Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-12-28

LAPCIICu VVCI
Full Publicity
Boykin Acts to Halt
Mysterious Shopping
For Work on Fair
Full publicity for its activities,
particularly letting of contracts
and concessions, will be consid-
cred by the Executive Committee
Of the National Capital Sesqui-
centennial Commission Friday.
Edward Boykin, commission d.
rector, said today action has been
taken to halt the mysterious
shopping" of contracts and con-
cessions for next years official
celebration at the Freedom Fair.
I'VE have sought the assistance
Of a Government law enforcement
agency to put stop to this bust
ness" Mr.. Boykin said. The COM
plant of a Maryland contractor
that he had been offered a con-
tract for Freedom Fair construc-
ton in return for a kickback of
10 per cent of his profits brought
the matter to public attention last
week.
Mr.. Boykin refused to say
which Government agency was
asked to investigate. He declared
his Statement is complete" and
that the situation is making a
mountain out of a molehill." OBJ
servers said the Justice Depart
nent is the agency believed re-
ferred to.
Proposal Rejected.
A stakeholder in the private
firm handling Freedom Fair space
leasing-Paul Alexander, So, of
2757 Fourth street N.E.-has been
accused by George M. Parker. Der
wood fMdD contractor, of offer
ing to get him a contract to erect
zone or more of the independent
buildings" connected with Free
dom Fair, in return for 10 per cent
of the profits. Mr.. Parker said he
rejected this proposal in October
Mr.. Boykin's statement follows:
paul Alexander is not, and
never has been. an official Of the
Sesquicentennial Commission, or
officially connected with it in any
way. ANY assumption by Alex
ander ! that he can deliver any
contract of any kind for the Free
dom Fair is pure fiction-a fact
which could easily have been as
cer'tained at any time through the
commission.
mo one except the commits
sion's own Executive Committee
has any authority to approve any
contract on behalf of the COM
mission. -
Shopping M Contracts"
"The commission has author
ICED the National Capital Sesqui-
centennial Leasing Bureau. Inc. to
represent it I'd the sale Of exhibit
space in the industry buildings
and is confident of its ability to
do d good job. !
1.-The mysterious shopping Of
Freedom Fair contracts and con-
cessions has been a popular sport
ever since the commissions pro-
gram was originated. 1t is some
thing we cannot control. 1t is
apparently not an uncommon oc-
currence in projects of this kind.
We have, however, recently sought
the assistance of a Government
law enforcement agency to put a
stop to this business. We can
only hope that any person desiring
to do business with the commits
sion will remember that no con-
tract or concession for anything
whatsoever will be let without the
approval of the commissions
Executive Committee"
"Self-Assumed Ability" -
Mr.. Boykin referred to Mr..
Alexander's "self-assumed ability
to deliver a contract for the con-
struction of Freedom Fair build
ings."
While the contractor said he I'M
derstood the buildings involved in
the offer were part of the Freedom
Fair proper, to be erected in Ana
costa Park, near the National
Guard Armory, MIR. Alexander con-
tends they were structures outside
the fair grounds.
Meanwhile, the construction of
Fair buildings is stalled by tempo
rary war-built buildings that stand
on part of the site. The Federal
Housing Administration. which
owns 81 one-story homes occupied
by colored families, and the Pub
lie Buildings Service of the Cen
eral Services Administration, which
controls space in other nearby
temporary buildings, say they have
neither money nor other places to
move the occupants so the land
may be cleared.
RslI Il Fl fl