Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
Congress Hints
Fund Limit on
CuIturaICenfer
U. S. Contribution
Of S15.5 Million
Termed Adequate
By ORR KELLY
Star Staff Writer

IeImeo Aoequote
By ORR KELLY
Star Staff Writer
An effort to place a limit on
the Federal funds available for
the National Cultural Center
became apparent today at a
joint hearing by the House and
Senate Public Works Commit
tees.
The purpose Of the Joint
hearing was to consider a bill
that would name the center in
memory of President Kennedy
and provide Federal funds to
match public contributions to
the center.
Under questioning by Repre-
sentative Cramer, Republican
of Florida, officials of the CEN
ter admitted that they could
get by with a Federal contribu-
ton of SIS million.
SaItOnstalPs View
The first suggestion Of a
limit on the amount of Fed
eral funds came early in the
hearing from Senator Salton-
stall, Republican of MaSSachu-
sets. The Senator, a member
of the center's board of trus-
tees, said he felt SIS million
would be adequate.
Later, Mr.. Cramer elected
from Roger L. Stevens, chair
man of the center's board of
trustees, and Ralph Becker,
general counsel for the GEN.
ter, an admission that SIS
million would pay half the cost
of the $31 million center.
Mr.. Stevens explained that
the cost of construction of the
center is estimated at $50 mil
lion and that 81 million has
already been spent on raising
funds, bringing the total to $31
million. He said slightly more
than $13 million has been
raised in cash and pledges.
He's Not Convinced
Mr.. Cramer said after the
hearing that he was not con-
WINGED a commission was neces-
sary but was very much con-
cerned that adequate provision
be made to keep Congress in
formed Of the memorial aspects
of the center.
Il am not interested in hav-
ing the memorial proposal used
as a gimmick to get matching
funds for the center" he said.
II don't say that's what this
is but / want to make sure, if
this becomes the memorial TO
President Kennedy, that it be
a fitting and proper memorial. "
Most of the testimony heard
by the committees was whole
heartedly in favor of the pro-
posal. In addition, the COM
mittee received a number of
statements for the record, in
GLIDING one from President
johnson. In a letter, the Pres
ident gave his "wholehearted
support" to the proposal.
The President appeared to be
moving to still any controversy
over the location of the center
along the Potomac River in the
area of the new Roosevelt
bridge.
1T seems to me-" the Presi-
dent said, that a center for
the performing arts on the
beautiful site selected would be
one Of the most appropriate
memorials that a grateful Ma
ton could establish to honor a
man who had such deep and
abiding convictions about the
Importance of cultural activities
in our national life"
Asks Early Action
In identical letters to Chair
men Mcnamara and Buckley
of the Senate and House Public
Works Committees, the Presi-
dent expressed the hope that
Congress will take early &C.
ton" on resolutions changing
the name and providing the
matching funds. His letter was
released by the White House
last night.
Mr.. Johnson also wrote that
it was his understanding that
the Kennedy family would pre-
fer to have the center named
1.-THE John F. Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts" SC
that it would indicate more
specifically the nature of the
memorial to him"