Evening star., 1950-02-20
Sesqui Unit Says
Fair Can BRING
In Million
Can Sell Exhibit Space
For Thut in a Months
Donzonsky Reports

The National Capital Sesquicen-
tennial Leasing Bureau, Inc, can
sell $12 million worth of Freedom
Fair exhibit space in the next four
months, its attorney, Joseph B.
Danzansky, said today.
But the Sesquicentennial Com
missions executive committee still
has a ban on Freedom Fair ac-
tivities. The committee has rec
commended that the fair be post
poned until next year. The new
opening date suggested is April Is,
1851.
The full commission has yet to
pass on this program. Money from
the space sale would erect the
fair buildings. Just when the full
commission, under the chairman
ship of President Truman, will
meet remains to be settled.
Mr.. Danzansky said there is
more enthusiasm for the Freedom
Fair throughout the country than
in Washington.
THE idea of Progress Through
Freedom'-theme of the Freedom
Fair-appeals to free enterprise
all over the country, and our ad-
vance information indicates that
space will sell very quickly" the
lawyer said.
Contract Authorized.
He declared the bureau. desis-
mated by the commission as it's
space sales agent, could sell a mil
lion or million and half square
feet of space at $50 a square foot.
But plans for the fair buildings
call for only 100000 square feet
iof exhibit space. This would bring
in S12 million, Mr.. Danzansky
said.
The bureau already has So mil
lion in definite letters or indica-
tions of definite intent to buy
space" he declared.
Meanwhile, it was learned that
Controller General Lindsay C,
Warren has ruled the commission
might negotiate -plus-fi
fee contract with the Byrne Or
ganization, Inc, 26O7 Connecticut
avenue NV, if the fair opened
next July 4, The Byrne company
is the commissions architectural,
engineering and MANAGEMENT
service agent. 1t has drawn up
plans for the Freedom Fair build
lngs. under a letter of intent"
The Controller General issued
three rulings, predicated on the
Fair opening July and "the ex-
istence of a public exigency.''~
Commission Basis Allowed.
In procuring public relations
services, the Controller General
ruled the commission could nego-
tlate a cost-plus- fixed-fee con-
tract. Robert E. Fowler Associ-
ates, Inc, Dupont Circle Building,
1346 Connecticut avenue NV, is
handling publicity at commission
headquarters, 1400 Pennsylvania
avenue NV.
The Controller General also
ruled that the leasing of exhibit
space could be done on a commits
sion basis. The Leasing Bureau
plans to get per cent of the
money it bring in.
Beyond announcing a contract
with the Corcoran Gallery of Art
for an exhibit of historical paint
ings, the commission has not
made public the signing of any
other contracts.
With reference to design of the
overall concept of the exhibition
and OF Federal exhibits, the Con-
troller General ruled the commits
sion could enter into lump sum
agreement for producing these.
Exemption Granted.
The Controller General pointed
out to the commission that adver-
tising for bids is generally neces-
sary. But because it was shown
an emergency existed, the hiring
OF Temporary experts and consult
ants for one year was allowed by
the ruling.
In another decision, Controller
General Warren ruled this Of
flee will not object to the negoti-
alton on an otherwise proper con-
tract with Baltimore Contractors.
Inc. as proposed" The commits
sion has discussed with this Balti-
more firm erection of 50 million
worth of Freedom Fair buildings.
This contractor was the only one
interested in putting up 50 mil
lion bond to insure erection of
the buildings and wait for it's
money from the sale of exhibit
SPACE commission offioio1e cold