Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1912-12-12
PLANNING
!. FOR PLAYGROUND
CONGRESS HERE
New Commissioners,
Oppose Aronson' S
Program.

That Playground Commissioners
Bernard M. Stanley and Algernon I.
Sweeney favor the operation of play
grounds even on a broader scope
than the past was evident by their
attitude at the meeting of the Play
ground Commission held at the New
ton street centre yesterday after
noon.
While President Louis v. Aronson
urged that they be opened the new
commissioners, who sat for the first
time with Mr.. Aronson, declared they
would be guided by the advice of
other city officials and opposed the
plan. They argued that they had no
funds.
Seven resolutions were introduced
by Commissioner Sweeney, and the
most important one was one that pro-
vided for recreation congress in
this city in January, urging the CO.
of,ssatioK OF other city officials The
plan is to have Miss Jane Addams, of
Chicago: Governor Woodrow Wilson,
Joseph Lee, president of the Play
ground Association of America; !;
Henry G. Foreman, president of the
famous South Park, OF Chicago, and
Superintendent Brumbaugh. of the
public schools of Philadelphia, as
speakers.
The latter claims that play is a
part of education.
Governor Wilson'S address in Wis
consin some time ago on schoolhouses
and neighborhood centres, according
to Commissioner Sweeney, would help
the local situation.
Oppose Reopening for Lack of Funds.
When the meeting opened the COM
missioners opposed the reopening of
the grounds. Both the new commits
sioners pointed out that it would not
be good policy to reopen in view of
no funds being available.
You spent your appropriation, -
said Commissioner Sweeney, land the
commissioners secretary here today
tells us that you are short $500. All
We have is your word that there is a
balance"
We'll. il my counsel, Judge Skin
ner, was not III he would give me
written opinion on this matter, -
said Mr.. Aronson.
Very true, but he has other dis
tinguished members of the bar in his
firm, and the city counsel would well
come a conference if 1t were asked, -
retorted Commissioner Sweeney.
Both Commissioner Stanley and
myself want an inventory taken, for
we want tc know where we stand
when our term expires" was another
remark of the former judge.
Commissioner Sweeney then intro
duced the following resolutions:
Whereas, 1t is the earnest wish of
his honor. the mayor, to promote,
through the different departments of
the city government, rational sys-
tenn of public recreation; and he de-
sires that the opportunities of each
department to this end be used to the
uttermost, and
Whereas, He has expressed a will
lingness to officially call a conference
or congress on public recreation; and
Whereas, we would be very happy
to avail ourselves of the many ad-
vantages in bringing the best play
ground minds in the country to New
ark for such conference, and to
widen the opportunities and increase
the efficiency of the playground ad-
ministration of Newark by hearty and
cordial cooperation with other de-
partments interested in public recrea-
tion,
Here Is the Resolution.
Resolved, That we heartily indorse
the idea of public recreation con-
gress, to be held in January next, and
Continued ON Ninth Page.)