Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-15
HEARING IS OPENED
ON PARKWAY BILL
Action Urged by Representa-
tive Cramton Before Prop
erty Values Increase.

The House committee on rules granted
hearing this morning to Representa-
tive Cramton of Michigan on his bill
for the George Washington Memorial
Parkway from Mount Vernon and Fort
washington to Great Falls on both sides
of the Potomac River and providing for
extensions of Rock Greek and Potomac
Pathways.
The committee will meet in executive
Representative Cramton's request for a
special rule to expedite action upon this
proposal.
His bill calls for $4,000 900 to be
made Immediately available from the
Federal Treasury for acquisition Of sites
for the proposed parkway development
and for other parkway and playground
sites in the District of Columbia. or
this amount, $16,000,00 is for sites IN
the District, to be paid back from Dis
trict revenues at the rate of $1,000, 600
a year. Seven million dollars Is for
acquisition Of land in Maryland and
Virginia on a $3.50 basis, with State
and private interests as regards the me-
mortal parkway and on a one-thlrd,
two-thirds basis for improvement OF
Rock Creek and AnacoStia extensions.
Representative Cramton told the rules
committee that there are two particular
reasons for urging immediate action.
One is to preserve the area which Is
continually being encroached upon by
industries and other development pro-
jects. He pointed out that If the matter
is delayed another year, one particular
area will cost $1,000, 900 more than at
present, His second most important
reason was that the Virginia General
Assembly now in session is planning to
look over the proposed area with view
to making an appropriation towards
meeting the $3.50 requirement Of the
Virginia side. It Is important, there
fore, that the Federal program be set
as definitely as possible so that the
Virginia Assembly may know what 1t is
acting upon, he said.
It was emphasized at the hearing
today and in an interview with Repre-
sentative Cramton that the question
of power development is being made
an important issue. He said that for
the last few weeks there has been
very active lobby against this bill in
the Capital by those who favor power
development in the Potomac River.
Representative Cramton told the
committee that as regards power de-
velopment on the Potomac, this bill
does not change the legal situation
with reference to granting permit.
Under a resolution which he fathered
several years ago, 1t Is now the law
that the Federal Power Commission
cannot grant either a preliminary or
a final permit for power development
in the Potomac below point four
miles above Great Falls until Congress
specifically takes action with reference
to such power development.
Representative Cramton admits that
If this George Washington Memorial
Parkway bill does become law, it is
reasonable to expect that Congress will
not later authorize any power develop
ment In the Potomac that would detract
from the scenic value of the park area.
AS a matter Of fact, however, Repre-
sentative Cramton points out the pas
sage of the resolution passed several
years ago, tying the hands Of the
Federal Power Commission, was in
effect definite declaration by Congress
Of its purpose to give the scenic values
first consideration and to permit no
power development that would be con-
trary thereto.