The Washington herald., 1909-01-14

The Washington Fairgrounds Associ-
alton yesterday won q victory in Con-
gress when the House OF Representatives.
acting as q committee 70 discuss the
District appropriation bill approved tie
appropriation OF $lAe0O for the mainte-
nance Of Fairgrounds during the next
fiscal year
The decision Of the House is not final
but it is believed the action OF the com
mittee viii be approved along with the
rest Of the appropriation bill when II
IS considered. The vote probably will
DC By roll cal.
The appropriation CT S5.00 was pro
Hided in an amendment 70 the original
bin. offered by Representative Parsons,
Of New York. but II was approved only
after four hours OF heated argument on
the floor Of the House yesterday. The
fight finally siInmered down TO a party
issue. and few Republicans voted against
il Nearly every Democrat on the floor
voted TO defeat the amendment.
Gardner Leads Fight.
The fight against the Parsons amend
ment was led by Representative Gardner,
OF Michigan. who has charge OF the Dis
strict appropriation bill and Represent
stives Gaines. OF Tennessee; vreeland. Of
New York; Burleson. q Texas; Sheriey.
OF Kentucky; Bowers, of Mississippi, and
Sims. OF Tennessee, made strong appeals
to the House not 70 allow the appropria-
ton.
Mr.. Parsons, Of New York, took Up the
gauntlet for the Washington children. and
he was assisted BY Representatives Mann.
OF illinois. GiIlett and Peters. OF Mas
saehusettts; Douglas. Of Ohio; Foster. Of
Vermont; Murphy. OF wisconsin, and J.
Adam Bede. Of Minnesota
Representative Douglas, % Ohio. Of
fered an amendment 10 the Parsons
cutting down the appropris-
ton 70 S7.0Oo. but that was defeated. and
Mr.. Douglas then supported Mr.. Parsons
movement
Vote Is Close.
The first vote was 81 10 3 in favor OF
the additional appropriation. The opposl- /
ton called for the teners and the vote
vas tied. 50 voting each way. I
Finally three members turned over to the /
side OF the children. leaving the vote s.
to s..
Representative John Wesley Gaines
caused a ripple Of laughter to pass
through the House BY declaring that chill 4
dren needed no one 20 teach them 10 I
play
Why. II is prepOsterous. he declared. T
The idea OF teaching a child TO play is /
as ridiculous as showing the water how 4
10 fan or the mocking bird TO sing"
Mr.. Gaines insisted that play was the 1
second nature of the child, and declared /
L children were let alone they would 4
soon learn the popular games Of to-day
Dr. invent games Of their own.
He opposed any plan to give money TO (
Il I'D Fairgrounds, and said that Wash /
ngton had more public parks and reser-
vations than any city Of its size in the I
country: that in no place were there so 1
nany. places Of recreation as in the Cap
taL
Parsons Pleads for Money.
IN support Of his amendment. Mr.. Par
sons said. The amendment I offer Is an
amendment which. If adopted. would pro-
vide an appropriation Of Sl5,oO0 for the
Of the Fairgrounds in the
District as against $3.50, which the COM
mittee has provided in the bin. Last
year the appropriation bill provided only
loo for maintenance. but the nainte-
nance and the grounds cost $500. Of
which only $3.50 was contributed by ap-
The rest OF the money was
raised by outsiders.
several years aEO we started on the
policy Of Fairgrounds. school play
grounds, and municipal Fairgrounds
There are now in the District eighteen
school Fairgrounds and thirteen munich
pal Fairgrounds. making in all thlrty-one.
There are eighteen school Fairgrounds,
but they are very small areas that adjoIn
The schools. Last year S1S000 was raised
By the people Of Washington for the ben
eft Of these places Of recreation.
Last year in the appropriation bill
there was also appropriated $500 for
aquipping one OF the Fairgrounds, but the
appropriation for maintenance was only
Sl,5Oo- The only appropriation this year
in connection with the Fairgrounds is one
for maintenance, S-50G
i hope you gentlemen viii support my
amendment"
Mr. Peters Speaks.
Mr.. Peters. Of Massachusetts. said the
,hild without a playground is ike the
nan without Job
Fairgrounds have come to be consid-
red q part Of the educational courses in
,ur cities" he said, and are so recog-
liZed by educators
The city Of Boston was the pioneer
.ity IN connection with this form Of public
.duc2tion- IN 1856 the first public gym
Continued on Page 4, Column 4.