The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-04-09
Wilcox Predicts Restoration
OF Key West Naval Station
Representative From This
District Expects Pas
sage Of Legislation By
Congress This Session
Rv PAUL MAY

Especial Washington Correspondent
of The CitiZen1
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 9
Restoration of activity at tn
Key West Naval base, if not un
der the Navy department, theI
under some other government
agency, was predicted today b.
Representative Mark Wilcox.
Failure of such restoration viii
mean that the base will be turneC
back to the city by the navy de
partment, but this is an unlikel,
alternative, MIR. Wilcox said.
In any event, the congressman
expects passage at this session oil
Congress, of legislation specifically
providing for disposition of the
Key West base.
This legislation will be spon-
sored by Wilcox, he said, and vii
be based on results of the hearing
to be held by the House naval al
fairs committee on possible alter
natives for disposition Of the
base. The hearing has been de
layed by illness on the committed
staff, but will probably be helC
some time next week, Wilcox said
Discussing the Forthcoming
hearing, Mr.. Wilcox revealed that
he had given the Navy depart
ment an ultimatum concerning
the Key West base. The ulti
matum was, "either agree to put
the base to some use, or turn il
back to the city"
Urges Some Action
81 told them the base should be
put to some good use if it is to be
retained, the congressman said
81 told them if they didn't want
it, to give it to some other gov
eminent agency that did; and il
no such agency could be found
then to give it back to the city
Of course, they said they didn'1
want to do that. SO it's up tt
them to tell the committee what
they do want to do with it,"
Wilcox said he had no par
ticular agency in mind to which
he wanted the base turned ovel
in the event the navy department
will not agree to restoring it tt
service. 81 simply want to SCI
the government put some mer
down there, and restore our pay
rolls, he declared.
He pointed out that the Navy
department has refused on sew
eral different occasions to ap
prove some particular use tt
which we wanted the Key West
base put, and said he had urged
upon the naval affairs committee
the argument the department
must either admit it no longer
had any use for the base, or else
come forward with a. suggestion
of its own for use Of the base
This idea the committee has
adopted, the congressman said
and will form the basis of the
hearings.
The base is going to seed
without proper care at the pres,
ent time, Wilcox said. and pre-
sents liability which might wei
be turned into an asset with pro
per handling.
Going To Call Bluff
He said the Navy department
''has turned down all our pro
posals for use OF the base, anC
now must either put up or shut
up.
"We're going to call their
bluff, he said. "and make then
tell us what they will do with the
base. instead OF just telling u.
what can't be DONE.
He said he based his prediction
that the base will be in some wa!
restored to activity on the belle.
that the department. viii not b
willing to part with it, and tina
the committee will agree that The
only alternative in progressive ust
of the base in some manner.
''I'm going to be at that hear
ing. making all the noise / can"
Wilcox declared. "Als soon as it:
over, I'm going to introduce {
bill embodying the findings of the
committee; and I think we'll have
no trouble in putting the bill
through at this session."