Evening star., 1944-09-19
ST. Paul S Episcopal
Acquires Counsel 10
Fight Condemnation
Perish and Residents
Of Square Protest Plan
To Erect CIV. U. Hospital

Legal counsel mas Deen retained
by st. Paul's Episcopal Church, and
a mass meeting Of residents will be
held tomorrow night at the Parish
House, 917 Twenty third street NV,
to plan measures against the con-
demnation of block square for
erection Of a 400-bed hospital for
George Washington University.
The square in question, contain
ing the church, is bounded by
Twenty Twenty-third and
I streets and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. NV.
The law firm of Whiteford, Hart
& Carmody has been engaged by the
church vestry. Two members of
the vestry, Alan B. Mills, architect,
and Wales H. Jack, junior warden
OF the church, have been authorized
to act for the vestry.
Whiteford Criticizes Plan.
Roger Whiteford, speaking for the
law firm, criticized the move to take
the square by condemnation for
erection of hospital.
The Justice Department has been
requested by the Federal Works
Agency to proceed with condemna-
ton and a so-called declaration of
taking" If necessary. FWA recently
expressed hope that the Govern
ment would gain possession of the
square by November /. Other off,
clals handling details of real estate
acquisition had indicated that resi-
dents in the square would be given
more time to locate elsewhere.
st. Paul's Church was built in
$780, One of its former rectors was
the Right Rev. Alfred Harding, for
mer Bishop of Washington. Among
its worshippers now is Lord Halifax,
British Ambassador.
Parish Terribly Disturbed"
The Rev. Arlington A. McCallum,
rector, said he had received a let
ter from Baird Snyder, acting FWA
administrator, advising the church
OF the Governments intention to
take the property. The parish of
about 300 people is terribly dis
turbed' by the proposal, the rector
declared.
The rector pointed out that the
block is densely populated and that
the residents would have difficulty
IN hndlng a new place to live.
Servicemen's Battle Cited.
! Mr.. McCallum joined with Mr..
Mills in protesting the move on be-
half OF parish members in the serv-
ice. Pointing out that there are IS
stars on the church service flag, in
cluding four gold stars, the rector
said our boys are overseas fighting
for the rights of small nations and
minorities. Will they come back to
find that the privileges which they
Won abroad have been lost to them
at home?"
Mr.. Mills challenged the moral
right" Of the Government to use
arbitrary methods under war DOW
ers. He said nearby square.
bounded by TWenty-first, Twenty.
Il second, G and H streets NV, al
ready owned by George Washington
University and now virtually vacant,
had more area than square 54 on
Washington Circle, proposed for
condemnation.
University Head Comments.
Asked for comment on the pro-
posal and action by the church and
property owners, DR.. Cloyd Heck
Marvin, George Washington Uni
versity president, confined his re-
marks to one point. The other
square, between Twenty-first and
Twenty-second, G and H streets,
had been willed to the university by
the estate of Richard Pairo with the
stipulation it should be used for
athletics and no other purpose, he
said
Officials of FWA pointed to their
recent statement that funds would
be advanced under the court pro-
cedure, so that property owners
could obtain much of their money
before they had to move.
The FWA allotted funds for ac.
QUESTION of the land and construc-
ton of the hospital under authority
OF an order signed by President
Roosevelt.