Evening star., 1955-02-15
Federal Status
Urged forCiivic
Auditorium
Nine Witnesses Tell.
House Unit Hearing
Of Cultural Needs
By Harold B. Rogers

| 49, py TIuIUsU y. NVSStS
A House District subcommit-
tee today heard strong pleas
that the proposed District civic
auditorium be given Federal
status in order to give the United
States a more adequate cultural
standing among the nations OF
the world.
Nine witnesses Endorsed pend
ing legislation before a subcom-
mittee headed by Representative
Morrison, Democrat, of Louis
lana.
The subcommittee announced
it will continue hearings at 10
am. February % when testi-
mony will be heard from about
q dozen members of the House
sponsoring Identical legislation
for the civic auditorium.
Spokesman Stress Need.
The spokesmen for music and
art, theatrical, veterans and
women's organizations stressed
the need in Washington for q
center to accommodate cultural
activities of the several arts.
The United States Is far be-
hind countries in Europe in fa-
cilities for the theater. music
and opera. the subcommittee
was told.
This point was stressed by two
officials of the American Ma
tional Theater and Academy:
Clarence Derwent. president Of
ANITA and former president Of
Actors Equity Association. and
Robert w. Bowling. chairman
of the board on ANITA.
Mr.. Dowling said the United
States does not have the phys
ical facilities for receiving from
Europe theatrical and cultural
groups in exchange for American
artists sent to Europe under the
cultural exchange program as
signed to ANITA by the State
Department here.
Hayes Indorses Bill.
Patrick Hayes indorsed the
legislation. speaking as chairman
of the Cultural Development
Committee, Washington Board
of Trade; former president. Ma
tional Association of Concert
Managers; former president.
Greater Washington Music
Council, and former manager Of
the National Symphony Or
chestra.
Declaring that music needs
its own home in the Nations
Capital" Mr.. Hayes declared
that mo nations capital city
has endured in history in terms
of true greatness without also
being a great center of art and
culture"
He proposed that the new edi-
flee be a great monument for
music and theater, opera and
ballet" To accommodate an
inaugural hall for Presidents,
he said three separate buildings
might be considered or one mas
sive structure containing va
rious units like the Municipal
Auditorium in Kansas City.
Impressed by Testimony.
Chairman Morrison said he
was SO favorably impressed with
Mr.. Hayes testimony that he
hoped the witness would be ap-
pointed one of the 13 members
of the commission authorized by
the pending legislation to for
mulate plans for construction
and report to the President.
Barnee Breeskin. Shoreham
Hotel orchestra leader, told the
subcommittee that Washington
badly needs large structure
here for better accommodation Of
presidential inaugural balls, big
musical concerts and other dis
tinguished gatherings.
N. r. Danielian, president OF
the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence
Association, with Offices here.
urged the legislation be amended
to provide more authority for
construction instead of setting
up a commission to report to the
President and Congress.
Asks for Time Limit.
He asked for a limitation on
the time for such a report to the
commission for recommends
tions, proposing a deadline of
January 1, 1857. The name of
the edifice should be changed
from District civic auditorium.
he said. to something Of a more
national character, to give the
structure more appeal to music
lovers throughout this Nation.
Other witnesses indorsing the
project included Ladislaus j.
Esunas, of the American Legion;
Miss Marie A. Hurley, violinist
and Government employe who
is national legislative chairman
of the National Federation Of
Music Clubs: Mrs. A. Paul Hartz.
Of the legislative division, Gen.
eral Federation of Women's
Clubs. and Mrs. Ernest Eden
Norris, ST.. who suggested the
center should include a plane-
tarium. s