Evening star., 1951-12-14
Planners Seek
Tokeep Veto on
DC. Land Sales
Move to Retain
1889 Law Under
Reorganization
BY Nelson M. Shepard

By Nelson M. Shepard
Federal planners were expecte,
to adopt a motion today opposin
any change in the 1899 law unde
which the District Commissioner
must first obtain their approva
before disposing of any city-wid
real estate.
They were given details of tn,
contemplated attempt to depriv'
them Of a coveted veto authorit,
over such transactions by Col
Thomas j. Hayes III, assistan
engineer Commissioner. He at
tended yesterdays meeting in al
ex-offlcio capacity. representing
the District Commissioners.
Col Hayes was questioned b.
the National Capital Park ant
Planning Commission about re.
ported proposals in the plan fol
reorganizing the District govern.
ment that would affect present
policy in land matters under tn,
Capper- Cramton Act. He said il
is apparent that the city head.
are considering such proposals
which would take this veto power
away from NCPPC. Assurance.
were given. however, that the Dis.
trict heads have not yet acted or
the matter.
Congress Delegated Power.
Before 1899. the District Com
miSsionerS were unable to dispose
Of any land, except by a special
act of Congress. That year Con-
gress empowered them to sell CITY,
owned land. provided such trans
actions were approved by the
planning commission. Director
John Nolen, jr, of NCPPC ex-
planned the purpose was to make
it impossible for public land to be
sold. If any branch Of the District
government needed it.
The reorganization proposal. as
was explained, is designed to make
the planning agency merely an
adviser to the Commissioners in
real Setate sales.
After Col. Hayes explanation Of
what is being contemplated. the
planning commission directed its
staff to draw up a resolution set
ting forth the Federal policy un-
der the Capper-C -Cramton Act fir
presentation at today's --ag.
Other attempts are being .iade, it
was said. to deprive NCPPC of
some of is authority under this
21-year-old act, by which the
agency has bought land needed
for school and playground pur-
poses in the city. These matters
also may be covered in the resolu-
tion.
Initial steps were taken by the
planners yesterday to transfer a
portion of the National Guard
Rifle Range at Camp Simms. in
Southeast Anacostia, to the Ma
tional Park Service for an extern
sion Of the Oxon Run parkway.
Approval Of the Army Depart
ment and the District Commis-
eioners must be obtained before
this can be done.
Range Breaks Route.
Oxon Run parkway now stops
at one side of the rifle range and
picks up again on the other side.
The idea Is to extend it through
that portion of the property.
The land desired lies between
Mississippi avenue and Valley
avenue, which parallel the exist
ing parkway. This would make
possible the extension of these
two avenues from South Capitol
street to the District line south
of the Suitland parkway. Also
involved In the plan is a pro-
vision for extending Stanton road
through a portion Of the range to
Valley avenue.
A further study Of Montgomery
County land acquisitions for the
George Washington Memorial
parkway was ordered. after gen.
eral discussion of appraisal values
Playground Transfers Approved.
Approval was given for the
transfer of areas at the Reservoir
Playground from the District to
the Park Service to enlarge the
playground on Macarthur boule-
ward. Part of the property be-
longs to the Washington Aque-
duct.
The commission adopted recon-
mendations of its co-ordinatine
committee to defer the sale of two
old public schools. The reason fol
not authorizing the sale Of the
Jones School at this time is that
it is in the heart of the Northwest
redevelopment area. In the In.
terim, 1t is believed the land car
be used for automobile parking
It is also zoned first commercial
The Corcoran School. in George.
town, should not be sold until tht
zoning questions involving it car
be resolved, the commission held
These involve the depth of com
mercial property on M street Il
protect residential properties OF
both sides of Twenty-eighth street
Regional highway matters wer,
discussed with Sam Harrison
chairman of the Regional High
way Planning Committee.
Mr.. Harrison clarified the atti
tude of the District Highway De-
partment toward the location O
the East-West portion of tn
Southwest freeway at the connect
ing ends of the South Capito
Street and Highway Bridges.
He made it clear that Distric
road officials have not yet made ,
decision on the leg of the 1nne
Loop highway that will connec
with the Southwest freeway, re
gardless of reports to the con
trary. The commission had beer
asked by the District Land Re
development Agency to look care
fully into this matter, as tn
Inner Loop is planned to run