Evening star., 1949-12-30
Exhibit Builders
RenewFightfo
Sesqui Work
D. C. Association Asks
Right to Compete for
Display Design Jobs

Washington's exhibit builders
today renewed their efforts to get
the right to compete for the jobs
of designing displays Of Federal
agencies at the Sesquicentennial
Freedom Fair.
Robert Ward Straus, executive
secretary Of the Exhibit Builders
and Suppliers' Association of Met
ropolitan Washington, announced
he had sent this telegram to Ed
ward Boykin, executive director Of
the Sesqui commission:
RE your letter of December %
stating, This commission is COM
mitted to the execution of def
initive contract for the design of
Federal exhibits in the public in
terest and for the good of the
Sesquicentennial. this association
respectfully petitions, as we have
for over two months, for this busi-
ness. paid out of Federal funds.
Referred to Justice Department..
1--WE see no justification for
secret commitments and undis-
closed figures with a favored firm
and exclusion of offers from other
qualified firms here and through
out the Nation"
Mr.. Straus said the matter has
been referred to the Justice De-
partment.
MIR. Boykin said 10 days ago
that the commission plans to erect
( building for the displays of at
! least as Government agencies and
to furnish the space free. He said
the commission would contract for
the overall design of the Federal
exhibits, but that no exhibit
y builders would be excluded.
Il Mr.. Straus said that some of
the firms in his association are
designers only, and want to COM
pete for jobs
He said the design contract,
for which a letter of intent has
been issued to Gardner Displays,
a New York advertising agency.
will amount to between 100000
and S25O,000.
Cites UnderhilI Letter.
George M. Rowland, jr., vice
president Of the Gardner COM
pany. resigned recently as direc-
tor Of design and exhibits of the
fair. He said his company has
an agreement with the commits
sion to design uniform Federal
exhibits, but that individual de-
partments have the authority to
select their own contractors for
actual construction.
Mr.. Straus said the matter had
been first called to the attention
of the Justice Department some
time ago. He received a letter
from William Amory Underhill.
acting Assistant Attorney Cen
eral, dated December 2, Mr.. Straus
said, in which Mr.. Underhin re-
ported a member of his staff
had discussed the contracts for
Government exhibits with Mr..
Boykin. The letter added:
"Mr. Boykin stated that the
commission will prescribe certain
design standards and specifica-
tions to which all exhibitors will
be required to conform. Mr..
Boykin assured us, however. that
the various Governmental de-
partments and other exhibitors
will have full authority to select
their own contractors for the de-
sign and construction of their
respective exhibits"
This seemed a satisfactory
solution" MIR. Straus said. He
added that he talked with Mr..
Boykin, who confirmed what Mr..
Underhill had written. But, Mr..
Straus said, he and another men,
ber of his association met with
Mr.. Rowland and he quoted Mr..
Rowland as saying his company
had contract for the design and
"if we persisted in seeking the
design business there would be no