Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-08
Votes $345,O0O for Fund for
Swimming Pools for
District.
EFFORTS OF BLANTON
TO MAKE D. c. PAY FAIL
Amendment to Require City to Bear
ALI Expense Defeated, 43 to 81.
Debate Proves Facetious.

establishment of two artificial
bathing beaches or swimming pools
In the District of Columbia. at a cost
of $346. 900, was approved by the
House In committee Of the whole to-
day.
An effort by Representative Blan-
ton, Democrat. OF Texas to amend the
measure so as to provide that this
work should be paid for wholly out
of the revenues of the District" was
defeated by a vote of 43 to 81.
Another effort by Nj. Blanton to
have these bathing pools erected by
the District Commissioners instead Of
by the director of public buildings
and public parks of the National Cap
ital, as provided for in the Zihlman
bill. also was defeated. Representa-
tive Blanton argued that in the re-
moval of the bathing beach from the
Tidal Basin last year Lieut.. Col. Clar-
ence o. Sheriff.. then officer in charge
Of public buildings and parks, vast.
ed $1,000
Debate on this bill was facetious
throughout. Representative Begg of
Ohio took exception to the statement
in the bill for the establishment of
artificial bathing beaches" claiming
that this would make riverside bath
ing and that under this language
pools in any other part Of the city
could not be established. In order to
conform with the dictionary meaning
bathing beaches" an amendment was
made.
Blanton Commends Coolidge.
Representative Underhill. Republic
an, of Massachusetts, and Chairman
Zihlman Of the District committee led
the fight against Mr.. Blanton's pro-
posal that the funds for these beaches
should come wholly from the revenues
Of the District. They argued that the
cost Of these beaches should be ap-
propriated in the same way as all
other moneys for the support OF the
National Capital through the appro-
priations committee on whatever
basis of fiscal relations may be deter
mined upon by Congress
During his argument Mr.. Blanton
strongly Championed President Cool
idge. who, he said, does not believe
in extra sessions. Neither do l." And
: he added that the people Of the
country will be better off when we
are not here"
None OF Fund for Land.
and construction OF these bathing
pools shall be subject to the approval
of the National Capital Park Commits
sion and that suitable buildings,
shower baths. lockers and provisions
for the use Of filtered water. purifica-
ton OF water and all such necessary
adjuncts shall be made.
The Commission of Fine Arts is to
be consulted as to the location and
construction of these beaches.
No part Of the s345,000 authorized
p 1nnr0DriQta6 G n no Tod
in the purchase of land. The pools
are to be located upon land acquired
for park, parkway or playground pur-
poses.
Representative Gibson, Republican,
of Vermont, reporting on this legisla-
ton, said that 1t was definitely de-
termined by the last Congress to put
| an end to public bathing in the Tidal
Basin and that an appropriation Of
$4,000 was made for the removal of
the bathing facilities both for white
and colored persons in the Tidal Basin.
This left Washington without any pub
lie bathing facilities for adults and
only few small wading pools in play
grounds for children's use.
There Is no question about the de-
mand and need of public bathing facili-
ties for the adults in the District, par
ticularly in view Of the long period
of hot weather in this climate Mr..
Gibson said.
Would Accommodate 5000 Bathers.
He explained that the plans call for
q pool for white bathers, 400 feet long
by 200 feet wide, elliptical in shape. to
accommodate 1000 bathers at one time
or a maximum Of 10000 per day. The
colored pool is to be 260 feet long by
100 feet wide, and would accommodate
] 900 bathers at time. or maximum
of 5000 per day.