Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-14
GRANDDAUGHTER
I. BILL IS ENDORSED
Civic Leaders Present United
Front in Support of Park
Measure.

The civic leaders of washington
nearby Maryland and Virginia, backed
by many national organizations, pre-
scented q united front in support OF
the Cramton- Capper park bill before
the Senate District committee last
night, but another meeting will be
necessary to receive information relat-
ing to possible waterpower development
on the upper Potomac.
After the committee had listened for
two hours to q unanimous Endorsement
Of the measure by more than score
Of spokesman for large groups, Elisha
Hanson, attorney for the Potomac River
Corporation, applicant for hydroelec-
trio power development in the vicinity
of Great Falls, arose to be heard.
After the committee had decided to
POSTPONE his appearance until another
meeting, Mr.. Hanson asked the COM
mittee to call Mai. Brehon Somervel,
Army engineer officer for this area,
who. the lawyer said, has prepared a
report on the question of park and
power development on the upper Poto-
mac. He also requested that the COM
rnittee get from the Park and Planning
Commission q report on park and power
combined, which he said, was prepared
by Gen. Jadwin, former chief OF en-
gineers.
Cramton Answers Hanson.
REPRESENTATIVE Cramton of Michigan,
who led the supporters of the park de-
yelopnent bill at the hearing, replying
tn Mr.. Hanson, told the committee that
the Secretary of War has taken action
on this bill. Mr. Cramton declared
the Secretary Of War sat in con-
ference, attended also by the present
chief Of engineers, and it was agreed
that power is not involved in this
measure. The Michigan Representative
said it was difi1cult for him to see what
could be accomplished by calling Maj.
Somervell when the head OF the war
Department had already been con-
suited.
one of the outstanding features of the
bill is the proposed George Washington
Memorial Parkway, along both banks
of the Potomac from Mount Vernon and
Fort Washington to Great Falls. and
at is passed the House the measure
leaves for future determination by Con-
sress the question of whether the
upper Potomac should be utilized for
power or navigation purposes.
Mr.. Hanson explained following the
meeting that his only desire was to
have the Senate committee receive and
consider all the available information
contained In Government reports on
the subject of development OF the
Potomac River before acting on the
pending bill.
EARLIER in the hearing, in explaining
that his bill leaves to Congress In the
future the decision as to power, MI.
Cramton said:
Know Park Needs Of Today.
I'VE do not know what the power
needs will be so years from now, but we
do know what the park needs are today.
/ cherish the hope that power de-
velopment viii never encroach on the
park, but that Is just my belief, and the
decision would rest with Congress"
When the committee meets again 1t
also viii hear Norman Landreau, repre-
senting the Great Falls Bridge Co, hold
er Of permit from Congress to build a
toll bridge across the Upper Potomac
from the Maryland to the Virginia
shore. The House put clause in the
Cramton bill, prohibiting the building Of
q toll bridge and authorizing free
bridge. Senator Glass of Virginia has
made the proposition more definite by
Offering q Senate amendment, to have
the Federal Government build 81 $780,
900 free structure near Great Falls.
Senator Tydings of Maryland said he
understood the private bridge company
had no objection to the Federal Gov
eminent going ahead with bridge, pro-
vided conhScation Is avoided by COM
pensatang the company for what 1t has
done.
Mr.. Cramton said his position was
that If the parkway along the river is
acquired and there Is no toll bridge at
that time, he would like to see the Fed
eral Government build the bridge. If
the private company has made produc-
tive expenditures, he would favor the
Government taking over the project and
compromising the owners for all ex-
penSeS Of q productive nature.
Senator Robson of Kentucky sug-
gested it would be wise for the private
company to go slowly with its plans
until Congress decides what should be
done.
Provisions Of Bill Summarized.
Mr.. Cramton opened the testimony
with summary Of the bills provisions,
which are: An advance of $4,000, 900
from the Federal Treasury to extend
the park and playground system within
the District, to be repaid by the Dis
trict without interest at the rate of
100000 year: an authorization for
100000 for park extensions in nearby
Maryland and Virginia, including the
memorial parkway along the Potomac
and extension of Rock Greek and Ana
costa Parks and parkways along sew
eral other valleys In nearby Maryland.
In urging speedy action, Mr.. Cram
ton said there is an increase of 10 per
cent year In the value of the lands
desired in the District. and, in ad-
dition. many Of the desirable areas will
be used for other purposes If not de-
veloped as parks soon
With regard to the extensions In
nearby Maryland, Mr.. Cramton pre-
Sented several amendments asked for
by civic leaders in the adjacent coun-
ties. One would place title to the lands
stead Of the Federal Government, an
other would give the Maryland author