Evening star., 1953-04-21
Planning Group
Will Fight for
Park Funds
Help Is Solicited
Of Legislators From
Maryland. Virginia
By George Beveridqe

this week will fight for Senate
approval Of appropriations to
further regional planning and
expand the areas park system,
The group yesterday decided
also to enlist aid of Maryland
and Virginia legislators in be-
half of resolutions which will
ask a Senate Appropriations Sub
committee at hearings this
week to:
/. Give the National Capital
Planning Commission an operat-
ing budget of $155. 900 next year
Part Of this would be used to
carry on work of the new regional
council, authorized by Congress
last year. The House Appropria-
tions Committee last week
slashed the NCPC budget to
$97,915.
2. Provide total of $685., 900
in Capper -Cramton Act aid to
continue park projects in nearby
MARYLAND and Virginia. AL
though the Truman administra-
ton had urged $1.250,000 be
made available for Capper- Cram =
ton projects, economy-minded
Budget Bureau officials recon-
mended no money be appropri-
ated. The House Appropriations
Committee followed the bureaus
lead.
Staff Increase Sought.
At present. officials said, the
16-member NCPC technical staff
has been able to devote little
time to council matters. An ap-
preparation of $155,000. they
said. would permit a staff in
crease to %.
The $365, 900. the council de-
cided. would carry 100000 for
a limited continuation of land
acquisition for the George Wash
ington Memorial Parkway on
the Virginia side of the Potomac,
and $265,000 for Maryland
stream valley development.
Robert M. Watkins, chairman
Of the Maryland National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commits
sion. said his. group would ask
Republican Senators Beall and
Butler and Republican Repre-
sentatives Small and Hyde, all
OF Maryland, to appear before
a Senate subcommittee Thurs
day in behalf of the request.
No money has been appropri-
ated during the last two years
for further development of
Maryland stream valleys leading
to the District. Under the Cap
per -Cramton plan, the State
pays two-thirds of project costs.
Unless some Federal aid is ap-
propriated. officials said, the
State is in danger Of losing pro-
spective park lands which have
been reserved by private builders.
1--WE feel we have a very SOL
emn contract with the Federal
Government" Mr.. Watkins said.
We've already bought 5000
acres of land and we need the
money to implement the pro-
gram started"
Help From Virginians.
c. Luckett Watkins of Alex
andria said he planned to ask
Virginia legislators to make the
same appeal for funds to further
the George Washington parkway.
The parkway. planned for both
sides Of the Potomac, would ex-
tend from Mount Vernon to
Great Falls on the Virginia side.
Land already has been purchased
to the Arlington-Fa County
line. Originally, the NCPC had
asked for 100000 - to be
matched by Virginia State and
Fairfax County money-to buy
Fairfax County land.
The 100000 now proposed,
officials said. would permit a
more restricted acquisition. But
most Importantly, they said, it
would enable funds authorized
by the State Legislature to be
used.
Capper-Cramton funds orig
inally requested for District
playground development are not
covered by the regional councils
action, in obvious recognition Of
the Capitol Hill economy atmos-
phere.
Meanwhile, Louis c. Cramton,
former Michigan Representative
and co-author of the Capper-
Cramton Act, has warned that
any land purchases postponed
today will cost twice as much
when you get around to it in
the future"
!. Mr.. Cramton, now a member
Of the Michigan State Legisla-
ture, issued the warning in a
letter to Senator Ferguson, Re-
publican. of Michigan. a member
Of the Senate Appropriations
Committee. Senator Ferguson
filed the letter with the Senate
District Committee.
23-Year-Old Law.
Mr.. Cramton wrote that the
23-year-old law he sponsored
followed a long period in which
extensive park development
plans languished. Noting that
much of the Federal money is
repaid by the States and the
District, he added:
There is nothing more vitally
necessary to the development of
a national Capital than a park
and playground area.
"You can be sure that any
land acquisition which is post
poned today will cost twice as
much when you get around to
it in the future.
II cannot criticize or discuss
details Of any pending proposals,
but do appeal to you as a suc-
cesSor to Senator Macmillan.
whose name is still remembered
in Washington because of his