WASHINGTON (UPI: —
The federal government
says it has spent nearly $2
million improving Presi-
dent Nixon's homes in
Florida and California, al-
most all of it relating to
“security.” The expenses
ranged from fire sprin-
kKlers'ta gulf carts for the
Seeret Service.

The White House also
disclosed that business-
,man Robert H. Abplanalp,
who helped the President
buy his San Clemente re-
treat, has been getting
some moncy hack in the
form of rent associated
with Nixon's Key Bis-
eayne place.

A month ago the White
House had listed $39,000 in
federal funds for improv-
ing the Western White
House at San Clemente
since Nixon bought it in
1969.

LAST WEEK, after a
further search of record,
it raised this fugure to
$460,300.

On Thursday, General
Services Administration,
the government's house-
keeping agency, said a
still more extensive audit
put the total federal
expenditure at San Cle-
‘mente at $703,367 over
four fiscal years begi:

 
 ning July 1, 1969. This in-
cluded only the residence
there, not the White
House office space.

GSA listed for the first
time the federal expendi-
ture for impravements,
equipment, operation and
maintenance at ihe White
Complex at Key Biscayne,
including both residence
and office space — $1,180,
522, spread over five
fiscal years beginning
July 1, 1968.

 

INCLUDED in the Key
Biscayne figure was $161,-
463 for renting two houses
in the complex for the Se-
eret Service and White
House communications
staff. The total did not in-
clude an estimated $400,-
000 helicopter landing pad
built by the Army Corps
of Engineers.

The White House said
one of the two houses is
owned by Abplanalp and
the other is owned in the
name of Edwin H. Un
derwood, trustee for the
Indiana National Bank
Indianapolis.

The White House saic
all of the taxpayers
money spent in San Cle
mente and Key Bis
cayne was for security

{Turn to Back Pe... Col. 7)
 
Bismarck, We 1), AUR. 28. Ae
Governor A. G. Sortie, of North Da-
‘kota, died at the executive mansion
here at 3:45 o'clock this morning.

Death came after an illness” of
more than a month during the last
four days of which his condition has
‘been critical. He was suffering with

heart disease.

Successor Is Dirt Farmer

Walter Maddock of Plaza, who
suceeeds Governor Sorlie as the
state’s chief executive, will arrive in
the state capital today to assume his
| duties.

Gov. Sortie’s death brings to the
executive's chair a. real dirt farmer
loses one who is rated as a self made,
\self educated man. He was educated
lin the common schools and business
college. Later he studied law and
elvil engineering. taking mail
courses in those subjects.

Arthur Gustave Sorlie was born
| April 26, 1874, in Minnesota. His
| parents were Iver and Mary Sorlie,
 Inatives of Norway, When he was 19
‘vears old he came to North Dakota
“where he werked in a bank, operated
la general store and then became a
ctraveling salesman,

Chosen Governor in 924
| Despite his extensive interests. the

nen-poriisan dsague seicisd him as
jits standard bearer in 1924 and he
iwon the gubernatorial election after

‘a hot fight with R. A, Nestos, the
republican ineumbent.. He was re-
{elected in 1926, but did not seek re-
‘nomination this year, saying that he
‘desired to retire to private life at
‘the end of his term.

In 1900 Gov. Sortie married Miss
‘eJTnnie Odegard. After her death he
| married Miss Grace Hilleboe at
Grand Forks in 1919. He was the
father of five children,

; One of Gov. Sortie’s most import-
‘ant acts of his first term was the
| Spel onent of Gerald P, Nye, to the

United States senate to succecd Sen.
lator E. F. Ladd who died in office.
 