Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-13
House of Representatives Re-
Sumes Consideration.
MONEY FOR FAIRGROUNDS
Mr.. Parsons Urges Increase to
$4,000 for Maintenance.
JOHN WESLEY GAINES OPPOSES
Gentleman From Tennessee Suggests
That Children "Skin the Cat and
mot Skin Government"

When consideration Of the District OF
Columbia appropriation bill was resumed
in the House of Representatives today the
Parsons amendment, increasing the APP
preparation for school Fairgrounds from
81 800 to $1J.000 for maintenance for the
fiscal year 1910, was first taken up. Rep
resentative Parsons urged its adoption.
He called attention to the fact that last
year the contributions of children using
the playground aggregated $2.911, or two
and One-half times as much as Congress
appropriated for maintenance. Also the
attendance had grown greatly and Is
growing, and he assured the House that
the $4,000 named in his amendment would
not be too much. but, if anything, too lit
tie for proper maintenance of the play
grounds during the next fiscal year
More than one hundred cities I'm the
United States now have Fairgrounds, he
said, and as Congress appears to have
definitely decided on the policy for the
District Of Columbia he thought 1t only
right and just that an adequate amount
OF money be appropriated for the purpose.
Several members of the House antago-
niZed the amendment on the ground that
children should not be taught how to
play, but should be left to their own de-
vices.
"Let EN- Skin the Cat"
LET 'em skin the cat and not skin the
government John Wesley Gaines of
Tennessee suggested.
Mr.. Gaines declared 1t was ridiculous
to spend money in order to hire teachers
to superintend children at play. and he
did not recede from this position even
when Mr.. Parsons pointed out that with
500 children playing on one acre of ground
without supervision there is liable to be
all kinds of trouble and the smaller chill
dren are apt to be bullied by the bigger
ones. and not have their fair share Of
the use OF the grounds and the appliances.
Later Mr.. Gaines suggested that If any
body is needed to super1ntend the playing
of the children policemen should be as
signed for the purpose. He drew a touch
ing picture of children swinging in the
grapevine swing that he used to know
when he was a boy and earned a round
of applause.
Representative Sims of Tennessee ora
toricaliy threw up his hands in horror at
the idea of permitting 600 children to
play on one acre Of ground. He thought
that in the summer time that would be
the best way to spread contagious dis
eases.
Wilderness of Teachers.
Mr. Gaines obtained the floor again later
and resumed his discussion Of the subject.
He proclaimed in loud tone that he
would vote against employing a wilder
ness of teachers to instruct little children
how to play.
who teaches the cunning little lamb
upon the hillside how to play?" Mr..
Gaines asked amid the laughter Of the
House.
He also drew a touching picture of the
immense deficit in the United States
Treasury, which would be still further
increased by the sum of $4,000 if the
Parsons amendment should prevail. He
declared he was for retrenchment and
reform, and said he would just as soon
vote for a bill to teach the EsquimauX up
in Alaska how to play as to vote for the
provision for the District of Columbia.
do you oppose kindergartens where
children play?" Mr.. Parsons asked. NO. -
Mr. Gaines shouted in reply, Il am for
more children and fewer poodle dogs.