Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-09-22
BY DON s. WARREN.

A denial that the United States
paid as much as rs times the as
sessed value for parcels acquired
as parts Of the 40O-acre site Of the
Pentagon-as charged by Repre-
sentative Engel, Republican, of
Michigan, in recent House speech
has been made by officials of the
Federal Works Agency.
Instead, the FWA reported in a
communication to Mr.. Engel, which
he inserted in the Congressional
Record. in two specific instances
cited by the Representative the
final awards were approximately
three times the assessed value. And
in Arlington County, both Mr.. En-
gel and the FWA agreed, assess
ments average one-third of what is
considered fair market value.
Mr.. Engel, who has conducted a
persistent one-man investigation of
alleged waste and extravaganza in
the planning, construction and f.
nancing of the mammoth Pentagon.
said he was glad to put into the
Congressional Record "a correction
of any information that was incor-
rect" He explained that the data
on land costs was not gathered by
him personally, but was obtained
under his direction.
Courts Made Awards.
Acting for Maj. Gen. Philip B.
Fleming. Federal works admins
TRAITOR; Baird Snyder, assistant adj
ministrator, stressed that not only
had impartial appraisals been made
in the land purchase cases, but that
condemnation suits had been han
died by the Justice Department, with
final awards coming through the
courts. Mr.. Snyder added: TT
should be obvious, therefore, that
the price to be paid in each case
was determined through processes
OF the court in accordance with law
and the established practices which
apply in all such cases"
Taking up instances in which Mr..
Engel had said prices paid amount
ed to rs times the assessed values,
Mr.. Snyder said:
Tract No. 53-You give the as
sessed valuation of this tract as
S240. The records in the tax Office
at the courthouse in Arlington
County, Va, show that this is as
sessed at $500 for the land and
s1,400 for the improvements, or a
total of $1,000. If therefore, the
assessed value is 80 to 40 per cent of
the actual value, as you state, and
We assume 1t to be 80 per cent, the
actual value of the tract was So
1888.
Furthermore, this tract consists
of four lots, on which there exists
a very nice one-and-one-h half story
residence Of brick and stucco con-
struction with a brick garage. In
1884 it was mortgaged for $4,7O0.
The property was appraised by four
competent appraisers. two Of whom
were representatives from other dis
interested agencies of the Govern
ment and two were independent
real estate appraisers. OF these ap-
praisals one was for $500, one for
$4,000. and two for s6,247 each. The
award was $6,250, or only slightly
more than three times the assessed
valuation instead of 26 times, as you
allege.
Cites Arlington Records.
Tract No. So: You give the as
sessed valuation of this tract as
s240. The records in the tax office
at the Arlington County Courthouse
is $500 for the land and $1,400 for
the Improvements, or a total of
$1,000. If, therefore, the assessed
value is 30 per cent of the actual
value the true value of this tract
would be $6,333.33.
This tract also consists of four
lots and has thereon a one-and-one-
half-story dwelling of brick and
stucco with a brick garage. In 1884
it was mortgaged for $4,000. 1t was
appraised by four appraisers, two
OF whom were from other dis
interested Government agencies and
two were independent real estate APP