Evening star., 1955-02-26
Power 10 BaIk
Belt Road Plan
Challenged
Right Of Congress
Questioned by
MeKeIdin, Sybert
By George Beveridee

MeKeldin, Sybert
By George Beveridee
Whether Congress has legal
powers to interfere with con-
struction of Maryland's proposed
inter-county belt road in Rock
Greek Park extended was the
prime question today before a
Senate committee probing the
issue.
A direct challenge Of Congress
right to intervene at this point
was laid down yesterday by
Maryland's Gov. McKeldin, At
torney General c. F. Sybert and
other State officials, backed up
by Republican Senators Beall
and Butler.
The testimony, which was re-
sumed today. came at the open
ing Of two-day hearings called
by the Senate Interior Commit
tee because Of road proposals.
immediate and long range-in
Washington and Maryland parts
of Rock Creek Park.
Restrictive Resolution.
More than a dozen witnesses
were on. hand today to urge
enactment of a resolution intro
duced by Committee Chairman
Murray which would have the
effect Of:
/. Directing the National Cap
ital Planning Commission to
withdraw approval it has given
for Maryland's belt road to ira
verse Rock Greek Park extended
between Wisconsin avenue and
Forest Glen in Maryland.
2. Requiring specific congress
sional authority for any new
road to be built within the
Washington part of Rock Creek
Park proper.
Maryland's 32-mile belt road,
proposed to encircle Washington,
passes through only about 2l2
miles of park. From a point on
the belt road outside the park,
however, long-range plans of the
Maryland Roads Commission call
for a thoroughfare to drop
southwark toward the Washing
ton part of Rock Greek Park.
Witnesses opposing the belt
road yesterday-led by Conrad
L. Wirth, National Park Service
director, and Maj. Gen. U. S.
Grant III, chairman of the
American Planning and Civic
Association-objected to the
harm the road would do to the
ribbon-like Maryland park Sec
ton.
Fear for Washington Phase.
But they made plain that a
greater fear was that the belt
road would simply serve as a
stepping stone for getting major
Maryland highway traffic routed
toward the proposed highway in
the Washington part of Rock
Creek.
Maryland officials conceded
Congress has a perfect right to
decide what's to be done in the
Washington part of the park.
But they took the position the
Maryland park extensions, de-
veloped in cooperation with the
Federal Government, are State
property.
A lengthy letter from Gov.
McKeldin, read by Roads Com
missioner Russell H. Mccain.
stressed that the park develop
ment was provided in an agree
ment between the Congress and
the Maryland Legislature, spelled
out in the Capper-Cramton Act
Of 1881. The act provided Mary
land should pay two-thirds of
the park acquisition costs and
the Federal Government one
third. It gave the National
Capital Planning Commission
the right to approve develop
ment of the parks, but vested
title to them in the State.
Expenditures Cited.
In developing Capper-Cram-
ton parks, he said, Maryland
has spent $1,602, ,o00-plus Sis
million for park Development
against a Federal expenditure of
1851 900. This includes the con-
troversial Rock Creek Park ex-
tension.
Gov. McKeldin said the pro-
posed belt road use of the park
has been developed in strict ac-
cordance with this agreement
and that the effect of the Senate
resolution was to impose diff
ferent conditions" on the Fed
eral State agreement. He con-
cluded:
THE United States is both
legally and morally bound by it's
contracts and it is not only
illegal but wrong and immoral
=. to repudiate Its obligations.
For these reasons earnestly
suggest that no change in
the long established contractual
rights of the United States and
this State ahd its citizens should
or can be made without the full
concurrence and official action
of the General Assembly of this
State and with my approval as
Governor "
Sybert Concurs.
Attorney General Sybert con-
CURED with the Governors views
in a separate statement. He
also said the Senate resolution
is premature and untimely"
since the issue of whether the
belt road constitutes a legal use
Of park lands is before the courts.
j. Bond Smith, counsel of the
Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, also
raised the same points in a