Evening star., 1952-01-26

s"Sa
Among Topics Of
White House Talk
By Nelson M. Shepard
Members of the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commis-
sion saw President Truman at the
White House today and brought
him up to date on what is being
done in Washington planning
circles.
They came prepared for the Is
minute conference with charts
and maps of various projects in
which Mr.. Truman always has in
dicated personal interest. Their
visit to the White House, which
was unexpected. followed two
day monthly planning session. &
Chairman John A. Remon.
whom the President appointed
recently, discussed among other
things progress being made in
working out the Southwest re-
development program. He in
formed the President that the
commission now has available
the services of Harland Bartholo-
mew,, noted st. Louis planning
consultant, who has been engaged
to help in the preparation of
these studies.
COnsultant Signs Contract.
Mr.. Bartholomew signed con-
tract yesterday with the District
Redevelopment Land Agency, but
will work under supervision of the
planning commission.
It was understood the commits
sion also discussed its own reor-
ganization bill which is being
whipped into shape for 'submis-
sion to Congress.
Robinson Plan Coming Up.
The commission will try for an
agreement with District officials
next week to remove or modify
certain proposals in the Robinson
reorganization plan with respect
to the sale and disposal of public
lands in Washington.
Because the commission has
held that these proposals would
seriously impair the proper de-
velopment of the Federal City,"
. it has withheld its approval of the
Robinson plan.
At the closing planning session
yesterday, Chairman Remon di-
rected the staff to try to
meet a middle ground" course
that would enable the commission
to approve the Robinson plan
100 per cent" it was revealed.
Brig. Gen. Bernard L. Robinson,
Engineer Commissioner. attended
the planning session as an ex-I
officio member.
Action Taken in December.
A resolution adopted at the De-
cember meeting took the position
that the proposals would reduce
and eliminate the planning agency
as a decisive factor in the acquisi-
ton and sale of public land in the
District. It has also contended the
planning commission would be de-
prived of its right to veto sales of
property if the latter is needed
by some other agency.
The Robinson plan, it was said,
affects policy under the Capper-
Cramton Act, under which real
estate for schools and Fairgrounds
have been bought and sold for
about Is years. The veto power
over land sales has been held by
the commission since 1889.
The fact that the District Com
missioners are now practically in
accord with the planning COM
mission over the latter's bill for
the reorganization of NCPPC may
tend to smooth the way for
satisfactory adjustment of the
controversial issues in the Robin
son plan. Chairman Remon let
1t be known that he wants both
sides to "get together" and work
out a satisfactory understanding
on the latter.
13 Amendments Suggested.
The District Commissioners had
suggested 13 amendments to the
NCPPC bill, now under study by
the Bureau of the Budget.
Obstacles to membership repre-
sentation on the planning COM
mission and the proposed Regional
Advisory Planning Council the bill
would create virtually have been
removed. Two Federal agencies
affected by the bill-one of them
being the Interior Department.
are yet to be heard from. There is
no telling, at this stage. when the
bill will be ready for submission
to Congress, after it goes through
the Budget Bureau.
Meanwhile, the. planners dis
posed of several other matters.
They approved some reductions in
the taking lines" for the George
Washington Memorial Parkway
route in Montgomery County to
save money by passing up several
expensive properties. Left out will
be three Brookmont houses and a
number of parcels in the Glen
Echo area.