Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-11
COMMITTEE FAVORS
ACT
Senate Group Reports on
Measure to Speed Build
ing Projects.

The Senate District committee today
ordered favorable reports on the bill
giving the Federal Government better
method of condemning land needed for
its various improvement projects in the
District of Columbia, and a measure
comforting necessary authority on local
and Federal officials to carry out plans
in connection with the Inauguration on
March 4. The committee also author
lied Chairman Capper to create a sub
committee to hold hearings on the nom
ination of Col. Harrison Brand, jr., Tor
another term on the Public Utilities
Commission.
The Federal condemnation bill al
ready has passed the House and will be
presented to the Senate with only two
committee amendments The bill Is re-
garded as important in view of the fact
that the United States Government is
launching plans for new buildings and
other projects requiring additional land.
To Expedite Proceedings.
The bill is intended to expedite con-
demnation proceedings and to enable
the Government to get immediate pos
session by paying a certain amount to
the owners through the court when the
proceedings begin, the balance to be
paid when the award is made, with 6
per cent interest on this balance.
Senator Blaine of Wisconsin, chair
man of the subcommittee which studied
the bill, explained that one of the
amendments which the committee
adopted provides that payment made
at the outset of the proceedings shall
be an estimated amount, rather than
the assessed value. The other amend
ments, he said, consisted merely of a
technical rewriting of section of the
bill describing the manner in which
notices would be served.
Grant Explains Necessity.
Necessity for the legislation was ex-
planned to the committee by Lieut. Col
u. S. Grant, Sd, and Frederick c. Col
dren of the Office of Public Buildings
and Parks, who told of the length of
time required to obtain property for
governmental purposes under the pres
ent condemnation law.
Congress, few weeks ago. added an
other Judge to the bench OF the Dis
trict Supreme Court as another step
| toward speeding up condemnation pro-
ceedings.
Before the committee acted, w.
Gwynn Gardiner objected to the bill in
| its present form, recommending that
| instead of making partial payment at
| the beginning of the proceedings, the
| Government should pay the full amount
when the award Is made, but with in
| terest at per cent while the case is
| pending.
Senator Blaine argued there were
/ some property owners who would need
some of their money at the time the
property is taken, in order to move their
! nh II.
awaiting the final award.
| r. S. Hume also objected to the bill
| on the ground that it did not adequate
ly protect the rights of property owners.
I Col. Grant told the committee the bill
was fair to both the Government and
| the owners and pointed out that it gave
| owners right they do not have at
present, the assurance that when the
! Government begins proceedings and
| takes the property Immediately, that
| the condemnation will be carried
| through to = conclusion.
Inaugural Plans Studied.
The bill relating to the inauguration
| authorizes Col Grant to erect neces-
sary platforms and pavilions and en-
ables the Commissioners to put up tenn
porary overhead wires for illumination
| The committee will report this bill as
soon as Corporation Counsel Bride
| studies it. It's provisions were eX-
planned by Joshua Evans.
The committee also ordered a report
today on separate condemnation bill,
to apply only to the District Govern
ment, to enable the Commissioners to
| have their condemnation cases con-
| sidered by a judge and jury instead
of by commission to save time. This
bill, however, does not provide a method