Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-06
DISTRICT MAY BUY
MARKET LOT NOW
Major Robb to Propose Plan
to Acquire Title of Rest of
Site at Low Price.

In an effort to prevent the deal for
the Southwest Farmers Produce Mar
ket from being held up by Controller
General McCarl, who already has called
upon the Commissioners for an expla-
nation OF various acts, Maj H. L. Robb,
Assistant Engineer Commissioner, said
today he would hold another confer
ence with officers of the Terminal Re-
frigeration g. Warehous Corporation,
the successful outcome of which would
make it unnecessary for the Commits
sioners to request Congress for an addi-
tional appropriation to carry out Its
mandate.
Maj. Robb said he was discussing O
proposal with the corporation officials
whereby lot No. 800 In the south square
Of the market site, which the terminal
agreed to hold two years may be ac-
quired by the District Commissioners
for a comparatively small sum.
Acquisition Would End Issue.
The doubt cast upon the legality Of
certain acts in connection with acQuisi-
ton Of the market site was based on
an informal interpretation by Controller
General McCarl of the authorization act.
The Controller General held that the
act directed the Commissioners to ac-
quire title to the whole of the two
squares involved in the market site be-
fore the streets could be closed and the
market itself placed in operation.
If the Commissioners can acquire title
to the remaining lot held by the Term
inal Co. at the price they desire, Maj.
Robb Is confident that the question OF
illegality would be erased.
With only $4,000 remaining out OF
100000 appropriation, Maj. Robh
was faced with the necessity Of elm
mating the lot in question because OF
the $32 900 condemnation price award
ed. Payment Of this sum would have
left the Commissioners unable to erect
the necessary market sheds.
Price Would Be $4,000 TO $4,000.
Maj. Robb explained today that he
has asked the terminal company to &C
cept a small offer for its lot. This sum
cannot be much in excess of $4,000 OF
$4,000 If the Commissioners are to
project. The original price asked by
the terminal company for the lot was
5000.
Maj. Robb said he believed the
terminal company wanted the market
deal to go through without q hitch and
would agree to sell the lot at a nominal
figure for the advantage it would obtain
by reason of the establishment Of q
market on the site.
There can be no question Of illegality
raised against the acceptance by the
District of such an offer, Maj. Robb
commended. Congress alone can author
ize the Commissioners to accept a gift,
but any purchase price applied to a
piece OF property, however, small, would
be strictly legal. he declared.
Hege States Legality Needs.
The lot in question is on the north
west corner of the intersection Of Tenth
and G street southwest. Edwin s.
Hege of the Committee on Markets
Federation of Citizens Associations
who first brought the negotiations 10
the attention of Controller General
McCarl, said today the market cannot
be established in conformity with the
clear, definite and mandatory provi-
sions of the legislation until the Com
missions shall have done each of the
following things:
Acquired the whole of squares Nos
354 and 355, by either purchase or
condemnation.
Tenth and Eleventh streets, to use as a
street and allocated it to use as and
for part Of the market Site
Because of changed conditions since
legislation was enacted or because OF
other considerations, Mr.. Hege pointed
out, it seemed to be the intention OF
the authorities to keep the said portion
of F street southwest In use as a
street. To carry out such an intention
without first securing additional legis-
lative authority, Mr.. Hege said, might
not only subject the market project to
successful attacks through equity pro-
ceedings. but might conceivably be hez-
ardous in other ways.
Would Ban Retail Sales.
Another feature that Mr.. Hege COM
mented upon is the limitation on the
use of the project to "a wholesale
farmers produce market" It is under
stood the Commissioners intend to
encourage retail transactions also in
connection with the complete market
If Congress had intended the market
for both wholesale and retail transac-
tons, Mr.. Hege contended, it could, and
probably would, have expressed such
intention specifically in the act.