Evening star., 1950-01-06
Taber P|anninq
New Bill toCurb
.Sesqui Fund
Announces Intention
As FBI DeIves Into
Kckbuck Charges

Representative Taber, Republi-
can, of New York said today he is
considering introducing special
legislation to place new restric-
tions on the $3,0O0,0OO fund of the
National Capital Sesquicentennial
Commission.
Mr.. Taber, ranking minority
member of the House Appropria-
tions Committee, led the unsuc-
cessful floor fight against the
appropriation in the House last
October.
The disclosure of his intention
to seek new congressional con-
trolls over the money came as the
FBI delved into reports that kick
back deals have been suggested
by persons on the fringe of the
commission program.
Edward Boykin, director of the
commission, has said he welcomed
the FBI checkup, which had been
urged on Attorney General Nc
Grath by Representative Gross,
Republican. of Iowa.
Refuses to Elaborate.
Mr.. Taber would not say today
what sort of legislation he has in
mind.
L have something under con-
sideration," he said, but I haven't
had time yet to work it out and
I'd rather not say at this time
what it is"
Asked whether he was contem-
plating move to cancel the un-
expended balance of the $3,000,-
0GO fund, Mr.. Taber said he didn't
think that would be practicable.
Earlier, he had said he was
looking into the legality of carry
ing over the appropriation as a
result of the decision to postpone
the Freedom Fair portion of the
sesqui program until next year.
But Appropriations Committee
staff experts said there seemed
little doubt the money would re-
main available under terms of
the appropriation.
To Study Matter Next Week.
There were indications Mr..
Taber might have in mind a time
limitation on use of the money
or a recapture of a large portion
of the fund.
He said he hoped to be able to
give some time to the matter next
week.
Representative Gross, who voted
against the Appropriation, is await
ing the introduction of bill he
said will be introduced to repeal
the grant OF funds.
i am going to support the bill
to repeal the appropriation" he
said. II know it's going to be in
troduced." He would not say,
however, who is going to present
the bill.
An FBI Investigation had been
requested December 28 by Carter
T. Barron. executive vice chair
man of the commission in letter
to Attorney General McGrath.
Two days later Mr.. Gross made a
similar request of Mr.. McGrath
and, at the same time, asked Con-
troller General Lindsay c. War;
rem to have the General Account
ing Office investigate the Ses-
qulcentennial Commissions ex-
penditures.
Mr.. Gross asked not only for
an FBI investigation but also for
suspension of all Sesquicentennial
Commission activities in the mean
time. He said that, in reply, At
torney General McGrath wrote:
II have asked the FBI to thor
oughly investigate the charges
that have been made. However,
have no authority to suspend
the mandate given by Congress to
the SeSquicentennial Commission
as you request"
The Sesquicentennial Commits
sion's Executive Committee was
to meet at 8 pm. today. Joseph
c. McGarraghy, chairman of the
committee, said no particular
schedule of business had been
planned, but that the committee
had set the meeting a week ago
to meet today to take up anything
that develops.