Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-01
D. c. MARKET DEAL
OPEN TO QUESTION
Commissioners Admit Plan
to Acquire Site May
Prove Illegal.

In their zeal to carry out a mandate
OF Congress directing the acquisition oil
the site in Southwest Washington Tor
wholesale farmers produce market
the District Commissioners admitted
today that they have entered into
financial arrangement with the Ter
minal Refrigerating g. Warehousing
Corporation, the propriety If MOI eNe
legality of which is open to dispute.
Company Anxious to Help.
The refrigerating company. being Just
as anxious to see the market site deal
20 through as the Commissioners are
to acquire Il within the limitations OF
a restricted appropriation, it was ex-
planned, has agreed to make 1t finan-
cially possible for the District govern
ment to acquire title TO a privately
owned lot in one of the two squares
arisen. The District Commissioners
discussed this arrangement pro and
con- because 1t might be construed as
a gift" Maj. H. L. Robb. Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner in charge OF ne
gotiations, said in explanation. After
considering It thoroughly. they were
OF the opinion that the acceptance Of
the offer OF the refrigerating company
would be a benefit to the District"
A condemnation price OF $4,558.28 was
applied to this lot, number 804 in
square 355. The owner Of the property
demanded Sl2. $40, which was Just twice
the amount Of its valuation of $4,000
made by the witness for the District
government Odring the condemnation
proceedings Dissatisfied with the con-
demnation verdict, the owner has taken
an appeal.
Balance to Be Paid.
The acquisition OF this lot at what
the District regards as a reasonable fig
ure would leave a balance Of $4,000
out Of the 100000 appropriated by
Congress for the construction Of i'm
provements and the market sheds.
Fearing the final award in the ap-
peal would place prohlbitive price
on the lot, the refrigeratiry company
has made arrangements whereby 1t
would make up the difference in any
increased price which may eventually
be awarded.
If the verdict on the appeal is from
81, 900 to $4,000 above the original con-
demnation price, as is often the case in
such matters" Mai Robb said, the
refrigerating company, which is ad-
mlLteQly Interested IN having the mar
ket established on these two squares,
has agreed to make up the difference.
1t is an arrangement whereby the Dis
trict taxpayers would benefit and that
is why We have agreed to it
The refrigerating company which IS
located close to the terminal of the Penn
sylvania Railroad, is holding portion Of
the south square. which it owns. for a
period of two years until the Commits
sionerS can get q further appropriation
from Congress.
Arrangement Questioned.
Edwin S. Hega OF the Federation Of
Citizens Associations. in letter to the
Commissioners. questioned the legality
of this arrangement after the facts had
been made public in Sundays Star. He
was supported by an informal opinion
rendered by Controller General McCarl,
who held that Congress specifically
dill acted that the whole of the two
squares be acquired by condemnation or
purchase, before the streets are closed
and the market is erected.
Admittedly skimming on thin legal
ice, the Commissioners. however. in
tend to stand by their guns and take a
chance that Congress will pull them out
Of the hole with small additional APP
preparation after next year.
Meanwhile. Maj. Robb said, the re-
frigerating company is preparing To
grade this lot ct its own expense and
put it in readiness for use whenever
the District has the available money
to pay for it.