The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-14
Plans for Widespread Sup
 ervision of the People, $ Amusement Disclosed to Meeting of Board of Edu- cation and Suppression of Facts Causes Criticism.
Conversion of Schools Into Social Centers and Public Dance Halls, and Dispen- sing With Long Summer ] Vacations in Schools Are Are Discussed.

An ordinance creating Recreation Commission to have charge of all public amusements of every character twill shortly be reported to the com- mon council by the special commits sion appointed to investigate and re- port the matter.
 Rev. John R. Brown, chairman of the special commission at a secret session with the board of education last night, explained the ordinance In detail As told in The Farmer several days ago the commission favors hold ing public dances in all the assembly halls of the public schools.
 The permanent Recreation Conn mission which will be recommended by ordinance, accefding to Rev MT. Brown will have three provinces. It will have powers of issuing or revok- ing licences and permits for all dances, shows, exhibitions of all kinds. It will have supervision of all amuse- ments, and it will have the authority to promote public amusements.
 According to pr. Brown this means that all public dance halls, theatres, motion picture shows, circuses. boxing shows, athletic meets, baseball games, fairs. carnivals and bazaars given by fraternal and other societies, in fact all public amusement enterprises of every character and description shall be under the immediate supervision of the commission. Permits and licenses for all these amusements will be is- sued by the committee alone and may be revoked by them at will.
 The commission will also be empow- cred to promote recreation for both children and grown-ups in the >puPNc parks and in public play grounds which it is proposed to extend about all public school buildings.
 Chairman Brown and c. W. Stirn- son, the latter employed by the spe- eial commission to make a survey of amusements here, have. .steadfastly re- fused to make public any of the plans of the committee.
 The special commission whose ap- pointment is for an indefinite term, besides MT. Brown consists of Rev. Richard F. Moore, LL D., Miss Eu- phrosyne Bown, a public school teacher; David Levy and Harvey c. Went. MT. Brown and MT. Stimson have held several secret sessions with the board of education because the commission plans to use the school assembly halls and the playgrounds.
 Why these sessions should be held secretly number of the members of the board cannot understand Com missioner Louis F. Schwerdtle is op- posed to holding these meetings in secret and so expressed himself to The Farmer reporter today.
 These things proposed are all for the public good and there is no need of keeping tSem secret" he said. Df- rected amusements are conducted to anore or less extent in the public schools of New York city and to greater extent in the schools in Mill Maukee, Newark and other cities.
 MT. Stimson, or the organization he represents. need not take any spe- cial credit. Other cities have these di- rected amusements."
 While members of the Recreation Commission insist on working under cover until they are ready to make public their doings, Rev. MT. Brown has been making trips to Providence and has been in consultation with prominent members of the Bridgeport Pastors association concerning rules for the regulation of amusements here. In this direction he has warm
 
 supporter in Elmer H. Ravens, presi- dent of the board of education Messrs Havens, Brown and Stimson had a private conference on the street after the meeting last night.
 According to what Rev MT. Brown has told the members of the park board and the members of the board of education at the so-called ''execu- tive" sessions, which have all been held in secret, the commission pro- poses taking the public playgrounds from the supervision of the park commission.
 The park board, which establish. ed the playgrounds, has plans for their extension this year.
 The recreation commission desires That the board of education recom- mend the establishment of public playgrounds at all schoolhouses Suf- 6icient ground is to be procured about
 tContinued on Page 2.)