Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-02
Senators Seek
Early Approval
of Stadium Bill.
Structure Seating
SC, 900 Could Handle
Sports and Shows

ington, on a Government owned
site on the foot of East Capitol
street, which could handle a
variety of sports events and
other public shows.
Such a bill was approved by
the subcommittee headed by
Senator Bible. Democrat of Ne
vada. after a hearing yesterday
with strong recommendations for
the elimination of two restric-
tive amendments written into
the bill by the House
One of these was a floor
amendment to require the Dis
trict Armory Board to reim-
burse the Federal Government
for the value of the land used
for stadium purposes, even
though the area north of the
District Armory was acquired
years ago for development for
a sports and recreation area of
varied types.
Interest Rate at Issue
The Bible subcommittee of the
Senate group also is recommend
ing to the full Senate District
Committee that there be stricken
from the House bill a require
ment that the rate of interest
to be paid for the tax-free bonds
sold to finance the project be
set by the Secretary of the
Treasury. The original House
bill permitted the payment of an
interest rate up to 6 per cent.
Chairman Bible said he would
seek action by the full Senate
District Committee as soon as
possible.
Witnesses for various groups
yesterday urged the Bible sub
committee to approve the bill
without the two amendments
added during debate on the
House floor. Not all of them
were satisfied with the provisions
of the pending measure but all
stressed the need for enactment
now so some agency of the Dis
trict-in this case the District
Armory Board-could qualify for
a $35. 900 grant from the Fed
eral Housing and Home Financ-
ing Agency.
A different view was taken by
one witness. Edward j. Kelly,
superintendent of National Capt.
tai parks, representing the In
terror Department.
NdDtS AhtCAlOE NOltTOL
He suggested the scrapping of
the House bill and the drafting
of an entirely new one which
would give to the Interior De-
partment or one of its agencies
the full authority for the
acquisition of a site and the
construction, maintenance and
operation of the stadium project.
He said it is of utmost impor-
lance that all lands involved
stay under the control of the
Interior Department, since the
Federal Government had &C.
quired the large acreage at the
foot of East Capitol street north
of the District Armory.
Representative Harris, Demo-
crat of Arkansas. sponsor of the
House bill, who has been laboring
over this problem for more than
10 years, explained in detail to
the Senate subcommittee that
the Armory board was given the
chief post in the present legis-
lation because that seemed to be
the only way the $35, 900 Federal
grant could be obtained now to
make key surveys.
The plea of Mr.. Harris to get
things rolling now was sup
ported. among others, by Rep
Iresentative Hyde. Republican of
Maryland. Support also came
from District Commissioner Rob-
ert E. Mclaughlin.
Compensation Idea Hit
Senator Beall. Republican of
Maryland, spoke up at the after
noon hearing to say he could not
see why the Federal Government
must be compensated by the
District for the land used for
the stadium. since it eventually
would be returned to the Gov
eminent anyway
John E. Powell. secretary Of
the Washington Baseball Club
said he might have some doubts
as to the suitability of the site
that he objected to the two
amendments written into the
House bill on the House floor
but that his club certainly would
give consideration to the use
of the new stadium If it became
an actuality.
At his suggestion. the Bible
subcommittee struck out Of the
bill a permission for the Armory
Board to grant a permit for the
sale of nonalcoholic drinks al
the stadium. Chairman Bible
said he though that matter
should be left to the determine
ton of the authority placed in
charge of the stadium. subject
to the District Alcoholic Bev-
erage Act.
George Preston Marshall
Redskins, spoke strongly in
favor Of the original House bill
Similar views came from Will
liam H. Press. executive vice
president Of the Washington
Board Of Trade. and Arthur j
Bergman. manager Of the Dis.
trict Armory Board.
Douglass E. Bullock. rea'
estate operator, urged something