Evening star., 1950-05-31

cept Mr.. Barron and Director
Boykin, although Mr.. Chatelain
was still the commissions archi-
tect as far as anybody knew.
But President Truman had been
prepared in advance and made
the following statement:
Il believe the exposition
planned by the commission offers
a timely opportunity for all ele-
ments of our national life TO
demonstrate the achievements of
our free enterprise system. I hope
that all our States and Territories,
industry. labor. and all Govern
ment agencies and departments
will respond Fundamentally to
our invitation to participate in
making this exposition the great
est story of freedom ever told.
can think of no more appropriate
name for this important celebra-
ton than Freedom Fair-and
urge all Americans to join to-
gether to make it a living symbol
of Americas faith in the demo-
cratic principles upon which our
Nation was founded"
Industry Not in Picture.
If there was any detailed dis
cussion of how Freedom Fair was
to be paid for it is not clear now
what it was. In fact. industry as
an exhibitor had not up to this
time really entered the picture.
The enabling legislation had not
been approved and the original re-
quest for the 81. .500.0 900 appropria-
ton had been killed. But the
Presidents statement sounded
fine.
1t is understood that Mr.. Boykin
had called in the Gardner Displays
Co. Whether he called Gardner
Displays or whether Gardner Dis
plays submitted a proposition to
him is not known to The Star.
But this concern was asked to do a
consultation job with no specific
guarantee Of repayment. for no
money was then available.
On June %. 1949, another meet
ing was held at the White House
The possibility of getting any
money from Congress seemed re-
mote. But the enabling legislation
had by that time been approved
and there was discussion of trying
to get the money on a loan basis
from RFC. Mr.. Barron introduced
George M. Rowland, jr., vice presi-
dent of Gardner Displays, to men,
bers of the commission, and COM
plimented him for his willingness
to help the commission with nc
guarantee Of repayment for his
labors.
Cost Estimates Made.
1t must have been at this meeting
that the cost of constructing the
Gardner Displays layout came into
the picture. For while there had
been rough estimate of $11 ,859,-
900 in April, the estimates submit
ted by Gardner Displays at the
June meeting showed that costs
would be $l7,888,750; that about
SIS million advance payments
would be necessary, but that if all
the space in the buildings was sold
to industry-industry. as a great
exhibitor, having taken the spot
light in the picture-there would
be an estimated profit of $2,986, ,250
There were no firm commit
ments as to whether industry
would buy the space. That seemed
taken pretty much for granted
and there were enthusiastic pre-
dictions from Mr.. Boykin that in
duStry probably would be fighting
to get the space, and the real
problem was to find the space that
would accommodate the antici-
pated demands from industry.
The commission at this time had
no lawyer. though at the original
meeting the year before Commits
Sioner Young had suggested that
it might be a good plan to retain
counsel. So the legality of the
undertaking. by which a Govern
ment commission was going to rent
space in advance and spend nearly
$18 million on constructing the
fair with cash and commitments
from the space renters, was not
discussed. The meeting broke up
with tentative agreement on q
plan to try to get congressional
authorization for the commission
to seek a $4,000, 900 loan from the
RFC.
i New Change i'm Plans.
Another change in plans had
also occurred. The site Of Free
dom Fair had been switched again
] from West Potomac Park to the
Anacostia River, at the end of East
Capitol street. This accounted for
another boost in the estimates,
And ut that time 1t had not been
learned that East Capitol street
would also turn out to be un-
] available.
II wom navsan xS.nn ~Ax>~ 49,.