The Washington times., 1910-10-28
CONGRESS ACTION
NEEDED FOR PUPILS
TO PLAY IN STREET
Corporation Counsel Sees
Way to Overcome Lack
of District Power.
LEGAL OPINION
is SUBMITTED
Commissioner Asks for Ruling TO
Try Times Plan of Provid-
ing More Space.

With a view Of taking immediate sc-
ton on The Times suggestion that
streets in front of public schools be
closed to traffic during the noon hour
so children NAV use them as play space,
Commissioner W. Y. Judson today asked
the Corporation Counsel for ruling
concerning the authority or the Com
missioners in the matter
According TO Corporation Counsel Z
H. Thomas. the Commissioners nave not
The power to close the streets.
Though l am compelled 10 declare
the Commissioners without authority TO
take such a STEP Mr.. Thomas said,
the matter can be remedied within
few weeks when Congress meets by an
act Of that body"
Power Is Far-Reaching.
The ruling Of the Corporation Counsel
follows:
q am Of the opinion the Commission
ers DO not have the authority to act
In Walter VS.. Mcfarland the Court OF
Appeals denied the power Of the Com
lnissiOners &c narrow roadway, and
said:
IF the power TO narrow a roadway can
be implied from the general grant of
power 10 control and repair, then ii may
l.
CretiOn of the Commissioners, short Of
closing IL completely. And Il a single
street or part thereof can De so mar
rOWed, then all the streets and avenues
OF The city may be subjected TO the
same process at discretion. The power
contended for is great and far-reaCh-
ing; Its exercise Is OF greatest impC =
anCc. not only to all owners of abuttinE
property, but TO the general public: and
we cannot believe Congress contem-
plated its extension through the general
grant Of the power to control and re
pair.
Respectfully submitted.
e II. THOMAS,
Corporation Counsel
High Schools Considered.
That high schools as well as grade
schools should be included in the plan
suggested by The Times OF enclosing
streets In front of schools. where chill
dren can play at noon without danger
was favored by some ~ those who dis
cussed the idea yesterday
The whole plan has again been char
acterized as worthy. simple, and praCti-
cal. The only expense involved would
be the painting Of signs indicating tl,at
the streets were closed. II would be
little trouble for janitors Of the schools
TO attend TO the work Of placing these
signs in their places at % O'Clock. and
removing them when the luncheon
period was over
High School Needs.
At the Central and Technical buildings.
With more than 1000 pupils each, breath
Ing space is at "A premium.
1t is not believed that any great de
mand would be made upon policemen
for the enforcement Of the regulation.
Neither is II anticipated that the plan
would meet with any wide disfavor from
residents who object to the noise
Splendid, splendid, splendid"' com
meuted Richard K. HorneT, yesterday
He Is a member Of the Board OF Edu-
cation.
Il think il one Of the very best ideas
I have heard advanced for the good of
the 5000 school children in the city
You may quote me as not only IN favor
OF IL, but rs being eager TO assist any
paper that will lend its influence in
turning public sentiment toward this
move. think any such paper is a puO-
lie benefactCr."
Thinks Space Necessary.
Long experience along practical and
scientific lines has shown that at least
thirty square feet for each pupil is
necessary for the health OF the public
school scholar said DIT. J. w +. Smith,
statistician Of the board.
Fifty is more rational, and forty the
least that any city should provide where
il is within lis power In the 80 WASH
inEtOr schools. but few are provided
with playground coming ND 10 this
standard. Most are wholly Inadequate
and many have none NV books show
that the total amount Of playground
space OF all the schools. taking IN the
most modern, which are wen provided
for. will not average ten square rect for
each pupil
On this point. Superintendent ~ T.
Stuart, who has already incorsed the
project, said;
1T should he noted that, while it is
estimated a school needs forty square
feet TO the pupil, a provision OF ten
square feet does not afford the children
even one-fOurth the exercise that
mathematical calculation would indi-
cate. In this quarter Of the space the
children are merely hUddled ana crowd
ed, allowing no room for that free eX-
erciSe Of the muscles that Is so essen
tial Where the amount Of playground
space is only thirty square feCt for each
child, the benefits are slight. While
they have fresh air, they have not the
opportunity for exercise"
ANTI-VICE SQUAD READY.