Evening star., 1945-02-08
Park Purchase
Wins Support Of
d. {. Committee
Senate Group Aims
| To Bor Apartment
By Buying Land
By DON s. WARREN.

Tentative approval was given
today by the Senate District Com
mittee to the Tydings- Bilbo bill di-
recting the Government to buy land
at Sixteenth and Shepherd streets
NV. for park purposes, so as to
prevent construction of an apart
ment house But final action was
deferred because nearly half the
members present questioned whether
such use OF tax funds was justified
to settle the long court battle over
the zoning.
The bill directs the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission
to buy the 2-acre tract as an
addition to the Piney Branch link
to Rock Greek Park, and Federal
funds in the Treasury would be used
to pay the price Of $72,500, which
Is Is per cent above the assessed
value.
Asks to See Property.
After some explanation of the Is.
sues, Chairman Bilbo called for a
vote and said he was in doubt when
ne got the viva voce response,
and he then asked for a roll call.
When this finally was taken it
showed Senators Bilbo, Democrat, of
Mississippi; Tydings, Democrat, of
Maryland; McCarran, Democrat.
OF Nevada; Capper, Republican, of
Kansas, and Johnston, Democrat,
of South Carolina voting aye-but
Senator Johnston said he would
want to see the property before
fnal action was taken.
Because of hesitation over the
proposal to use tax funds to settle
litigation that has been carried to
the Supreme Court and now is back
before the United States Court OF
Appeals, these Senators voted pres
ent": ODaniel of Texas, Briggs Of
missouri, Democrats, and Salton-
stall of Massachusetts, and Smith
OF New Jersey, Republicans.
Chairman Bilbo, in response to
requests from the doubtful mem
bers, announced that while the vote
technically was five to four to re-
port the bill favorably he would
not do so until the doubtful men,
bers had a chance to inspect the
property. Arrangements were made
for an inspection tour beginning at
2:30 pm. today.
Five to Make Tour,
Those expected to make the tour
were Senators ODaniel, Johnston,
Briggs, SaltonStall and Smith.
The apartment project had been
planned by Harry Poretsky, who had
contracted to buy the site from
Machen estate for $77,5OO, and SEN
ator Iydings brought out again to-
day that the site had been Zoned tc
permit apartments for some years
On learning of the Poretsky plans
however, residents of Crestwooe
NEARBY persuaded the Zoning Com.
mission to change the classification
and this took the case to the court.
and inspired an appeal to Congress.
to ban the apartment by legislation
such bill was passed last session
by the House, but 1t died in the
Senate committee and the present
bill resulted from efforts to compro-
mise the issue.
Senator ODaniel took the lead at
today's session in questioning the
land purchase move. He said he was
afraid 1t would set precedent if the
Government bought land "just to
keep an apartment from being built. "
Questions Legality Of Move.
Have we the right to spend the
taxpayers money just to settle a
court case?" he asked.
Senator Tydings said there ap-
peared to be no alternatives except
for Congress to do nothing or to
pass spot-zoning bill, and he as
serted the land was more valuable
than the proposed price.
Senator McCarran, declaring that
the bill should not be considered on
the basis of a settlement of litiga-
tion, also insisted the purchase was
well worth while" as an addition ia
Rock Greek Park.
Senator ODaniel asked what win
the Government get out of it."
Senator Tydings replied the addi-
tional park land would be used by
the people and that if it saw fit, Con-
gress later could authorize the Gov
ernment to sell the property, il
conditions warranted.
Senator Smith said he could see
the purchase of the tract would be OF
value to the holdings of the Crest
wood home owners, but he asked
why they were getting off free. Sen.
ator Tydings said he had received
reports that the Crestwood citizens
were raising fund to cut the pros.
pective losses of Mr.. Poretsky.
| Senator ODaniel still was no,
convinced, however, and he said:
| 1T seems to me to be entirely out
Iof order to spend Government money
to settle such case. Won't it open
the door to similar appeals in othe,
cases?"
i Senator Tydings said he did not
believe there was any other such
lease.