Evening star., 1948-05-26

IVuuy
House Group Unable
To Detuch Item From
Top Priority Bill
The $4,000 900 airfield proposal
for the Naval Academy at Annapolis
will get reluctant House Rules
Committee approval today, only be-
cause the project cannot readily be
from a $208, 900 900 top
Navy measure, members
said. ...-.
Storm center of q controversy In
the Annapolis Baltimore Washing
ton area for more than year, 1t
caused a bitter debate in the Rules
Committee yesterday afternoon.
It's principal advocate, Repre-
sentative Bates, Republican. of
Massachusetts,, asserted most oppo-
sition came from nearby summer
residents, who apparently put their
own convenience and happiness
above the security requirements OF
the country"
Necessity Questioned.
Several Rules Committee members
questioned the immediate necessity
Of such flight indoctrination facil-
tiles for midshipmen and acquisition
of 2,40O acres of land at this time.
They tried unsuccessfully to per-
suade Mr.. Bates to introduce the
Annapolis project as a separate bill.
The committee later decided In ex-
ecutive session to vote on the over
all bill this afternoon. Chairman
Allen predicted the committee Will
send it to the House.
He added that the Naval Academy
airfield project. q proposed $20o,0 ,0oo
chapel for the Naval Medical Center
at Bethesda and provision for
50 ,OOO, 900 for family quarters for
Navy officers would encounter OPP
position on the floor. House debate
may start Friday.
The bill to authorize buildings ana
facilities at many Navy installations
throughout the United States and
in Alaska, Guam and other overseas
areas does not specifically designate
site for the Naval Academy air.
field. The Nays reported plan is
to acquire land along Chesapeake
Ray near Sandy Point and the Ma
gothy River, a short distance north
east of the academy.
Groups File Protests.
Protests were received by the
Armed Services Committee and the
Rules Committee from groups In
Baltimore and other parts of Mary
land. Mr.. Bates declared Annap-
oils city officials and civic organiza-
tions approved the project, which
was first authorized in 1943 but post
poned during the war.
Mr.. Bates disclosed that the Navy.
after sitting area requests for ST..
500 ,0OO,0 900 in installation projects,
asked for a 100000, 900 program
for the fiscal year. This was re-
duced to $250,OO0 900 by the Budget
Bureau and trimmed to about $207,-
O0o, 900 by the Armed Services Com
mittee.
The committee had approved q
5000 ,689, 500 total, of which $lB,-
t756 500 would go for overseas work.
It cut the total to about $208, 49,, 500
this week by revising proposed al
lowances for officers housing.
The Naval Academy airfield pro-
posal, Mr.. Bates told the Rules
Committee, Is mo. S on a list Of
some 500 top-priority Navy building
projects"
Representatives Harness, Repub-
lican, of Indiana opened the sharp
questioning by asking If the $l2,-
OOO, 900 isn't just a beginning" and
whether the plans call for lux
urious swimming, pools and officers
quarters.
Admits Drawings "Grandiose."
Conceding that original archi-
tect's drawings were rather gram
diose," Mr.. Bates explained the
$4,000, 900 not only is essential now.
but would cover all needs for the
future.
/ Mr.. Harness wanted to know why
the academy could not give basic
air training at Andrews Field or
the Patuxent Naval Air Station, Mr..
Bates replied those places are too
far from the academy and in other
respects not suitable for the type
of training necessary.
Il Representative Sasscer, Democrat.
Of Maryland, whose congressional
district includes the area in ques-
ton, declared there would not
have been any opposition in Con-
gress to this proposal If 1t hadn't
been for a well-financed lobby that
has been publishing lots of propa-
ganda."
He said the opposition centered
!. among highly influential residents
of Gibson Island, located across the
river from the Sandy Point section.
This propaganda has been pri-
marily against the site and not
against the project" he added.
:. Van Zandt Urges Approval.
| Representative Van zandt, Re-
publican, of Pennsylvania urged
approval of the airfield proposal. He
said 1t had been approved not only
by six Navy Investigating Boards in
recent years but also by four Con-
gressional Boards of Visitors to the
Naval Academy.
Another heated exchange occurred
when Mr.. Harness said he doubts
the advisability of spending $205, 900
; for chapel at the Bethesda Med
ical Center, especially If existing
auditorium facilities Can be used.
when Christianity Is under fire
throughout the world" Mr.. Bates
exclaimed, II certainly don't want
to take the responsibility Of limiting
religious services. The present facil-
tiles for religious worship at
Bethesda are not only inadequate.
They are a disgrace"
Hearing Branches Out.
The hearing branched out into
other aspects Of the proposed build
ing program and to the general
international situation.
Asked by Representative Riley,
Republican, of Oklahoma about the