Evening star., 1937-05-15
SLAUGHTER HOUSE
HEARING RECESSED
Federal Condemnation OF
Benning Site Proposed
at Hearing.

Hearings on the public-demanded
King bill restricting operations OF
slaughter houses and other nuisance
making industries in the National Cap
ital we're in recess today to give men,
bers Of the special Senate District sub
committee time off until next We'd
nesday afternoon to devote to other
pressing legislative matters.
Before the public interests virtually
rested their case late yesterday,
Charles A. Barker, representing the
Southeast Council Of Citizens Associ-
ations, proposed Federal condemna-
ton of the slaughter house site in
Benning. His idea was for Secretary
Ickes to acquire the Gobel property
and the adjoining Union Stockyards
site for addition to the P. w. A. hous-
ing project planned in the immediate
vicinity across Anacostia road. His
suggestion did not lack support.
Chairman McCarran ordered a
postponement of the hearing until
Wednesday at pm. chiefly because
the Senate Judiciary Committee votes
Tuesday on the administration bill
enlarging the Supreme Court. He and
Senator Austin, Republican OF Ver-
mont are members of the Judiciary
Committee.
Farmers to Appear
In the meantime. Senator Tydings
of Maryland, the third member OF the
District subcommittee, has arranged
for a group of Southern Maryland
farmers to appear when the hearing
reopens. They will oppose the King
bill
Public sentiment against proposed
slaughtering and rendering operations
was expressed by number OF wit
nesses yesterday. Some OF them
acuuiesced in the oft-repeated demand
OF D. Edward Clark. attorney for the
Gobel Co.. that the firm be relm-
bursed from public funds for losses
If passage of the zoning bill stops
1t from building on the site Barker's
proposal for condemnation OF the
property, however, was the first time
this question had been raised ct the
hearing.
Two Add Protests.
Evan H. Tucker, veteran leader Of
civic affairs in the northeast section,
and Miss Eileen Eppley, representing
the Federation Of Women's Clubs in
the District, added their vigorous pro-
tests against the reopening Of the
slaughtering plant
Barker said Ickes had acquired for
p w. AS Housing Division. August
from the Union Stockyards and Ana
costa road The price paid for the land
was given as S56,l32 IckeS, leading
opponent of slaughtering operations,
has repeatedly called attention to the
proximity of the Gohel site to this
proposed housing project.
Would Add to Project.
The Gobel site and the Union
Stockyards property, Barker told the
committee, would add about 10 acres
Of land to the Anacostia Terrace
project.
CORPORATION Counsel Elwood H. Seal
previously testified that the Gobel
land and improvements in Benning
were assessed at s70,776. The land OF
the Union Stockyards, New Jersey
corporation, is assessed for $58,239,
Barker said, and the Improvements
at $1,000.
AS additional reasons for the con-
demnation, he mentioned the fact
that the Federal and District Govern
ments have spent S3,250,000 in devel-
oping the Anacostia River Parkway Of
100 acres, which is now about 80 per
cent completed. Fort Dupont Park
OF some $50 acres, he said, which lies
about half a mile south OF the
slaughter house site.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, he added, Is
now developing plans for further
park improvement just northeast OF
the Gobel site, which will extend into
Maryland.
In his testimony. Tucker recalled
his 40 years of civic activity, and
related how now beautiful Potomac
just as the Government in more re-
cent years has been converting the
Anacostia fats into a parkway and
recreational area Referring to Poto-
mac Park, Tucker said:
If any one had attempted to place
slaughter house in the same
proximity to that park as this is to
the Anacostia Park, there would have
been such howl it would never have
got there"
Some Of the most important testi-
r1ony Of the day was given by Mr.
Tucker, who has been president of
the Northeast Washington Citizens
Association for many years. He ex-
planned he was appearing in his in
dividual capacity because his asso-
citation has not yet taken up the King
bill.
Cites Anacostia Work.
He then testified that 40 years ago
he was a member of committee that
studied health conditions along the
Anacostia River in connection with
the movement for reclamation of the
nats.
I'VE found eight sewers emptying
into the Anaco on the west side"
he continued "On the east side we
found the slaughter house. We dis
covered that at that time there was
an open runway or ditch that carried