Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-11-22
CommissionerGeo. w.
Jagle Furious Over
Mismanagement.
ALL CITY'S RECREATION
CENTRES MAY BE CLOSED
Social and Sanitary Conditions
as Well as Financial Af-
fairs censured.

A thunderstorm is expected today
at special meeting of the Play
ground Commission.
This was threatened by Commits
sioner George w. Jagle last night
after hearing reports of mismanage-
ment, incompetency, faulty business
methods and worse relative to the
administration of the city play
grounds.
Two reports were read. one on the
financial condition of the commits
sion, by William A. Allen, of Price,
Waterhouse & Co., chartered ac-
countants, of New York; the other
on social and sanitary conditions by
Lee F. Hammer, director of the di-
vision of recreation of the Russell
Sage Foundation, of New York.
Both experts We're authorized by
the city to make their Investigations
after the Playground Commission had
requested an additional appropriation
of $1,000 to carry on its work for the
rest Of the year
The indefinite. closing of the play
grounds is expected to be only the
first step in the housecleaning that
Is promised.
A few of the things the experts
said their investigations disclosed
were that the Playground Commits
sion had exceeded it's appropriations;
that there was not enough money on
hand to pay outstanding bills; that
boys of 10 smoke cigarettes at the
evening recreation centres; that the
stock and equipment of some of the
Fairgrounds are practically worthless
because of lack of care; that the
rooms in the recreation centres are in
grsst disorder and inexcusably dirty;
that the playground employees are
and lazy, and that near
1y everything in connection with the
grounds is disorganized
These statements were made before
the finance committee of the Common
Council Louis v. Aronson. president
of the Playground Commission, and
William j. McKlernan, supervisor,
were not present. The commission
was represented by Commissioners
Jagle and Froelich and by Philip A.
Clifford, secretary.
During the reading of the reports
Mr.. Jagle admitted that the grounds
were mismanaged, and declared his
willingness to pay personally the
commissions debt if that would helI
clear up the mess.
After some of the more startling
disclosures had been made Alderman
Whitfield asked Mr.. Jagle:
as it fact that you still stand
for Supervisor McKiernan?"
"I will not stand for the admins
tration of the Fairgrounds if run as
shown by these two disinterested
gentlemen" replied the commission
er. "There will be screws put on to-
morrow morning. gentlemen. There
will be a thunderstorm and then
clear weather"
The reports submitted by the ex-
perts are merely preliminary, and il
is believed that even more sensation
al statements will be found coptained
in the final reports to be made next
Wednesday.
Mr.. Hammer would not admit that
he had anything more interesting to
add to the report of his investiga-
tion, nor would Mr.. Allen say
whether or not a complete idea OF
the condition of the playground COM
missions finances was contained In
his statement.
It is said, however that another
report turned in by Mr.. Hammer a
week ago was decidedly more sensa-
tional than that read last night, and
that he had been requested to tone II
down somewhat before making II
public.
Alderman Archibald, chairman OF
the finance committee, said that the
experts reports last night gave the
committee the first idea it had OF
the true condition of the playground
commissions finances.
After the reading of both reports
Alderman Whitfield expressed his
views of the situation.
"These reports are most discourag-
ing to me-" he said, "and l am sorry
they seem necessary. think we
might as we'll speak out what is in
our hearts. 1 don't think the city
ought to spend its money in this
way"
1--WE have been led TO believe,
replied Chairman Archibald, thai
the Fairgrounds were in good condi'
ton, but these. reports seem to indi'
cate anything but that. No depart
ment of the city has the right to ex'
ceed its appropriation without the
consent of the finance committee; i
is a misdemeanor.
Alderman Hopping suggested thai
as final reports from experts would
not be made until Wednesday. the
meeting should be adjourned. Then
for the first time Commissioner
Jagle rose and addressed the meet
ing. Speaking of the finances of tht
commission. he said;
''This condition arose from the fact
that we opened six additional recre-
alton centres this summer. We were
quietly led to believe, although I was
not told so myself. that we were tC
be taken care of on expenses Incl
dental to these grounds, so that &C.
counts for our having gone ahead
and spent the money.
I'm answer to Mr., Hammer woult