Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-25
Truman Orders
|Studyon Buying
Virginia Land
Protest by Tuck,
Presidents Answer
Disclosed in Suit

President Truman has ordered a
study to determine the necessity Of
continued acquisition of land in Wiz.
ginia by the Federal Government.
This was disclosed in an exchange
OF letters between the President and
Gov. Tuck of Virginia, filed in the
Federal District Court In Alexan-
dria. The letters were filed as part
OF a defendants answer to a Gov
eminent condemnation suit for
property owned by John E. Fowler
at Rosslyn, Va. The defense answer,
including these two letters, however,
was ordered stricken earlier this
week by Judge Sterling Hutchinson.
President Truman's letter was
written in response to a letter of
Gov. Tuck dated July Il. In the
letter. the Governor said that "the
acquisition of land in Virginia BY
the Federal Government has reach
ed such proportions that it is a mat
ter OF concern to the Commonwealth
of Virginia"
Sees SOlvency Jeopardixed.
I'm April, 1913, this matter was
taken up with the Secretaries of
War, Navy and Interior by men Of
Congress from Virginia." the letter
said. AT that time, they observed
that further Federal ownership ex-
pansion in some counties of Virginia
would sorely tax those counties
ability to maintain solvency in their
local governments"
The Governor pointed out the sit
uation was especially acute in
Arlington, Fairfax, Stafford, Caro-
line, York, Warwick, Norfolk and
Princess Anne Counties.
Gov. Tuck said a procedure was
suggested that called for confer
ence between Federal and State
officials before further acquisition
OF land by the Federal Govern
ment.
Response to this suggestion was
agreeable and encouraging" the
Governor wrote. He said a plan
OF this type actually was worked
out with the War Department.
Secretary of War Stimson, he said,
established policy that no fur
ther acquisition of private property
in Virginia would be made by the
War Department without first con-
sulting the Governor of Virginia
and the chairman of the Virginia
Conservation Commission"
Told Acquisitions Continue.
eve expected to be consulted, but
a search of the records fails to dis
close that either this office or the
VOC were consulted in recent War
Department acquisitions of private
property" the Governors letter
continued.
i The Governor said he had been
"credibly informed that acquisi-
tons by the War Department con-
tinue, despite your (the President's)
proclaiming the cessation of hostili-
ties December 81, 1916, and the at
tendant widespread declaration OF
surplus real estate by the War De-
partment."
Gov. Tuck in conclusion suggested
the President initiate a review of
the actual necessity for pending
acquisitions and issue an expression
of policy with respect to all future
acquisitions in the State of Viz
ginia.'
Study Being Made.
President Truman's reply dated
August 20 acknowledged the Gov
ernor's letter and said: II am pleased
to advise you that I am having a
study made of this situation with
special emphasis placed upon ascer-
tanning the actual necessity of the
continuing acquisition of land by
the Federal Government"
The investigation is new de-
velopment in the drive of many
State legislators to work out a plan
whereby Federally- owned land is
taxable. It has been their conten-
ton that continued acquisition OF
land by the Federal Government is
eating up local real estate tax
reVertlleS