Evening star., 1950-12-01
Joint Congress
Session Urged
|0n 15Oth Year
Ceremony on Dec. IS
Urged by HiIdreth
Of Sesqui Commission

VI SeSquI commission
Plans to induce Congress to hold
a joint session in honor of the
l50th anniversary of its coming
to Washington are being con-
sidered by the National Capital
Sesquicentennial Commission.
Attorney Melvin D. Hildreth,
new commission member, elected
yesterday by the executive COM
mittee as Executive Vice Chair
man, said the commission would
like to hold the ceremony around
December Is. Vice President Bark
ley probably would address the
session.
Mr.. Hildreth announced today
that he has sent kilograms to the
eight commission members in
Congress asking them to meet as
a commission subcommittee to
consider the joint session plan.
He asked them to study the feas-
ibility OF a joint session to mark
the original meeting of Congress
here $50 years ago.
The eight congressional mem
bers are: Senators McKeller of
Tennessee, Holland of Florida
and Nicely Of West Virginia, DEM
ocrats. and Smith of Maine, Re-
publican: Speaker Rayburn; Rep
resentatives Norton of New Jer.
sey and Mcmillan of South Caro-
lima, Democrats, and Horan Of
Washington, Republican.
Would indicate Unity"
eff there can be a joint session
of Congress. it will indicate to the
world the unity of our country SO
far as Congress is concerned"
said Mr.. Hildreth. "And it will
point up the historical aspect Of
the continuity of the peoples
elected representatives meeting for
$50 years in the same Capitol
building"
Mr.. Hildreth said the commits
tee is planning a re-enactment Of
the original procession to Con-
gress, when President John Adams
led it up F street to Delaware
avenue and the Capitol. Congress
began business here on November
%, 1900.
The new vice chairman, who
succeeds the late Carter T. Bar
ron. recalled that Mr.. Barron was
deeply interested in a joint con-
gressional session as an outstand-
/ ing feature of Washington's 150th
birthday celebration.
Discussion on Play.
! Meanwhile, the executive COM
mittee was to meet again this
tafternoon to consider the future
Iof Faith Of Our Fathers" the
summer symphonic drama, pre-
sented in the Carter T. Barron
Amphitheater. The meeting is
scheduled for 4 pm. in the Office
of Commissioner John Russell
Young in the District Building.
Mr.. Young is commission mem
ber.
The commission staff was in
structed to prepare figures show
ing the cost of production and
promotion. This will be done un-
der direction of Paul M. Mass
mann. general manager.
There is a considerable feeling
for continuing the production"
said Mr.. Hildreth.
If the committee votes to con.
tinue it. Mr.. Hildreth said admis-
sion prices will be reduced sharp.
ly. There would be a 50-cent gem
eral admission charge, he said.
with comparatively few higher
priced reserved seats.
He said the commission already
has discussed with the dramatist.
Paul Green of Chapel Hill, N. c.,
revision of the drama, placing
greater emphasis on George Wash
ington's relation to the city that
bears his name. He said Mr.. Green
plans to rewrite the last act par
lticularly, bringing out the triumph
OF Washington as a city.
Reopening About June Is.
Tentative plans call for reopen
ing the drama about June IS and
running 81 performances.
Attorney John F. Hillyard, rep
resenting number of property
owners in the vicinity of the am
Iphitheater. told the committee
his clients object to visiting mo-
torists uSurping the neighborhood's
parking places. They also object
to the noise from loud speakers
during rehearsals as late as 2
am. Mr.. Hildreth said he is con-
fident remedy can be worked
out.
The committee approved the
naming Of the amphitheater in
honor of Mr.. Barron. Official
actlon on this already had been
taken by Interior Secretary Chap
man who has charge of the WASH
fington park system.
The committee also adopted a
resolution honoring Mr.. Barron.
1t directed that a copy be sent
to Mrs. Barron and her son Carter
T. Barron, jr.
The resolution said, in part:
ITO US, his close associates, he
was always genial comrade, fer
tile IN resource. sagacious in coun.
sci, moderate in his demands upon
others and cordially appreciative
OF whatever good he encountered"
Fmhaeeu nnnioe Earnuk