Evening star., 1949-03-29
Congress Asked
Topfobe Deal
On nGo|fCourses
Interiors Authority
To Accept LeoffIer
Loan Questioned

IA OClndl1O 1OI dIl 11lQUlTy lIlIO
the authority of the Interior De-
partment to accept an advance of
funds from S. G. Leoff1er + the
construction of golf course facili-
ties here was made today at the
opening of hearings by the House
Public Lands Subcommittee on
operation of public golf courses.
The demand came from Repre-
sentative Rivers, Democrat, of
South Carolina.
MIR. Leoff1er, who has operated
the courses for % years as con-
cessionaire for the Interior De-
partment, put up more than
100000 for construction of a
clubhouse at Fort Dupont and two
miniature golf courses at Langston
and Anacostia. AS a result of the
advance. the Interior Department
promised him his contract would
be renewed so he could be repaid
out Of the receipts.
Authority Questioned. a
Mr.. Rivers declared: +
II advise the subcommittee to
investigate and inquire into the
basis for the authority of the
Interior Department to enter into
such an agreement in which the
credit of the United States is
undertaken to be pledged to any
individual or corporation without
specific delegation from Congress"
Mr.. Rivers is the sponsor of a
bill which would prevent the In
terror Department from signing a
contract for the operation of the
golf courses here without con-
gressional authority. The South
Carolinian was the first witness
called by Chairman Redden, Dem
ocrat, of North Carolina.
Representative Peterson, Demo-
crat. OF Florida, who heads the
Public Lands Committee and is a
member of the special subcommit-
tee, told Mr.. Rivers that until
mately" Congress is going to have
to work out a policy on conces-
sions for the Interior Department.
In his testimony, Mr.. Rivers said
"in some quarters" there have
been serious allegations that large
sums Of money have been realized
as a result Of partiality to the
present concessionnairie." He said
his only interest was to see that
the public received value from the
park facilities.
Park Service Official Testifies.
The second witness in the brief
hearing, which adjourned at IL
am. because of a House session,
was A. E. Demaray, associate di-
rector of the Interior Depart
ment's National Park Service. He
told the subcommittee the park
service welcomed the investiga-
ton and was glad of the oppor-
tunity to refute allegations from
irresponsible persons designed to
embarrass the present concession
naire." He said he thought Mr.
Leofler should be commended for
his operation of the courses.
Mr.. Demaray said that the In
terror Department believes it does
have the authority to give con-
tracts to concessionnaires under
broad powers granted 1t by Con-
gress some years ago. He said
that Congress had not prescribed
q policy, but had left the whole
matter up to the Interior Secre-
tary.
The subcommittee ordered the
Interior Department and Mr..
Leoffler to produce full financial
reports" before the next session
was held. This date has not been
set.
Among those present in the
crowded hearing room were Harry
S. Wender, president of the Dis
trict Recreation Board, which is
interested in getting the golf con-
tract away from MIR. Leoff1er; Ray
C. Alvis, who represents the
Cleveland Concession Co., another
group interested in the golf con-
tract, and Irving c. Root, super
intendent of National Capital
Parks. All of these probably will
be called as witnesses before the
hearings are ended.
Mr.. Leoff1er's last contract ex-
pired on December 81 and since
then he has been running the golf
courses without any signed agree
ment.
C.. Girard Davidson, Assistant
Interior Secretary, announced
earlier this month that he in
tended to renew Mr.. Leof1er's
contract for a f1ve-year period,
partly because of the promise to
Mr.. Leof1er. The contract has
not been signed yet.
NJ. unII Ia cr.nd Inn,