Evening star., 1961-07-16
By JOHN McKELWAY
Star Staff Writer

StAE 6tAII WElJeE
One of the surprising things
about the $4,000 was that it
got as far as it did.
It's gone now, but it may re-
turn.
Since the early 1930s, local
businessmen have been trying
to attract more tourists to
Washington. In 1850 they raised
Sl12,300 for promotion and ap-
proximately 3 million tourists
came to town.
By 1860, a total of $230,000
was raised and about 7 million
tourists were counted. The
tourists brought with them
about $375 million last year
and went home without it.
AS District Commissioner
Robert E. Mclaughlin said in
testimony on Capitol Hill:
I'VE all appreciate this as a
good thing from the point of
view of patriotism, and it is
also a good thing from the
point of view of increasing our
tax base here and helping to
run our Government"
Congress OK. Needed
This year, the Board of
Trade and the District Com
miSsionerS agreed that the city
might kick in $4,000 to the
program. But, as is always the
case, the contribution would
have to be sanctioned by Con-
gress. On simpler terms, some
body would have to sell the
idea to one Representative Ra-
baut, the Detroit Democrat who
heads the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on District bud
gets.
Called in to present the city's |
case was Edward r. Carr. the
colorful real estate man. who
is a member of the trade
boards Convention and Visi- !
tors Bureau.
Mr.. Carr told Mr.. Rabaut
during the selling period:
II would like to make this
point, if I may: Leaving out the
desire to bring people here q.
let us talk about the money
business. I really feel that If
we have an additional $50.000
and we need it very badly to
use in promotion for additional
literature, posters and films
we have films on why you
should come to Washington
and these films are expensive.
Hurt in Off Seasons
THE promotion of off-season
business is where we get hurt
because a lot of the hotels in
the off-season, such as in the
summer and around Christmas
occupancy of as low as 10 to
time, actually get down to an
Is per cent.
THAT is where we would like
to use this money. With this
money we can bring in an adj
ditional 5000 or 10000 people
and the sales taxes on rooms
alone would pay that much to
the District, not counting the
taxes that we get for things
that are purchased here. -
Mr.. Rabaut began bearing
down.
What is the relation of this
$4,000 to the $230.000 raised
before? Next year if they (the
Board of Trade) decide they
need 10000, will we have to
have a corresponding increase
in the payment from the city
government? That is what I
want to know. Is this getting
the cameps nose under the tent |
for something that is going to
push the whole hump in in a
few yearS?"
Won't Let Up on Business
Mr. Carr answered: at
the moment. we feel that if
we had this additional money
we could do a complete job and
I can assure you I have no in
tention of letting up on the
business community (for con-
tributions)."
Later, as Mr.. Rabaut limited
the $4,000 would not be forth
coming unless the businessmen
were able to raise $250.000.
Mr.. Carr assured the chair
man:
II will beat somebody's
brains for that I assure
you"
Sometime later, the $4,000
was approved by the House
committee but with the stipula-
ton it would be paid only if the
$250,000 was raised by civic in
terests.
The Item is Spotted
When the bill went to the
floor of the House-the $50,000
was an item in the Districts
1862 budget-it fell to Mr.. Ra-
baut to try and sell it this time.
He made a brave fight.
AS expected, Representative