Evening star., 1938-04-21
BILL SEEKS PARK
ON GOBEL SITE
Copeland's Measure Would
Acquire Slaughter House
Property for Park.

Senator Copeland. Democrat. of New
York was seeking support today for a
bill he has introduced authorizing
the purchase of the old Benning
slaughter house site by condemning 1t
for park purposes.
This is the property owned by Adolf
Gobel, Inc, of New York, which finally
was blocked in it's efforts to erect an
enlarged meat slaughtering and rem
dering plant on the site at 300 Ben
ming road NE, which has been the
subject of public controversy for
nearly two years. The District Com
missioners on January IL. last, ruled
the company's building permit had
expired. Since then counsel for the
Gobel Co. have been in repeated con-
ferences with Federal officials with a
view to Government acquisition of the
site.
Senator Copeland opposed very
strongly the use of the Robel property
for slaughter house purposes when
that was an issue before the Senate
District Committee last summer. At
that time he said he was in favor
OF the Government paying for the site
in recognition of the admitted legal
rights of the Gobel firm.
Ickes Backing Reported.
He introduced the bill late yesterday
at the request of Gobel counsel and
with the understanding. he said, that
Secretary of the Interior Ickes was
favorable to it. 1t will be referred
by the Senate District Committee to
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission and the Interior
Department for recommendations.
Interior Department officials with
held approval of the Copeland bill as
they have not had an opportunity to
study it. Some seemed to think the
measure would serve better purpose
If the site were condemned for pub
lie use" instead of park purposes.
Suggestions have been made at the
Capitol hearings. it was reminded,
that the Gobel site would be more
suitable for Government warehouse
than a park or playground.
The question Of payment, they said,
is a different matter entirely. Fed
cral officials would not oppose rea-
sonable payment but the source of
the revenues involves a question they
are not now prepared to discuss.
Senator Copeland said he believed
satisfactory way would be found.
The site in question is on the east
bank of the Anacostia River imme-
diately south of the Benning Viaduct
Bordering it is the property of the
Union Stockyards, owned by another
company but chiefly dependent on the
Gobel firm for most of its business.
Would Acquire Yards, Too.
II the slaughter house property is
to be acquired by the Government
officials said today, the purchase should
include the pens and acreage of the
adjoining Union Stockyards, owned by
other interests. No such provision was
made, however, in the Copeland bill
The National Capital Park and Plan
nlng Commission, it was said, could
purchase the site only in the event
that the Budget Bureau and Congress
approved a separate appropriation
There are no provisions for it in the
purchases OF park lands for the coming
hscal year under The Capper-Cramton
Act.
purchase under that act, it was
pointed out, are made from District of
Columbia funds. which brings up an
other question regarding payment for
tire Gobel site. District officials have
long contended that if Congress wishes
TO reimburse the Gobel Co. for its
losses the payment should be made
from Federal funds.