Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
FILIBUSTER HALTS
ARBORETUM BILL
Luce Says Owners of Land
Boost Price-Suspension
of Rules Fails.

Passage Oh LIe senate Dill auTnOT1ZlOg
an appropriation of 100000 for the
up and protect the National Ayboretum
at the northeast entrances to Washing
ton was blocked by a filibUster in the
House late yesterday
When Representative Schaser, Re-
publican, OF Wisconsin, refused unani-
nous consent to pass the Arboretum
bill, Chairman Haugen of the Commit
tee on Agriculture, in charge of this
legislation, moved to suspend the rules
and pass the bill. Repress ntative
SABBATH, Democrat, of Illinois, led the
filibuster and opposition to the Ar
boretum bill. He demanded the roll
call after 40 minute. of debate on the
motion of Representative Haugen.
This resulted in defeat of the pro-
posal by a vote of 199 to 152, when a
two-thirds vote was required to suspend
the rules.
First Price Was 100000.
In explaining the need for the $780,
900 appropriation, Representative Luce,
Republican, of Massachus it's, sponsor
of the bill In the House, said that when
he introduced the bill 1T was expected
that this Arboretum could be purchased
for 100000. This was cut down to
100000 and, at that time, gentlemen
in Congress were of the belief that it
might be possible to secure throughout
the District of Columbia a fairer sys-
TEN of taxation, If, by the requirements
that we should spend, for such pur-
chases as the Government wished to
make, not more than IS per cent above
the assessed value, we might bring an
influence to bear which would work
upon the assessors and secure the de-
sired result; and an amendment was
put upon the bill limiting the Depart
ment of Agriculture in the acquisition
of this land to a price IS per cent
above the assessed value.
There was then fair reason to ex-
pect that q very large part of the land
would be sold to the Government within
this figure. 1t turned out that some of
the owners from whom this had been
expected were unwilling to meet the
requirement, which brought the pur-
chaseS into difficult situation. The
department was at loss to know what
TO do, hampered as it was with the Is
per cent proviso, and as the author of
the measure I was consulted will
take the responsibility for having adj
vised the Secretary Of Agriculture to g1
ahead and get everything he could
within the IS per cent limit, and with
the knowledge, and, as ! understand,
the approval of the President, this pro-
cedure was followed.
Land Insufficient.
"The outcome is that the department
now finds itself with an irregular
shaped tract of lana, insufficient for
the needs contemplated, and right into
this land, as If you put the fingers Of
one hand through the fingers of ar
other, goes this privately-owned land,
which cannot be bought for less than
IS per cent above thu assessed value.
I'VE are assured that in the case Of
condemnation the value would be placed
at more than IS pei cent above the
assessed value.
Committee on Agriculture mas come be-
fore you, with the approval and support
of the Department of Agriculture, ask
ing that this tract be rounded out by
paying the necessary price--and think
no more-for the land we wish to
secure"
Extra IS Acres Needed.
Mr.. Luce said that the tota' amount
OF acreage desired Is 268 acres, of which
100 acres have been acquired, leaving
% acres to be purchased.
Starting his filibuster on immigration
legislation and the National Arboretum
bill, Representative SABBATH said: mo
sooner was the 100000 appropriated
sured us that he was DESTROYS of aiding
the Government Immediately raised the
price of the land"
He pointed out that the bill con-
tains a proviso that in the payment
of awards under condemnation proceed
ings, limitations in the act Of March 4,
1927, as to price based on assessed value
shall not apply"
Holds Law at Fault.
Representative Luce interrupted to
explain that "tlle law now says that
you must not pay more than IS per
cent above the assessed value. If the
condemnation price is 20 or so per
cent above the assessed value, you can
not get the land unless you change the
law. So we are up against condition
which we cannot get around"
Mr.. Luce declared, Nobody has been
able TO present a remedy for the situa-
ton which Congress itself by judicial
processes has created. The authorities
say the land Is worth much more than
IS per cent and you must either pay
1t or go without the land"
Representative Nelson of Missouri
noted that the testimony of those who
appeared as witnesses before the Com
n1ittee on Agriculture was that ''land
already possessed by the Government
has likewise increased in value, and If
We were to sell it now we could realize
a substantial profit upon it. which
would indicate that these men who
own this land have been trying to
share in the profit"
Representative Nelson Of Missouri
suggested selling this land If 1t could
be sold at a profit Representative
Hastings said that his figuring showed
$500, 900 expended for 100 acres, max
: ing an average of 81 $3.50 per acre.
Representative Adkins explained that
originally 100000 was asked. Some
of us objected to that; we thought they
could go further out and buy land more
cheaply. Then it was represented to
us that 5000, 900 would do the business.
Then 1t developed, after we had pur--
chased a lot of land. this man changed
his mind or something happened that
the land got higher in value. as it al
ways does when you want 1t for pub
lie purpose.
Congressman Luce has admitted
that situation, and we reluctantly sub
nnitted to buying the rest Of the land
at the price indicated"
CHART TO BE MADE