Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-18
Recreation Commission Proposed.

The plan of Supervisor Martin for a
bureau of recreation may be adopted In
lieu Of this plan, IL it should be found to
be impracticable, Congress may be asked
to provide recreation commission. Es-
tablishment of both bureau and a COM
mission to supervise it also has been
suggested.
District Commissioner Rudolph has ex-
pressed approval of the suggestion for
department OF recreation, and it Is be-
lieved that the District heads will well
come the plan for a series of conferences
on the matter in order that recommended
tons may be made to Congress.
It is assured that whatever scheme is
worked out will provide for recreation
for adults as well as for children. In this
connection, wider use of public parks
for tennis courts and other forms Of
amusement for adults is contemplated.
In his address, which was illustrated
with lantern slides, Mr.. Martin stated
that a department Of recreation should
have a supervisor who would be in
charge Of the licensing of all theaters,
moving picture shows, penny arcades,
dance halls, roller skating Kinks, bowling
alleys and pOolroOms.
He advocated also the vesting in the
District Commissioners of authority to
annul all licenses, except those issued to
theaters, without a hearing. In thus
supervising the forms of commercial
recreation, it would be the purpose of the
proposed commission, the speaker de-
clared. not to censor but to Inspect, to
receive reports and to investigate for
the uplift Of these types of amusement"
Supervision of the non-commercial
forms Of recreation should be placed in
the hands Of one man and one woman,
asserted Mr.. Martin. They would have
charge of all phases OF outdoor athletics,
school Fairgrounds, municipal gymnasia,
lighthouses and bathing beaches and the
activities Of the Boy Scouts and Camp
Fire Girls.
For Department of Recreation.
Former Commissioner mcfarland in
dorsed the plan for a department of rec
| reation. He declared that all progress
i've American cities are providing public
recreation and outdoor education as we'll
as exercising supervision of commercial
recreations. Washington is behind other
| cities in both respects, he declared.
| Coordination of the various official
agencies dealing with recreation in all it's
forms is necessary to economy and eff
| cheney. said Mr.. mcfarland. The speaker
suggested recreation commission in
| place of a bureau should the latter be
| found to be impractical.
IF tho bureau plan does not seem best
| to Congress-" he said, lit might create
| commission composed OF the officer in
| charge of public buildings and grounds,
representing the federal government; a
| municipal playground supervisor, repre-
senting the District Commissioners and
the superintendent Of schools. represent
| ing the board of education, which would
bring into closer cooperation the official
agencies now happily working together
| as best they can under existing laws.
1.-The health officer and the superintend-
| ent of police could be called in by such
commission for occasional counsel and
cooperation. Certainly it is essential to
| unite the public agencies and supervise
the private agencies dealing with this
vital matter in the interest of the gen.
leral welfare OF the community. Certain
ly the people of the country would join
with their fellow-citizens here in APPROX
ing such an undertaking, because they
desire this capital in every way to be the
best in the world"
Function Of Proposed Commission.