Evening star., 1944-11-05
u. 5. Takes Title
ToLand Sought
As Hospital Site
$742, 400 Deposited
For Owners Pending
Final Court Ruling


Circle for a new 400
bed George Washington University
Hospital, the Government yesterday
deposited s742,4OO in District Court.
the money to be made available to
property owners, including st.
Paul's Episcopal Church unless the
church fight against condemnation
Of the property is blocked in court.
st. Paul's, at GIT Twenty third
street NV, is listed in the Gov
ernment's estimate at $4,000: the
Plaza Apartment, on Washington
Circle, the largest piece of property
in the square. is listed at $4,000.
For all alleys in the block, the Gov
ernment offers the District 81, the
smallest figure in the list.
The fund is an estimate of the
value OF the property, fixed by ex-
pert appraisers. Final prices to be
paid would depend on agreements
between the Government and prop
erty owners, or on findings of con-
demnation jury If the estimated
prices are protested.
Fleming Takes Action.
The Government action was taken
by Maj. Gen. Philip B. Fleming.
Federal Works Administrator, when
the Justice Department, acting as
counsel, filed in court a so-called
declaration of taking" under the
District condemnation law. This
procedure has been used for years
in acquisition of property here for
Government use.
Vigorous opposition to condemna-
tion of the square has been raised
in court by st. Paul's and some
other private property owners, who
now have pending before Justice
Jesse C. Adkins, suits attempting to
block the project.
Many of the property owners in
the block, however, are ready to
sell, and will procede with negotia-
tions to get their money as soon as
possible, it was learned.
No final settlements can be made
between the Government and prop
erty owners until Justice Adkins
rules on several questions of law
now involved in suits brought against
the Government. These questions
include constitutionality of the
Lanham Act under which S2,700,000
has been allocated for the project.
st. Paul's Church already is
planning to appeal one adverse de-
cision rendered by Justice Matthew
MCGUIRE, and will appeal from any
adverse decision by Justice Adkins,
according to Roger J. Whiteford,
counsel for the church and some
other property owners.
Condemnation Right Protested.
The church and other plaintiffs
claim the Government has no right
to condemn private property to
build hospital for the purpose of
turning it over to George Washing
ton University. The Government at
first planned to build the hospital on
the basis of grant to George Wash
ington University, but later amended
its plan to build the hospital, keep
title in the United States, and lease
the institution to the university for
five years with option to buy.
Unless Justice Adkins blocks the
Government, the customary pro-
cedure would be followed Negotia-
tions could be completed between
the Government and those who
want to sell. A condemnation jury
of five men would be set up, and
hearings held in court on all pieces
of property on which no agreement
had been reached.
Arrangements are being made
tentatively to speed payment of
money now in court to property
owners who want to sell, according
to Robert r. Macleod, Justice De-
partment attorney, handling the
case for the Government. No final
settlements will be made, however,
until the Government is assured of
possession of the entire block, be-
cause a portion of 1t would be of
no use for the hospital, it was ex-
planned.
Appeal Forms No Bar.
If Justice Adkins rules in favor
of the Government on points of law
involved, an appeal by the protest.
ing church and property owners
would not stop the Government
from getting actual possession of
the square, attorneys agreed.
Property owners who want to sell
may call at the Justice Department,
Room 2545, Mr.. Macleod announced,
to make applications for settlement.
Evidence Of title will be necessary.
Arrangements are being made for
property owners to get the necessary
certificates of title at Government
expense. Some of these certificates
might be available in about a week,
1t was said. If and when final settle
ment can be effected. however, de-
pends on the ruling of Justice
Adkins in the pending case. Mean
while the Government has set De-
cember l as the date when property
owners must vacate.
The estimated prices fixed on
properties in the square were based
on expert appraisals.
Other prices follow: 2218 Washing
ton Circle, sl8,500; 1920 Washington
Circle, s14,25o; 2222 Washington Cir
Gle, s145o0; 937 Twenty-third street,
$l4,650; 933 Twenty-third street,
$4,000; 923 Twenty-third street,
$1,000; 923 Twenty-third street
(reaD, $4,000; Oil Twenty third
street, $10,500: 909 Twenty-third
street, $4,000; GOT Twenty-third
street, $11,500; 905 Twenty third
street, $4,000; 903 Twenty-third
street, $4,000; 2219 street, $13,4O0;
2213, 2215, 2217 I street, $29, $50; 2211
I street, 1880; 2209 street, $500;
2207 street, $1,000; 2205 I street,
$13,500; 902 Twenty second street,
$4,000; 904 Twenty-second street,
$4,000; 906 Twenty-second street.
$4,000; 908 Twenty street,
a