Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25
Administrative Plan.

playground officials.
Administrative Plan.
For putting into effect the. reforms ad-
socated an elaborate administrative plan
Is suggested. 1t is proposed that the
department. be under a director of public
recreation and three supervisors. Two
Of the supervisors, IT is recommended.
should give their entire attention to play
grounds, parks and all other phases OF
outdoor athletics, school Fairgrounds and
social center work, municipal gymnasia,
bath houses, bathing beaches, Boy
Scout and Camp Fire Girl activ-
tiles while the third supervisor
should Dc in charge of theaters.
moving picture establishments, penny
arcades. amusement parks. dance halls.
roller skating Kinks. bowling alleys. pool
rooms and other such types of recrea-
ton.
The comforting of authority upon the
head of the department, that official
will be In a position to absolutely regu-
late all amusements. is urged. To this
end the licensing of certain kinds OF
amusements Is suggested.
The playground officials report is
document of length, reviewing the his
tory of the playground movement in the
District of Columbia. Besides the recon-
niendation referred to. Mr.. Martin calls
attention to the necessity of bringing
about greater correlation between the
three agencies controlling Fairgrounds
the city government, the federal govern
ment and the board of education. An
other difficulty connected with the pres.
ent administrative situation, he says. Is
n lack of efficient and trained play
leaders.
Sets Forth Problem.
In his advocacy of a department OF
public recreation, Mr.. Martin says:
'The problem of municipal recreation
includes not only Fairgrounds, but also
Rance halls. poolrooms moving picture
shows and other places frequented by the
public for the purpose of relaxation and
amusement. Any plan of administration
suggested. therefore, must be adequate
FOR the management or control of these
Bctivities. Excepting the Fairgrounds,
rte. the plan should be to control the
pther places Of public amusement by the
issuance of licenses under the control of
the director of public recreation. such
authority TO be granted him by the
proper authorities.
.'To place under the control of the di-
rector OF public recreation any activities
without giving him the proper authority
to control them would be futile. The re-
sponsibiity without the authority could
not be maintained. The license system Is
recommended as the solution of this prob
dance halls at the present time in this
city. and in other cities has been de-
velored to cover activities similar to those
embraced in the proposed plan for admin
lstration of public recreation.
Means Greater Expense.
1T will be recognized that the scheme
Of administration involves an additional
expenditure annually for administration
al0ua IL tho administrators orc mold 90 l.
aries commensurate with the Importance
Of their work. In order to arrive at an
estimate of the additional expense in
volved IL would be necessary to segre-
gate the city accounts in a manner not
possible at the present time; but believe
that this may be stated as true, that
while some additional expense would be
involved in our plan of administration
the efficiency of existing provisions for
the supervision and encouragement OF
public recreation would be so greatly in
creased as To make the additional ex-
penditure seem a negligible quantity. II
would materially reduce the expense in
some departments.
According TO Mr.. Martin. while Their,
has heen a lack of correlation between
the three agencies controlling playground.
IN the District, the board of education
and the federal and local government:
are making praiseworthy endeavors IL
their attitude toward Fairgrounds ant
pldy space. with respect to this feature
the report says.
THE LOYALTY and intarest Of the EN-
ployes In charge of the work is constant
~ increasing, but beyond casual inter
change OF experience and opinions there
Is no coordination between these classe.
of public Fairgrounds Since there is M
material difference between the problem:
relating 10 these Fairgrounds. the need o.
such coordination Is at once apparent
and the difficulties in the way of securin,
Il. although theoretically great, should b,
Easily overcome by the practical expedi
tncy OF the situation. The difficulties arr
iegal and financial. so far as the lega
difficulties go. they may be disposed o.
Y all sincerely desire il. Financial prob
ems are more difficult, but II is perfect
is manifest that an equitable division O
moneys available for equipment and di
lection could be ascertained and the APP
preparation for these purposes by Con
gress could be applied in such places anC
at such times and in such manner Il!
would entirely avoid duplication and max,
for economy and efficiency.
Makes Recommendations.
Recommendations made by Mr.. Martin
which the Commissioners doubtless viii
give consideration 10 at the time the mex
annual estimates of the District are com
piled that provision be made for tho
erection Of a stadium for public gather
ings. for the erection of at least thres
athletic fields Tor the use Of pupils o
the upper grades and for the erection
OF "a field house al the interior playground
10 he provided at Willow Tree alley
IL is urged that swimming pools be- pro
yided on every large playground: that al
the Fairgrounds be fenced and uniform
steel equipment installed; that the play
grounds be lighted SO that evening worl