Evening star., 1925-06-16
BATHING PROPOSAL
DOOMED FOR YEAR,
IS COOLIDGE VIEW
Study of Law Said to Con-
vince President Nothing
Can Be Done.

Washington will have to swelter
| along this Summer without the Tidal
Basin bathing beach and until some
future date when Congress makes suf-
fcient provision for swimmers. This
was the view of the President as in
dicated by a White House spokesman
today.
The stand is taken at the White
House that Congress legislated not
only the white bathing beach, but
also that for colored, which was under
construction at the time, out of exist
ence, and it is not believed that they
can be opened, even IL the people of
the District provide the money.
1t is the view at the White House
that Congress does not want any
bathing in the Tidal Basin, and, until
it says otherwise, nothing can be done.
During consideration of the matter
of bathing beaches, which was pre-
sented to the White House by the
Citizens Advisory Council. the Presi-
dent discovered, it was said, that the
law would seem to raise the question
OF the authority of any one to allow
bathing In the basin. This view of
the Chief Executive seems to settle
the matter until Congress convenes in
the Fall, when there is little doubt
that the whole question will again be
| thrashed out.
War Chief Studying Plan.
Acting Secretary of War Davis has
been making some inquiry into the
proposal to reopen the beaches. but
not with a view to taking any action,
it is understood.
He was in conference this morning
with Lieut.. Col. Clarence o. Sheriff.,
director of public buildings and public
parks, during which the latter out
lined the proposed plan for opening
beaches at the expense of the citizens.
Other officials who have been fol
lowing the matter are of the opinion
also that Congress, having failed to
provide for the beaches this Summer,
intended that they should not be used.
This was further strengthened by the
telegram from Representative Madden
Of Illinois, which said that he would
not countenance any violation Of the
law which closed them.
The White House opinion auto.
matically squelched efforts of citizens
and officials to open the Tidal Basin
Beach.
The Commissioners already have let
it be known that they would make
no further move in the beach prob
lem until the attitude of members
of Congress and the President was as
certained. The opposition of Repre-
sentative Madden announced in reply
TO an urgent plea by Representative
BlantoD of Texas settled the matter
as far s the Commissioners were con-
cerned. Jesse c. Suter, president of
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions and chairman of the Citizens
Advisory Council, wrote a letter to
the President urging him to approve
plans for reopening the Tidal Basin.
He had not yet received a reply from
the White House, but in view Of the
pronouncement today, it was expected
he woud shortly receive a negative
answer.
Il regret extremely that the effort
to reopen the beach has failed" Mr..
Suter said today on being advised of
the Presidents attitude. IF any other
means Of providing the Washington
public with a safe place for bathing
can be found, I am sure the citizens
and officials will undertake to; find
it. Something should be done il only
for the sake of safety