Evening star., 1944-11-22
biIbo Stadium
Bill Approved
By Senate Unit
Committee Agrees
To Amendment for
Study Of Financing


The Senate District Committee
today approved the Bilbo bill to set
up a nine-man commission to pre-
pare plans for a national stadium
here and sent 1t to the Senate for
final action.
The measure went through the
committee without dissent after
members agreed to draw up an
amendment suggested by Senator
Walsh, Democrat, of New Jersey
providing that the commission also
study means Of financing the post
war project with a view toward
making it self -lquidating.
The bill, introduced last week by
Chairman Bilbo of the District
Committee, provides that three
members of the commission be ap-
pointed by the President of the
Senate, three by the Speaker of the
House and three by the District
Commissioners. It includes an ap-
preparation of $25,0OO to cover the
costs of consulting experts and
drawing up plans for the proposed
national stadium.
No Funds Now, Tydings Says.
Senator Tydings, Democrat, of
Maryland said he approved the
idea OF building a stadium here but
asserted funds for such project
were not Immediately available. If
a public works program is estab-
lished after the war, he said, the
District would get it's share of the
funds set aside. If, for some rea-
son, funds are not available, he
said, money would have to be pro-
vided out of the Treasury, and
would merely impede recovery.
Senator Bushfield, Republican, OF
South Dakota said he believed il
was more important to provide
Fairgrounds for children in the
District than to build a stadium
Both Senators Tydings and Bush
field agreed that if a stadium is
built here, it should be self-liuui-
dating, although the Maryland leg
lslator said he believed the Gov
ernment might make some contri-
button to the initial cost.
Senator Bilbo appointed a sub
committee to draft the language of
the amendment asking the proposed
commission to study the financial
aspects of the project.
Meanwhile, another bill intended
to clear the way for the postwar
construction of the stadium was be-
fore the House today, introduced by
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee.
His Third Bill in Week.
The new measure is the third
presented by Mr.. Randolph within a
week.
The new bill, offered late yester-
day, was revision of one introduced
Monday by Mr.. Randolph to au-
thorize the Secretary of the In
terror to construct and operate the
stadium at the foot of East Capitol
street. The revision authorizes the
Secretary to acquire additional land
which may be needed for the prof.
ect, eliminates provisions for a pa
rade field, swimming pool and other
recreational facilities and changes
the name of the project from Ma
tional Stadium to National War
Memorial Stadium.
General approval Of the second
Randolph bill was voted yesterday
by the National Stadium Commit
tee. This measure authorizes the
Secretary of the Interior to dele
gate his power to operate the sta
dium to an individual or organiza-
ton. The Stadium Committee, in
approving the measure, asked that
a specific provision be added to
place the management of the sta
dium in the hands of a seven-man
commission, at least four OF whose
members would be professional or
business men and residents of the
District for at least three years.
100000 Seats Sought.
The committee also asked that the
bill stipulate the proposed stadium
shall accommodate not less than
100000 persons.
Four additional citizens associa-
tions Endorsed the project last night
They were the Lincoln Park, Cathe-
dral Heights-Clevelan Park. South
east Washington and Petworth.