Evening star., 1951-05-17
|LeoffIer Terms
Under Fire al
Budget Hearing
D. c. Seeks $275, 900
To Take Up Five-Yeo
Golf Course Contruc1
By Don S. Warren


District Recreation Board today
provoked a spirited debate at a
House hearing on the city's 1852
supply bill.
Operation of = the courses by
S. G. Leoff1er was attacked and
defended at the hearing in the
caucus room of the House Office
Building.
Arguments turned on the pro-
posed inclusion of $275, 900 to take
up Leoffler contract, which has
been renewed for five years.
Hospital Council Asks More.
A fight for an increase in the
medical charities fund, covering
the care of INDECENT patients at
private hospitals here. was made
by H. L. Rust. jr., first vice pres
ident of Episcopal Hospital.
Speaking for the Hospital
Council of the National Capital
Area, he urged that the budgeted
item of $5O0,0O0 be increased to
$894, 900. This would permit an
increase in the rate paid to hos
lpitals from SO to $3.50 a day for
hospital patients and from So to
$3.50 for out-patients.
A plea for a IT'S per cent pay
increase for firemen and police
men earning less than $4,000 a
year was presented by Elmer F.
Richter and Mrs. Ernest w. How
ard, representing the Federation
of Citizens Associations.
Low Pay Criticized.
These witnesses said investiga-
ton showed Shocking conditions
under which members of the de-
partments have to live because OF
the level of their pay.
A recurring fight over the
Leoff1er contracts in and out OF
Congress for number of years
finally brought an audit of the
Leoff1er accounts by the General
Accounting Office. This is the
first time the Commissioners
have included in their budget re-
quests fund to permit the Rec
reation Board to take control
Under a current agreement, Mr.
ILeoffler will hold on to his FIVE
year contract for it's full term un.
less an appropriation is made this
year or next to take up the con-
tract.
Chairman Bates of the Appro-
Ipriations subcommittee consider.
ing the $136 million budget hearo
pleas for funds for recreationa.
Developments. play directors anc
numerous other improvements.
Debate over golf course contro
was opened by Representative
Poulson, Republican, of California
who made a bitter attack on thu
Leoff1er management, charging
THAT it had operated with "the
most loose system of bookkeeping
he could imagine.
"Baffied" by "Inf1uence."
Mr.. Poulson, a certified public
accountant, said his study of re.
ports on the Leoff1er management
showed "clever but legal method
of defrauding the Government"
Mr.. Poulson attacked what h
called fictitious expenses" H,
said 100000 had been paid out IL
cash for the Leoff1er payrolls ant
that the employees had not beer
required to sign for their wages
Mr.. Poulson said he had dis
covered that Mr.. Leoff1er had Gin
f1uence" and that he found thi
lone of the most battling thing
I've encountered"
This brought to the stand 10
seph Healy, an attorney employed
at the Justice Department, VIII,
had been mentioned by Mr.. Poul
son as one who had written a let
ter supporting Mr.. Leofier.
More Calls for Money Seen.
He expressed surprise at hi
influence" and said: IF I hav,
influence I am unaware of it
I wish I had some"
Mr.. Healy said that last Jan
uary he did write letter to mem
bers of Congress.
Chairman Bates interrupted t,
say, You're not the only on
who has written letters to Con
gress."
Mr.. Healy said the propose,
expenditure of $275, 900 to turn tn
management over to the Recrea
ton Board would be only the ars
cost, that there would be NOR
calls for more money later. H
said people who criticize tn
Leoft1er management are thos
who do not play on the Leoffle
courses. He argued that the fee
charged on the courses are lowe
! than he has encountered else
B where. including Covington, KY
. and Cincinnati, Ohio.
4 What is proposed here, MI
! Healy said, is that "a totally in
! experienced group" take over til
golf course management.
Vivian o. Hill. an attorney an,
: a golfer, also supported the Leof
fer management and said the onl
& complaint that he had was tha
more people want to play on tn
. courses than they are designed t
I accommodate"
Mr.. Hill said that Harry s. Wen
b der, Recreation Board chairman
4 would not have time to run tn
Z golf courses and also to conduct hi
3 private law practice. "He will hav
. to give up one or the other"
Play Centers Urged.
Wilson Reid, president of tn
& East Potomac Golf Association
8 also supported the Leoff1er man
agement.
Z NJ.