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ed ay Pee ng \. Ap unusual business setup involving C. G. (Bebe) Rebo- zo, confidant of President Nixon and former Sen. George Smathers, may Trompt a congressional in- vestigation. | Details of the setup — made public for the first time by The Miami News last December — include a rental guarantee by -the federal Small Business Administra- tion under which Rebozo and his partners are virtually assured of a profit on a Shopping center in Miami. The center —- Centro Com- ercial Cubano — is scheduled to Open soon on a one- square-block site at NW 22nd Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets. Rep. Wright Patman, chairman of the U.S. House Committee on banking and currency, said yesterday he may ¢hll for an investigation. Pafman (D-Tex.} said he was ‘particularly interested” in SBA guarantee provi- [Soy but also was disturbed Tee «4 “by news stories which indi-- wy “EAE ee (Mount Clipping in Spac ‘Congress May Investigate cated that an SBA employe ‘who participated in approv- ‘ing the guarantee had a close business and personal rela- tionship with Rebozo.” Thomas Butler, SBA re- gional director in Miami, is the man who invited Rebozo to undertake the project, according to SBA officials in ’ Washington. Butler concedes freely that this igso. ntro Comer- cial Cubano be Cuban exile businessmen, whose successful experience in pre- Castro days was a major reason for their selection as tenants.. , , Tenants at They were lined.up by Dr. Edgardo Buttari, a distin- guished cabinet. member for many years in Cuba, who was hired by Rebozo to coar- dinate the project. . Dr. Buttari headed - the nationwide Cubans-for-Nixon drive in the 1968 presidential campaign. The SBA began planning the center as-a pilot project about two years ago (while Mr. N xon was out of jolit- ical cHfice). Under the proj- ect, €uban refugees Pwho qualify for Economic Ofpor- tunity loans will be set up in business in the center. Their individual toans, . according to SBA records, average about $25,000 and total some $500,000. = The SEA guaranteed Rebo- ZO Jr, men _S = With that guarantee, Rpbo- zo and ce were abld to from Equi- table Life Asotonae of Ne ork z the amount-of $750,- . The ‘partnership put up. 3150,000 of . its one Toner, for a total initial investment of $900,000. * : Total rents guaranteed by the SBA over the 20 years will be $2,463,000. A -dollar .Profit, however, is apt ta be , Sight — after mortgage pay- ments, interest, taxes, fees, cic, : ; ’ The real profit,- knowledge. able sources agree, would pome sro rea appreciation in the value ofthe property. Butler tol The ‘Miami instructed and to find a capable man to handle it. He -- said he knew Rebozo was both -capable and concerned With the plight of Cubans. The project, only one of its kind to get off the ground, was “expedited,” officials concede, with the help of the staff director of the Senate when that committee was | ‘ beaded by Sen. Smathers, _ Courthouse. records’ show that Butier is the owner of two jots on Fisher Island, assessed at $9,780, surround. | Ae A ee a ob a sa 1 Mr. Mol. semen Mr. Carper ww. Mr. Catiahan. Mr. Conrad ow Mr, Fett Er. Cele a Ae Mr. Gch "A Bir. Sniiwan’ Mr. Tavel.._, Hi. Tratter. ww Tele. Room ____ Miss Hines. Abss Gandy ._. | ° (Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.} 3A. The MIAMI NEWS - Miami, Florida — Being followed Date: 2/9/69 Edition: [MM 46 - O01 Fy. Classification: Submitting ofteMiami we . TJ Being Investigated BT me