Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-10
Measure Follows
Maryland Action
On Park Plan

oOIllO vel SlOl VI lLle proposal
advanced by Senators Brew
Ster, a Democrat, and Beall, q
Republican.
The Senators said their leg
islation represented substantial
agreement between the State
OF Maryland and the Federal
Government on the future use
OF the windswept sandspit off
the Atlantic coast of Maryland
and Virginia.
Maryland Board Acts ..
This argument was strength
ened yesterday when the
Maryland Board of Public
Works cleared plans for Fed
eral development, despite an
18th hour objection from
Worcester County officials.
Two items Of major concern
to Maryland Observation-Disclosures
costs and local Development
are in dispute In the Beall.
Brewster and Interior bills.
Acting Interior Secretary
John A. Carver predicted, how
ever, that an equitable solu-
ton" could be reached.
On the bridge, the Senators
bill requires the Federal Gov
eminent to pay two-thirdS of
the cost of the SIS million
span linking the island to the
mainland. This money would
cover the Federal share of
bridge costs and offset tax
losses to Worcester County
stemming from Federal owner
ship, according to the Mary
land Public Works Board.
Last-Minute Meeting
Efforts to sidetrack the Fed
eral development plan were
continued until the last minute,
as Worcester County commits
sioners and members Of the
general assembly met with the
Public Works Board only hours
before the decision was an
nounced yesterday.
ITS been a long and tedious
task" Gov. Tawes said after
reading a nine-page statement
1T has been the most difficult
problem we have had to decide
since the present board came
into existence. We all had to
give and to make concessions"
The board, which also in
cludes Controller Louis L. Gold
stein and Treasurer John A.
Luetkemeyer, said it gave
serious consideration to the
possibilities of private develop
ment.
Not only the cost Of such
an operation, but the establish
ment, adequate priorities for
development, present obstacles
Of substantial difficulty" the
statement said.
The Interior bill ignores any
Federal obligation for the
bridge.
The other disputed item was
a Beall-Brewster proviSo per-
hitting Maryland to retain and,
In the future, to expand its
own State park and recreation
area along two miles of the
northern part Of the island.
Purchase Not Provided
Purchase by Maryland from
the Federal Government of
added park lands north of
these two miles toward Ocean
City inlet was not contemplate
ed In the Interior draft.
But Secretary Carver
stressed that bills are not SO
far apart" His failure to con-
cur completely with the Sena-
tors version was explained by
the impossibility OF committing
the administration ION such
short notice."
The bipartisan bill given
the Senate today would place
about 80 miles Of the island In
Federal ownership.
Representative Long, Demo-
crat Of Maryland, also said
today he planned to introduce
legislation identical to the SEN
ate bill. He expects to be Joined
in supporting the measure by
every other member Of the
delegation in the
House.
Beall Promises Study
Senator Beall promised to
study each of the five reserva-
tons to Federal acquisition
demanded by the Maryland
Public Works Board.
Besides the bridge and State
park expansion. these reser-
vations would:
Guarantee compensation for
the 1900 property owners on
Assateague and permit owners
Of improved property" to re-
main on the island for q rea-
sonable time. The Beall-
Brewster bill would make that
time rs years.
Permit Interior Secretary
Udall to remove a fence be-
tween the Maryland and Vir-
ginia line on the island. This
is not in either bill. The fence
blocks the entrance OF Mary
land residents TO a nine-mile
game refuge over the Virginia
line.
Allow the Federal Govern
ment to acquire title to the
Chincoteaque Assateague
Bridge and Beach authority,
which owns the end Of the is
land in Virginia. This is In
the Senator's bill.