Evening star., 1930-06-18
COMMITTEE BEGINS
OIL TANK HEARING
House Group Takes Up Glass
Resolution Affecting Poto-
mac River Project.

The House District committee today
started hearings on Senator Glass
resolution, which passed the Senate on
May 20, designed to prevent the erec-
ton Of industrial plants on the Virginia
side of the Potomac River unless per-
mission is given by the District Com
miSsioners and the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission.
The immediate affect of this legisla-
tion would be to prevent the Sun OIL
Co. Of Philadelphia from constructing
wharves and 100,000-gallon storage
tank near Rosslyn, Va.
The principal contention before the
committee today was whether the Gov
ernment has the right to exercise such
restrictions.
The Government contends that with
the tremendous development under the
Cramton bill for memorial parkway
from Mount Vernon to Great Falls,
Congress should designate an agency to
protect the rights OF the Government
which have been fortified by court de-
cisions to prevent structures being
erected on Government property along
the river bank detrimental to the In
terests Of the Government.
Hearing Set for Friday.
At the request of attorneys represent
lHB JIle 0uH Ou TO-, anu dC JLle request
of property owners themselves, another
hearing was set by Chairman Zinirnan
for Friday morning, particularly to
hear opposition to the Glass resolution.
Representative Cramton, Republican,
of Michigan, author of the George
Washington Memorial Parkway legisla-
ton, offered q substitute for the Glass
resolution. He said while he had not
examined carefully the legal question
he believed Congress had the right to
pass such legislation.
Representative Moore, Democrat, of
Virginia, asserted that while he Is op-
posed to the Sun OH Co. project, the
resolution presents q broad legal ques-
ton as to whether Congress has any
power to do what the Glass resolution
proposes.
James r. Cation, ST., Of Alexandria.
who was counsel in the case before the
Supreme Court which involved the
ownership by the District of land in
ing the World War. said the old case
did not directly or indirectly affect the
question now being considered.
U. s. Power Upheld.
Fred A. Coldrn. attorney for the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, said decision Of the Su-
pTeHl6 OOuEb gives pOWCh W NOHkIcoS
to enact such legislation as Is now un-
der consideration.
Mai. Malcolm A. Coles of the Federal
Trade Commission, speaking for prop
erty owners, declared the United States
Supreme Court has decided against the
contentious of riparian rights made by
property owners, using language so def
mite as to leave no doubt that lands
under the Potomac River or TO high
water mark were entitled to the United
States.
In regard to the particular property
on which the Sun OIL Co. proposes to
erect its wharves, Maj. Coles said the
character of the river bank was such
that there Is q strip Of land is to rs
feet wide owned by the Government
across which the dock would have
to be extended.
Peter @. Nice, representing the Sun
Oil Co., said he Is having data worked
up to show the effect of such legislation
on property values. He asked time to
work up his argument.
Lieut.. Col. u. s. Grant Sd, executive
officer Of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, said that the
title of the United States is we'll estab.
lished by court decisions and Is being
invaded. The Department of Justice
has been working since 1912 with sue
cess in establishing title of the United
States in all such cases brought before
the court.