemnation work.
Mr.. Stevens explained that these
various designations and changes have
necessitated the appointment of new
man to take over the work, and that
it is essential to get a good man at
a. fair salary who can be induced to
stay on the job.