Evening star., 1926-05-22
JUS. TOSELL FORTS
| WANTED As PARKS
Quick Action Needed to Save
Them-SpeciaI Law May
Be Sought.

Forts Washington. Nd. and Hunt,
Va. will have to he sold like other
posts so authorized. according 10 the
Senate committee on military aHairs.
which Yesterday approved the war
Depa rtment's list of posts to he SOLD.
Senator Wadsworth Of New York.
chairman Of the committee. said that
the question Of saving the forts was
brought directly To the attention ot
the committee by members who ex-
planned the movement on foot 10 re-
tain them for the park system OF the
Capital.
Senator Wadaworth Said. however.
that the committee decided that the
forts must be sold. and the proceeds
applied to the funds to be used FOR
the construction Of permanent bouid-
incs on army posts throughout the
country. The committee directed re-
port on the bill carrying the War De
partment's recomme nda tiOns for these
sales.
This action Of the committee. ac'
cOrdine to those following the move
ment makes imperative quick action
either 10 have Congress provide the
funds with which the Federal Govern
ment may purchase the forts from IL
self as a part Of the park system OF
the District Of Columbia, or. TO take
action which would direct the Secre-
tary OF War to transfer them.
VIII Confer on situation.
The matter will be brought TO a
head this afternoon. II IL expected.
when Maj, u. g. Grant. Sd. director OF
the once Of Public Buildings and Pun
lie Parks of the National Capital, ex-
pects to confer with Senator Arthur
Capper of Kansas. chairman OF 'ne
Senate District committee. Both are
members OF the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. before
which the matter will come mp AT us
next meeting. which will he the re-
orga nizati meeting under the
amended organic act.
Interest is gkeen in preserving
these historic posts. part OF the de
lenses Of the National Capital. In the
early days Of it's history, and even In
later days until modern artillery ad-
vance made II possible Ia protect the
entra nee TO Che apeske Bay by aug
menting the batteries there. Repre- =
sentatives Killer of Minneapolis and
Little Of Kansas. both members OF
the subcommittee on parks M the
House District committee. said they
favored the preservation OF such his
toricai places.
Both Secretary Davis of the War
Department and Mai. Grant believe
that they should he preserved. bat
they do not want the Army to lose
the money which II II declared is
much needed in the Army's post re-
construction program.
Commission Unable to buy.
The passage Of measure to buy
the property. il WAS pointed out
would he hut book transfer on
the part Of the GOvernment-thst
is, taking the money of Of one
account and placing il on another
However, a special act Of Congress
could be prepared directly ordering the
property without any transfer OF
funds. While the Nationfi Capital
Park and Planning Commission has
a fund annually with which to pur
chase additions to the park system OF
! the National Capita. 1t was asserted
| that the small amount received is re
| Quired annually within the limits O1
| the District OF Columbia to buy VI
prospective park projects AZ quickly
! as possible before they are forever lost
| for this purpose.
The posts. before they are sold. must
he appraised, and cannot be sold fOl
/ less than the appraised value. Tins
4
| historic buildings at Fort Washington
| II was pointed out. would be OF little
| use, except for wrecking purposes. Il
| any one who purcha sed the lands
whereas they do have a real value
! from sentimental and historical rea
sons to the Government, which shoulC
take some interest in preserving thu
! property.
| The action OF the Senate militar!
affairs committee, II was said, woult
! serve to bring promptly to the fore
| the urgency Of taking quick action
| However, the law under which the.
| would be sold gives States in which
| they are located. and municipa litiei
near them two years and six month,
| in which to purchase them, and the,
| have the first option. However. an
| other provision in the law provide.
| that the President may transfer then
| to other departments Of the Fedora
! Government, without charge. by EX
| ecutiVe order, where such depa rtment,
assert their need for them. The ques
| ton this brings up is whether the Ma
| tionaI Capital Park and Pla inning Com
| mission IL a department OF the Fed
eral Government