Evening star., 1950-01-08
Freedom Fair
Post
Being Studied
New Sesqui Counsel
May Ask Appointment
Of Business Head
By WiIIiom A. MiIIen

by Wtltiom a. Miiten
Appointment of a general man
ager to supervise business aspects
of the Freedom Fair may be one
of the outstanding suggestions of
Walter M. Bastian, newly-chosen
general counsel of the National
Capital Sesquicentennial Com
mission, it was learned yesterday.
The possibility that such a
general managers authority might
extend to all operations of the
commission was not discounted.
Sesquicentennial plans have
been marking time recently until
the new general counsel was
named and could present his re-
port on what has been done and
what remains to give life to the
program.
Mr.. Bastian, a Washington law
yer, was appointed by the execu-
tive committee on Friday. He
hopes to make concrete recon-
mendations by the end of the week
on the next step to be taken.
To Study Letters of Intent"
Mr.. Bastian yesterday began
digging into what has been done
up to date with a view to making
definite recommendations. Spe-
cif1cally. he plans to study the
letters of intent" under which
such groups as the Byrne Or
ganization, engineering and archi-
tectural consultants to the COM
mission; Paul Green, dramatist,
who plans to produce the SYM
phonic drama in the new amphi-
theater in Rock Greek Park, and
others sharing in the Sesquicen-
tennial program have been oper-
ating.
No contracts have yet been
signed.
Mr.. Bastian plans to advise the
commission on what contracts
should be signed and which should
be given further study. The law
Yer is studying the minutes of the
executive committee, as we'll as
all actions taken by the commits
slon's staff. He plans to leave
Tor vacation in Florida the end
OF the week and wants his re-
port to be in the committees
hands by then.
Mr.. Bastian is Republican
and has been active in the bar
and civic life here. He is chair
man of the membership COM
mittee> of the American Bar As
sociation.
In addition, he is liaisor1 officer.
appointed by the association s
board Of governors, for the 1850
convention of the group here. He
will coordinate convention ac-
tlyities Of the District Bar As
sociation with the national group.
Headed District Bar.
The associations national con-
vention will be held at the May
flower and Statler Hotels Septem-
Der 1922. as a feature of the
Sesqui. -
In 1896, Mr.. Bastian was presi-
dent of the District Bar Associ-.
alton, having previously served as
its treasurer. He has been a
member of the House of Delegates
OF the American Bar Association
continuously since 1886 and treas
urer since 1945.
Asked about his policy, Mr.. Bas-
tian replied:
Whatever we do should be open
to the public. I will certainly
recommend. with the commission s
approval, that all actions be made
public"
Mr.. Bastian received his pri-
mary and high school education
in the Districts public schools
and graduated in 1918 from
Georgetown Law School. In
World War I, he was a first lieu
tenant In the Army's Chemical
Warfare Service. In World War
II, he was chairman of Draft
Board Of Appeals No. here.
Had Extensive Practice Here.
He has had extensive practice
in the trial and appellate courts.
For more than five years he has
served as member of the Com
mittee on Admissions and Griev-
ances OF District Court. He has
received a. number of Supreme
Court assignments. He was re-
Gently under consideration for a
Judgeshlp on the United States
Court OF Appeals here. In addi-
ton to his new post, he will con-
tinue m the practice of law.
He is president of the board of
trustees Of National University
Law School, has written number
OF legal articles, is director of
the National Savings & Trust Co.
and general counsel of the First
Federal Savings and Loan Asso-
citation.
He is trustee of the YMCA and
was its general counsel for a num-
Der OF years; ; is president of the
Methodist Home for Children. a
trustee of the Hamline Methodist
Church, past president of the
Methodist Union. member and
officer OF the Columbia Historical
Society and is a Mason. He also
is a member of the Metropolitan,
Columbia and National Press
Clubs.
/ Mr.. Bastian is married and has
two sons, Walter M. Jr., who was
q lieutenant in the Navy during
the recent war. and David Charles
He lives at 2015 Plymouth street
N. w.
Inquest Set Tuesdoy