Evening star., 1927-11-20
PARK COMMISSION
OUTLINES PROGRAM
Feature of Legislative Plan
Deals With Easy ACquisi-
ton of Land.

| An ambitious and comprehensive
| legislative program decigned for the
| twofold purpose of easing the ways
I for park and playground accesslons
and the eSthetic development of the
| city toward its goal as the most Deau-
tiful capital in the world. was adopted
| last night by the National Capital
| Park and Planning Commission as the
| last act of Il tWo-daY session.
! Most Of the session was given over
! 10 a study OF the proposed major high
way system, which. however. was not
aplroved as submitted by the SUD
F.; committee. Some of the legislation IS
| intended to remove certain obstacles
| found in the course in the past III the
ACQUISITION of lands. which have
3,rved not only to impede. but $eri.
ously delay. proposed development OF
the Capital. There is one measure
| dealing with the metropolitan dlstflc.
authorizing the appropriation or
| S200, 900 annually for expenditure IN
| the metropolitan areas OF MarEland
and Vir.inia adjacent to the National
| Capital. this money to be taken ehtire'
| ly from Federal funds.
The bills this week will be put on
| the administrative legislative track
and started for Congress, II they ear
sa afely run the scrutiny of the Burea u
of the Budget. 1t was explained that
| all of the measures will have to he
submitted TO the Budget Bureau
which will finally determine whether
or not they will be presented to the
Congress.
Speciai Court Urged.
One of the measures approved pro
poses to set up as part OF the Su-
preme Court of the District of Column.
bia special condemnation court,
which would have exclusive jurisdic.
ton over matters pertaining to the ac-
quisition of private lands by condem-
nation for the establishment of parks.
parkways. Fairgrounds and for other
public uses. Although set up in the
proposed legislation, as special con-
demnation court. its powers would be
restricted to the Federal Government,
and the District government would be
required to go through the regular
cha annels of the local Supreme Court
in the acquisition by condemnation of
land which it needed for municipal
works.
The measure provides for the ap-
pointment of an additional judge for
this purpose, who shall sit exclusively
in Federal condemnation matters.
The measure as approved. requires
that this justice. along with the jury,
shall personally view the lands in
question. 1t also provides that he
alone shall conduct the case, and
hand down the decision. except in
cases where there shall be a request
from the parties concerned for jury.
The measure, in that event, provides
that there shall be jury of three per-
sons. and even then the judge would
be required to personally view the
property In any particular condemna.
ton case before him. There is con-
tanned in it also a provision for the
right Of appeal to the District Court
of Appeals.
Want Immediate Possession.
The proposed legislation also would
give the United States authority TO
take possession of the land subject TO
condemnation Immediately upon the
filing of the proceedings in the court.
However, before this could be done,
the United States would be required
to deposit in the court for the use OF
the owner an amount equal to three
quarters of the assessed value OF the
property, the remainder being with
held until the final award. and intere. /
to be paid on the deferred amount
from the date the Government took
possession.
1t was pointed out by Maj. Carey
III. Brown, engineer of the commits
sion, that the advantages expected
to be derived from such legislation
would be that there would be one
Justice who would handle condemna-
tion matters. and thus would be
thoroughly familiar at all times with
real estate conditions in the District,
knowledge gained through the re-
quirement that he personally visit
each piece of land sought TO be con-
demned.
Another measure which received
the commissions sanction was that
giving 1t authority to purchase tax
titles to land, acquire merely rights
and not the land itself. to give life
estates In land. and to buy certain
restrictions.
Seeks Tax Title.
Under the proposed measure. it was
pointed out by Mai. Brown, the Gov
ernment could purchase restricted
lines in certain territory without
taking. the whole land. and would give
authority. for example, to purchase
land and permit the owner TO retain
possession for his life, at the end of
which it would go to the Government
outright. Some land which the Gov
ernment has needed in its park de-
velopment has been found to be cloud
ed by tax title. the real owner being
unknown. Under the proposed law II
would be permitted TO purchase the
tax title and take the chances of the
real owner some time returning and
claiming the property.
The bill authorizing the appropria-
tien Of 100000 annually for the pur-
chase of lands for parks. parkways
and Fairgrounds in the metropolitan
areas of Maryland and Virginia is one
to give the commission authority to
put In effect that portion of its or.
sanic act. which contempiatcs the eX-
tension of the Capitals park system
INTO the adjacent States.
Although the commission has the
necessary authority now to purchase
lands for park purposes in Maryland
and Virginia, it early laid down the
policy of not making any such
purchases for two reasons. One OF
| them was that the appropriations now
for park lands come entirely out OF
District or Columbia revenues. and it
did not believe it equitable to take
| the money of the taxpayers of the
District of Columbia and eXpend
them for the purchase of park lands
IN the nearby States. and the other Is
that the appropriations have been So
comparatively small that they have
| been needed to purchase necessary
| projects within the District OF
columbia.
State Aid Demanded.
IInSRnEnr lnf Af,s d,
money. when appropriated can be
| spent in these States. Maryland and
| Virginia must have allotted an equa
amount. for the bin. as drafted, pro
! vidcs that the United States may not
| spend nor contract for lands the