Evening star., 1914-12-08
Board of Trade Committee Un-
daunted by Lack of Appro-
priation in D. c. Bill.
NEED OF THE POOLS
SHOWN IN ITS REPORT
Secretary of War Favors the Idea.
Senator Norris Expected
to Assist.

Although members of the committee
on parks and reservations of the
Board of Trade were disappointed to
learn that the District appropriation
bill which was reported from the
House committee on appropriations
Saturday carries no provisions for a
municipal bathing beach i'll the tidal
basin in Potomac Park, it is not be
Iicyed that the session will close with
out progress in this direction. Neither
does the bill carry any appropriation
for the existing municipal swimming
pools, although i request for S4.'3o to
enlarge one of the pools for colored
bsthcrs had been made.
The parks and reservations commit
tee of the board favors the building
of a municipal bathing beach III the
basin, and now that the District ap-
preparation bill contains no provisions
for such an Improvement. 1t will look
10 Senator Norris of Nebraska Tor as
sistsnce Senator Norris is a frin be-
lever in the necessity of bathinS
beach and is the author of A resolution
calling upon the Secretary of War for
his opinion as to the feasibility of
such a beach in the tidal basin. 1t is
stated that Senator Norris may either
Introduce an amendment to the District
appropriation bill providing money
bathing beach or introduce a separate
bill providing for this Improvement
The need for municipal bathing
beach is covered in the annual report
vations of the Board of Trade. which
was approved by the board at a meet
ing Il week ago.
Lacks Bathing Beaches.
After quoting the letter of the Sec
retary of War to the president OF the
Senate in response to Il resolution OF
August - relative to converting the
tidal basin in Potomac Park into a
public bathing beach, the committee
i'll its report states:
washington long has been singular
among leading American cities for its
lack of public bathing facilities. which
the tidal basin under the plans just
approved will supply. There is much
evidence that this lack of so essential
a provision for the comfort and health
of this great city has already been
noted in high quarters. The city press,
always alert and mindful of the public
needs. has not failed to call repeated
attention to the subject. and In the an
nual report of the Commissioners or
the District of Columbia for the year
ending June 80, 1909. the following oc-
ours: Washington is the only city OF
any size in the United States which
cannot give municipal bath to its
citizens or it's visitors. Free baths nave
been furnished for fifteen years all
the year around by Chicago TO its
adult poor, and Bostor. Baltimore,
Brooklyn. New York. Albany. Syracuse.
Cleveland, San Francisco and score
of smaller cities have followed the lead
of the more progressive cities
Further pursuing the subject, the same
such as this city has. it seems shame
that II is not provided with good
bathing beach in place of the present
unsatisfactory place used for swim
ming pool . What we need is
a frst-class beach provided with
permanently constructed buildings;
such a location could be obtained on
the west bank of the tidal basin, and
would not interfere in any way with
improvements that have been made
by the government in the park.
Will Add to Improvements.
"Your committee will add to the
above quotation that SO far from in
terfering in any way with improve
nents already made in the park, the
the Secretary of War and approved by
him in the letter already quoted will
lie a notable and attractive addition
adding establishment to Potomac
Park, it will also administer to the
comfort and the health of citizens
and visitors alike.
1T seems to your committee that
the tidal basin is remarkably we'll