Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-15
Two Groups Agree to Dove
tail Plans for BiCenten-
NAL Celebration.
SOME EVENTS TO HAVE
PHASES OVER COUNTRY
Certain Days, However, to Be Left
Entirely in Hands of Dis
trict Committee.

From now on the official National
Commission arranging for the George
Washington Bicentennial Celebration
next year and the official District OF
Columbia Commission arranging for the
local celebration in the National Capt.
tai are to work in harmony, co-opera-
ton and coordination with distinct
understanding of the lines of demarca-
ton between the activities of each
group.
This was announced today by Sena-
tor Fess of Ohio, the active chairman
of the National Committee, following a
conference yesterday between members
of the National and District commits
sions. The lines of demarcation were
fixed anicably in conference, with a
distinct understanding of what are to
be considered national events and
which are local celebrations. There are
some features of the national events in
which it was agreed that the national
and local committees should cooperate.
Senator FeSs explained that some fric-
ton was said to exist between the two
commissions due to the fact that there
had never been a definite program ar
ranged for the National Capital celebra-
ton, and that in view OF that the local
commission was going ahead making
some arrangements that overlapped the
work of the National Committee in sew
eral features. The conference showed,
he said, that both committees are de-
sirous of working in harmony.
Considered National Event.
For example, the local committee had
arranged, he said, tentative program
for February % celebration, which en-
braced many activities some of which
must be considered national in scope.
This entire program was gone over and
each item discussed, so that the work
of both commissions might be dove
tailed together and there might not
be any danger of crossing of wires.
It was decided that the February %
celebration with the President partici-
pating must be considered national
event under the auspices of the national
commission. The national features in
clude the dedication and opening OF
the new Arlington Memorial Bridge and
the Mount Vernon Boulevard How
ever, as the local committee had gone
ahead on certain features in salts
factory manner it was decided that the
proposed ball should be arranged joint
". It was decided also that the music
programs on which the local committee
has already taken some definite action
should also be developed co-operatiVely.
The Percy McKaye Masque event was
1ntrusted 10 the local commission.
Many items on the proposed program
for February % were left open Tor 'fu-
ture consideration at subsequent meet
ing to be held the latter part OF TINS
month when Senator FeSS returns to
Washington.
Several Local Programs.
The celebration Of certain other
days. 1t was decided, should be left in
the hands Of the local commission, just
as those same days are to be celebrated
in other communities throughout the
country. These include Flag day,
THANKSGIVING and the Fourth of July.
Each community Is to have its own
local celebration on these days, although
the programs will be somewhat stand
ardized through suggestions made by
the national commission.
1t was agreed that a day should be
set aside for celebrating the restoration
of Arlington House, in Arlington Ma
tional Cemetery, as a national rather
than a local event. The date April 80
WIS tentatively considered.
Mans were also discussed for a spe-
cial national celebration of March 4,
the day on which the President takes
office, to honor the Office of Chief Ex-
ecutive, because George Washington
first held that Office. This is to be in
charge of the National Commission.
The celebration of Mothers day is
left open for future consideration. Sen
ator Fess is to confer with the Presi-
dent on this subject. 1t is proposed
to have a national celebration at the
home of Mary Ball, Washington'S
mother in Fredericksburg, with the ex-
ercises broadcast over Nationwide
hook-up, so that this event would have
national significance.
It was agreed that the National Edu-
caticn Association, when holding its
convention here next year, is to be guest
OF George Washington University.