Evening star., 1947-05-11
Hearings Slated
On Capitol Park
Hotel Measures
House Unit Reported
Against Continuing
Federal Operation
By HoroId B. ROGERS

. + Z
A House Public Buildings subcom-
mittee will open hearings this week
on dispositions Of the Governments
owned, but vacant Capitol Park
Hotel.
Representative McGregor, Repub.
lican, Of Ohio, said he hopes to get
permission from the House TO hold
afternoon sessions of the subcofn-
mittee, Of which he Is chairman,
this week. The date cannot be fixed
until permission is granted to meet
while the House Is in session.
Three different bills for DISPOSE
tion of the hotel. facing Capitol
Plaza, are before the subcommittee.
They would assign the structure to
District Court as an annex for
Office space; authorize It's use as
q dwelling for members of Congress
and their employees or direct its
sale to the highest bidder for
private operation as hotel
The consensus of the subcorn-
mittee, Mr. McGregor said, seems
to be against continuing the build
ing under Government operation.
But proponents Of all three plans
will be given an opportunity to
present their arguments, he indi-
Gated.
Dondero Wants Building Sold.
Chairman Dondero of the Public
Works Committee Is in favor of
selling the building to private enter
prise, fas provided in his pending
bill.
I'VE are losing money on it every
day." he said. II favor taking the
Government out of the hotel busi-
ness"
Mr.. McGregor went still further.
He said he favors not only selling
the Capitol Park Hotel, but also
turning back other Government
owned buildings to private owner
ship when possible.
Informal reports now before his
subcommittee, Mr.. McGregor said,
indicated that cost of reconditioning
the. hotel for use as an Office build
ing for District Court would be sex
cesSive."
Senate Bill Tabled.
A Senate bill which would have
assigned the hotel to the court has
been tabled by a Senate public build
ings subcommittee.
Meanwhile, the bill to permit the
Red Gross District Chapter to build
its new home on Government land
at Twentieth and E streets NV. was
approved unanimously yesterday by
the McGregor subcommittee. It will
be reported favorably to the house
Public Works Committee :. Tuesday
morning. Also to be reported favor
ably will be the bill to authorize sale
of water from District mains to
Falls Church, Va.
Action may be taken this week
by both the House and Senate on
bills for planning q new Federal
courthouse here. Favorable reports
on almost identical bills have been
made by the Senate and House
Public Works Committees, and the
measures are on calendars in both
chambers.
Police Bill on Calendar.
Also on the Senate calendar from
the Public Works Committee is
bill to authorize increasing the
White House police to ITO members.
A somewhat similar bill is pending
before the House subcommittee on
police of the House District Com
mittee.
Resolutions to permit erection Of
a memorial fountain in tribute to
the late Andrew w. Mellon, former
secretary of the Treasury, are be-
fore the Senate Committee on Rules
and Administration, and the House
Committee on Administration. In
the House the measure probably
will come up for consideration some
time this week before the subcom-
mittee on the library. The fountain
would be a gift from Pennsylvania
admirers of Mr.. Mellon and would
be located on a small triangle Of
ground bounded by Constitution and
Pennsylvania avenues at Sixth
street NV,