Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-14
ADDRESS TO MEMBERS
Letter Sent to Both Houses Signed
by the Association.
LY $1,000 ALLOWED
ONLY
Vigorous Campaign to Be Made to
Have Amount Granted by Com
mittee Increased.

When the meager playground appro-
priation in the District of Columbia APP
preparation bill is reached, when that
measure, which was reported to the
House. is taken up for consideration.
there promises to be the lveliest kind OF
fight. The Playground Association
urged the appropriation committee to pro-
vide trifie more than sl7s,OOO for the
development of Fairgrounds in the
National Capital during 1911.
The District Commissioners most ur-
gently recommended an appropriation of
$4,000 as the lowest figure upon which
the Fairgrounds could efficiently be con-
Quoted during the next fiscal year. But
the District subcommittee of which Rep
resentative Gardner of Michigan is chair
man allowed not one dollar for the pur-
pose. However, when the subcommittee
reported the bill to the full appropria-
tons committee today it was decided
after vote that was SO evenly divided
that one man cast the decisive ballot to
allow SSOD-no more. no less-for the
purpose in question in 1911.
AS a result of this action by the COM
mittee the Washington Playground Asso-
citation. OF which Frank H. Hichtock is
president, Arthur G. Moses and Miss
Edith G. Westcott are vice presidents.
John B. sleman, treasurer: James L.
West. secretary, and which numbered
some of the most prominent citizens If
the National Capital among its directors.
has sent a letter on the subject to every
senator and member of Congress.
Letter to Members.
The letter
Permit us respectfully to urge your
personal attention and consideration of
the illustrated leaflet and newspaper clip
pings herewith regarding the merit of
our plea for congressional appropriation
for the children of Washington as set
forth in the letter OF our president. Frank
II. Hitchcock
Eve sincerely hope that Congress may
see its way clear to make the children
of Washington substantial and lasting
Christmas present by granting such a
sum as will make possible the mainte-
nance of Fairgrounds under official con-
troll in a way worthy of our National
Capital"
The pamphlet spoken OF in the letter
contains on its first page a picture of
President Taft in a circle, around the
edge of which is inscribed Il am for play
grounds" This Is the design used on
buttons, with President Taft's permission.
to raise funds for the ch.ldren's play
grounds last summer. There is also this
comm ent by Mr.. Taft:
Every city is under the strongest obli-
cations to its people to furnish to the
children. from the time they begin to
walk until they reach manhood. places
aid out in proper form for the playing of
all sorts of games which are known to
our boys and girls and are liked by them.
nobind n<har Hifias
The pamphlet contains a history of the
playground movement in Washington, and
statistics showing how far the National
Capital is behind the other great cities
of the country In this respect. The in :
formation Is also given that the citizens
of Washington, in view of the fact that
eight out of ten of the municipal play
grounds are on government property are
becoming weary Of contributing the en-
tire amount necessary to their support. In
this connection the following letter from
Emile Berliner. in former years one of
the most generous contributors to this
movement, is quoted
while in former years l used to con-
tribute annually for Fairgrounds, I told
the manager the last time / did so that
the Fairgrounds were not charity. but
municipal obligation, and that there
fore individual citizens should not be
asked to support them. l still hold to
that opinion
The Fairgrounds Association has OBJ
tained promises of support from some in
nuential members of Congress. who, when
the Fairgrounds item in the District APP
preparation is reached in due course will
OH + an amendment to increase the $S,tyt
allowed by the committee to the $4,000
recommended by the Commissioners, or
perhaps to a figure even higher. There are
many members of the House who are in
telligent. educated and enlightened men
and who have given study to the subject
There are. unfortunately. many more
who have given no thought to the SUBJ
ject. and who would not understand 1t
if they had. 1t is these men. too, most
of them hailing from the south. who
make the biggest noise on the floor when
a proposition Of this kind is under con-
sideration. But the advocates of play
grounds for the children of Washington
are hopeful that the support they will
receive this year viii be able to more
than take care of such opposition as may
come up in the House. OF the Senate
thew have no fear