Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-09
Lease-Purclase
Bill Now Up
10 Eisenhower
Senate Approves
Conferees' Report
Without Dissent
By WiIIiom A. MiIlen

The lease-purchase bill. cleared
yesterday By the Senate for
White House action, is now UP
to President Eisenhower.
The Senate yesterday adopted
the conference report, approved
Wednesday by the House. For
malities in requiring official sig
natures Of Congressional leaders
on the papers may delay the
measure day or two before
II Is actually on the Presidents
desk.
The bill offers concrete hope
for tearing down unsightly tenn
porary buildings here that mar
Washington's park system.
White House approval is an
ticipated for the measure, under
which q public buildings program
would be undertaken for the
first time since World War II.
The General Services Admins
tration previously had announced
the program could unlock q So
billion Federal construction UNI
dertaking. over q period of years.
As it passed Congress, how
ever, the measure is limited to
three years in which projects
may be approved, although ac-
tual construction could 60 on
for many years to come. Con-
gressional leaders said they ex-
pect a list of desirable projects
to be submitted by July 81.
So Million for Year.
Without dissent, the Senate
yesterday adopted the confer
ence report. which revamped
the measure as passed both by
the House and Senate originally.
Under the legislation, during
this year, the Post Office De-
partment could spend So mil
lion. and GSA, S. million to
launch the program. Future
money would depend on ap-
preparations. GSA would be
limited to contracts Of 10 to IS
years, while the Post Office De-
partment can lease UP to 80
years.
AS finally passed. the measure
would require approval Of the
Budget Bureau Of projects. as
well as the Endorsement of
Senate and House Public Works
Committees. Detailed informa-
ton on each project would be
required. including q certificate
Of need from the using agency,
description and location Of the
new building. estimated maxi
mum cost, rates Of interest to
be paid contractors and q state
ment by the Administrator Of
General Services that suitable
Government space is unavail-
able.
Senate Majority Leader Know
land called up the conference
report for Senate action. Chair
man Martin Of the Senate Pub
lie Works Committee, explain
ing the measure. pointed out
the bill has been carefully
worked out and will give the
Government opportunity to con-
struct needed post offices and
other Federal buildings. He said
this has not been done for is
Taxable While Rented.
Senator Case, Republican. of
South Dakota said the program
will lay the foundation for a
long-range program of public
buildings.
Senator Kuchel, Republican,
Of California, who had charge Of
the measure on the floor. said
the measure requires that prop
erty remain on the local tax rolls
until the Federal Government
acquires title at the end Of the
rental period.
But Senator Long. Democrat.
Of Louisiana warned that Con-
gress should be sure that
scandals arising under the Fed
eral Housing Administrators
construction program are not
repeated under this legislation.
Chairman Carlson of the Post
Office and Civil Service Com
mittee expressed gratitude over
the legislation. He said the Fed
eral Government will save q
great deal under the bill.