Evening star., 1949-06-03
McGroth Wins Senote
Approval Without
LocoI Fund-Motchinq
r. HoroId 4 Rnosre
By Harold B. Rogers

Chairman Cannon Of the House
Appropriations Committee.
Meantime. the Executive Com
mittee of the Sesquicentennial
Commission was TO meet this
morning to consider its financial
situation.
Edward Boykin, commission d.
rector. said that III we get 2.000.- =
900. we're going to have a good
celebration" and added his belief
that the House will support the
appropriation.
Spirited Debate.
The Senate wrote in the funds
after spirited debate on the floor
The $4,000 900 was a compromise
between the Senate Appropriations
Committee item of $1,500, 900,
which required matching private
funds. and $4,000, 900 with no
strings attached" which was asked
by Chairman McGrath OF the
Senate District Committee. The
$2,000,000 would not require
matching funds.
The compromise was proposed
by Senator Robertson. Democrat,
of Virginia. 1t was approved by
voice vote.
Senator McGrath made strong
plea for the funds. pounding his
desk, and insisting that the money
would be in the nature of loan
because the exposition is expected
to pay its expenses and probably
make a profit.
The Appropriations Committees
position was defended by Chair
man McKellar and Senator Sal
tonstall, Republican. of Massachu-
sets.
Testimony Cited.
Senator Saltonstall quoted at
length from hearings before both
the House and Senate Appropria-
tions Subcommittee to support his
contention that IS 900, 900 was not
justified by testimony submitted by
officials of the Sesquicentennial
Commission.
When the commission came to
the Senate with a $3.000.000
budget backed by the President
and Budget Bureau. Senator Sal
tonstall said, the estimate for
buildings was more than $4.90O-
600 and operating costs were put
at more than $2,73s.000 for a
total of more than $1,000, 900.
Prospects for revenue submitted
were not sufficient to cover the
costs, Senator Saltonstall said
and he feared that further re-
quests for Federal funds would be
forthcoming.
Senator McGrath contended
that the exposition, as a demon
stration of progress by this coun-
try and a proclamation to the
world of the benefits Of democ-
racy, would be a profitable en-
terprise."
Sees lo,OOo,Oo Admissions.
He predicted it would draw
l0, ,000,0 900 admissions at so cents
each. Furthermore. he said in
dustries of the country already
had indicated eagerness to par
ticipate with exhibits for which
they will pay rent and that several
State legislatures already had ap-
propriated funds to support the
fair.
Insisting that the sesquicenten-
nial could not be considered a
municipal affair. Senator Nc
Grath said that Washington mer-
chants and District people should
not be called to pay the cost.
This Freedom Fair is for the
honor and glory of the whole
United States" he asserted. 1T is
to commemorate the laying Of the
cornerstone Of our National Capt.
tal."
Cites Other Contributions.
Contributions to expositions
have been made by Congress fol
many years. Senator McGrath
said. referring to long list
which had previously been put
into the hearing records.
In passing the deficiency bill
the Senate made no change in
any of the many items for the
District government. totalling
81, ,759 1858, an increase Of $203 ATS
over the House-approyed figure
Among the funds are: $36, $500
for the city assessor to set up a
sales tax division to administer
the new levy. and $26.175 for
salaries for the rest Of this fiscal
year for employees of Rent Control
Administrator Robert r. Cogswell
The next payday for these
workers is Tuesday. Mr.. Cogswell
said, and unless money is avail
able the employees win have gone
without five weeks salary.