Evening star., 1950-03-05
New Manager
.0f Sesqui Takes
Post Tomorrow
Mussmonn Faces
Problem of Site and
Finances for Fair
sy Williom A. MilIen

Sy ~. iNbtJSu
Many major problems confront
Paul M. Massmann, newly-ap-
pointed general manager of the
Sesquicentennial Commission. He
takes Office tomorrow.
Among the top problems are:
l. The commissions right to
spend money on survey to de-
termine whether sufficient money
can be raised to finance the Free
dom Fair.
2. Trimming down plans for the
Rock Creek amphitheater. the cost
of which. if all improvements
asked for are included. has
zoomed to $450,000, or about one
seventh of the commissions en-
tire $3,000,000 appropriation.
3. A possible delay in present.
ing Paul Green's symphonic
drama, due to revamping the am
phitheater plans. The drama was
scheduled to open June Is.
4. How far the commission can
go in setting up a non-profit
corporation to carry on the Free
dom Fair program.
S. A new Freedom Fair site.
McGrath Opinions Asked
Attorney General McGrath, a
member of the sesqui commission
when he was in the Senate, has
been asked to guide the group
out of legal bog. He has been
requested to give an opinion on
the legality of the survey to de-
termine whether money can be
raised from industry and labor,
through the sale of exhibit space,
to finance the fair.
Mr.. McGrath also is being asked
for an opinion on whether the law
setting up the commission permits
it to form non-profit corpora
ton. If such corporation can be
set up, the plan is to have it take
over all the commission Freedom
Fair obligations, such as architec-
tural plans for buildings, leasing
exhibit space and other matters.
Additional difficulties are ahead
if new site is chosen for the fair.
1t now is scheduled to open next
year in Anacostia Park near the
Armory.
Carter T. Barron, the commits
sion's executive vice chairman,
said, however, that demands for
exhibit space now are so great
that larger location for the fair
is being sought. There are about
lis acres on the Anacostia Park
i site.
/ Other Fair Sites Considered.
AS a result. the commission is
giving some thought to the possi-
bility of holding the fair on either
the grounds of the Home for the
Aged or the National Training
School for Boys.
| District Budget Officer Fowler
said that legislation would be nec-
lessary to permit the fair on the
Home for the Aged property, near
South Capitol street and the Dis
Itrict line.
i James v. Bennett, director Of
the Bureau of Prisons, said that.
under proper circumstances, At
torney General McGrath could
authorize use of the school prop
erty without special legislation.
Considerable grading would be re-
quired there and architectural and
|landscaping problems would be
presented. The area is off Bla-
densburg road NE, near the Dis
ltrict line.
Mr.. Fowler pointed out that be-
tween 500 and 600 persons now
live at the Home for the Aged.
Adjoining it is the Industrial
Home School for Colored Children.
Mr.. Fowler estimated it would cost
many millions of dollars to move
the home, school and other facili-
ties.
Mr.. Fowler said he does not
believe it would be practical for
the Fair to occupy part of the
property. He also said that, to
his knowledge, District authorities
have not been approached on such
] a plan. Mr.. Bennett also said he
has not been informed by sesqui
officials on any plan to use part
OF the property under his juris-
diction.
| John Nolen, jr.. director of plan
ming for the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, said
no official proposals on a new
Freedom Fair site have been
placed before his group. The
Sesqui Commission law requires
that it get approval from the
planning commission and the Fed
eral or District Government
agency having jurisdiction over
the land.
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