Evening star., 1951-01-11
Golf Links Fee Rise
Due 10 New Contract
Is Denied by Wender

A' PAoPooCu ilVe-yedT con-
tract with S. G. Leoffler for opera
tion of public golf courses here
would not mean an increase in
fees but would be unsatisfactory
IN some other respects.
Another board officer. Vice
Chairman James E. Schwab. de-
clared the suggested contract dis
closed yesterday by the Interior
Department would be too favor
able to Mr.. Leoff1er.
Mr.. Schwab noted that the
Government got about $4,000
from Mr.. Leof1er under a five
year contract that ran through
December. 1948. The proposed
new contract. if applied to that
1944-8 period. would have brought
the Government only $4,000 and
given Mr.. Leoff1er S95,00O more
he estimated.
Operated Links 26 Years,
Mr.. Leoff1er has operated the
public golf links here for the last
26 years. After expiration of the
f1ve-year contract in 1948, he con-
tlnued under an extension ar
rangement and last March got a
one-year contract.
Il want to make it perfectly
plain to the public" Mr.. Wender
commented, that the proposed
contract does not include any rate
increases. We have not been
asked to approve any increases
and we have not considered any.
Moreover, there has been no audit
to indicate that Mr.. Leof1er is
entitled to an increase in fees"
Reports after yesterdays four
hour closed conference of Recre-
alton Board and Interior Depart
ment representatives indicated
that the Interior Department is
considering 10 per cent increase
in the fees at four of the links.
One official explained that the
suggestion was for a 10 cents in
stead of a 10 per cent increase in
those fees, but that any fee
increase would be separate
arrangement and not in the con-
tract under negotiation with Mr.
Leoffier.
3 Years Thought Better.
Chairman Wender said he did
not particularly oppose the idea
of a f1ve-year contract, although
he believed a three-year contract
might be more appropriate. The
important thing. he explained, is
that the Recreation Board should
not be blocked from taking con-
troll of the golf courses in any
year.
The Interior Department had
previously agreed to let the board
take over the goif courses on
January l of any year they had
the funds. The board has asked
for S250,000 for that purpose in
the budget it sent the Commits
sioners for submission to Con-
gress.
A main point of contention at
the session yesterday was on a
proposed contract provision con-
cerning termination dates of the
contract.
Termination Clause.
Arthur E. Demaray, acting di-
rector of the National Park Serv-
ice, disclosed that the proposed
contract would be subject to ter
mination on January /, 1852, tc
permit transfer to the Recreation
Board if the board can get the
appropriation to buy out Mr.
Leoffler before November l OF
this year. If the board did not
get the money Mr.. Leofler would
have control of the golf courses
for the full five-year period, ac-
cording to the proposed contract
The Recreation Board Commit
tee, 1t was learned. opposed such
a contract unless the board were
given the opportunity to take ovel
control in any year it obtained
the funds.
The proposed contract has beer
turned over to Mr.. Leoff1er fol
study, along with a statement ot
the boards position.
| Mr.. Wender declared there was
no question that the Interior De-
partment intends to adhere to the
assurance given by Secretary
Chapman that control of the gol1
courses should be turned over tt
the Recreation Board when ade-
quate arrangements are worked
out. He added that he does moi
plan to call special meeting oi
the board to consider the con-
tract negotiations.
| Duct BIuze Extinouished