Evening star., 1950-05-11
.SesquiG Group
Votes 10 Drop
Freedom Fair
Commission Yet to
Act; More Special
Events Planned
By WiIIiom A. MlIIen

pf WHOM -, mlIlCn
The Freedom Fair is dead. un-
less the National Capital SesQui-
centennial Commission overturns
the recommendation Of It's EXecu.
tive Committee.
Meeting yesterday in the Ma
tional Press Club BUILDING the
committee announced II will rec
ommend abandonment of Free
dom Fair. II based its action on
two major difficultleS-inability 10
get suitable site Of 200 acres for
the fair and the lack of proper
legal machinery TO do the lob
quickly.
Carter r Barron. executive vice
chairman. said he hopes a session
of the full commission can be
called next week
Meanwhile, Mr. Barron said,
subject to commission approval.
the series of special events that
has been planned TO observe the
l50th birthday Of the National
Capital this year will be expanded.
Would Freeze Fund.
Furthermore, the Executive
Committee will recommend to the
full commission that $l.250.000 be
placed in reserve status" This
means for the time being this
sum will be frozen" Mr.. Barron
said. In the next few days,
complete analysis of obligations
that may crop up in the way Of
claims for Freedom Fair projects
will be made, the vice chairman
declared.
considerably less than $l00.-
900" has been spent on Freedom
Fair project so far. 1t was said,
This includes brochures, archi-
tectural services with the Byrne
Organization, 2607 Connecticut
avenue NV. and exhibit space
leasing by the Leasing Bureau.
Inc. l415 K street NV.
About 81 million has been spent
or budgeted by the commission
for Plan A" the series OF special
events. including parades. con-
certS and the symphonic drama
in the Rock Greek Park amphi-
theater. Mr.. Barron said.
All this leaves about $3.50 900
of the So million Congress appro-
priated. Mr.. Barron said the
balance is available for possible
expansion Of the years program.
we are showing good moral
intent by freezing $l.250,000 here
and now" he declared.
Fund Not Earmarked.
In arguments before Congress,
he recalled. the program called
for 81 million working capital for
the Freedom Fair. But the leeis-
lation enacted by Congress does
not specify how much was to be
for the Freedom Fair ana how
much for the series of special
events, he said.
Mr.. Barron said the commits
sions original legislation passed
by the 80th Congress was not
broad enough to include a pro-
gram Of the scope and magnitude
Of the Freedom Fair. Attorney
General McGrath's ruling last
week. holding the proposed nom
profit corporation to be OF doubt
full legality" brought the issue
to a head.
There is nothing to prevent a
private corporation now from
coming in and running Freedom
Fair, Mr.. Barron declared. But
no such proposals have come in.
375 Acres Offered.
The committee considered a
proposal from Leo M. Bernstein.
a member of the Leasing Bureau,
Inc, and prominent real estate
man. to rent 375 acres for
nominal sum. The tract is To-
Gated about five miles from the
District line. on the Indian Head
(Md0 highway. But Mr.. Barron
said, inasmuch as committee sem
tinent was for abandoning Free
dom Fair. the offer came too late.
Mr.. Barron made it clear the
plan to abandon Freedom Fair
did not result from any lack OF
interest on the part OF labor and
industry.
I'VE have not given labor and
industry chance officially to
participate" he said. They have
not been invited-no contracts
have been laid before them for
signature. am convinced in
dustry and labor would have
supported Freedom Fair finan-
cially."
Paul M. Massmann, the COM
missions general manager. who is
an expert on fairs. will continue
in his present capacity. Mr.. Bar
ron said. The executive vice chair
man said Mr.. Massmann is IAN
extremely valuable asset 10 our
1850 program and will be able
10 DO more when we are able to
get our decision from the full
commission"
% Sites Surveyed.
Mr.. Barron said % separate
Freedom Fair potential sites in
the District were surveyed over
the last six months.
Meanwhile, the commission an
nounced that II galleries will be
required for the Sesquicentennial
Historical Collection of Paintings
to open at the Corcoran Art Gal
lery July 8.
This exhibition will be called
The American Professional"