Evening star., 1935-03-17
RECREATION PLAN
REQUIRES CHANGE
FLAW,K|NG TOLD
Roberts Says Pooling of Per-
sonneI of Several Blu.
reaus Is Illegal.
5 RECOMMENDATIONS
MADE TO SENATOR
Peoples Counsel, as District Com.
mittee Agent Studying Prob
lem, Cites Many Needs.

trict Recreation Commission, to CO.
ordinate the work of Federal, NUM-
cipal and school agencies, Peoples
Counsel William A. Roberts advised
Chairman King of the Senate District
Committee last night that it will re-
quire legislation to carry out the pro-
posed plan.
After receiving the report, Chair
man King said he would lay the sub
ject before the District Committee
when it meets, and also would con-
fer with the Commissioners.
Roberts Endorsed the recent report
Of the Advisory Council on Recreation.
which had recommended to the Com
missioners the coordination of recre-
ational facilities under a director Of
recreation, but with a recreation COM
mission of nine members, three to be
appointed by the District Commits
sioners, three by the Board of Edu-
cation and three by the National
Capital Parks Office Commenting
on the advisory councils report. in
his memorandum to Senator King,
Roberts added:
1T seems very strange to me that
the Commissioners, having set up
this important body, should so far de-
part from its conclusions as to enter
into District of Columbia Recrea-
ton Commission of three members,
with a secretary and chairman from
the Park and Planning Commission
As matter Of fact. I know of no
body in the voluminous reports which
have been submitted, that has pro-
posed such a set-up."
Now in Existence.
The new commission referred to
came into existence a few days ago,
with Commissioner Allen represent
ing the District; Henry T. Quinn of
the Board of Education. to represent
the school community center activi-
ties, and c. Marshall Finnan, repre-
senting the National Capital Parks
Office. Frederic A Delano, chairman
of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. is to serve as
chairman of the new recreation group,
but without a vote. The plan an
nounced a few days ago is to pool,
as far as possible. existing employees
and facilities and operate for a year
as an experiment. One of the first
steps to be taken is to appoint a
superintendent of recreation under the
new unified system. This effort to CO.
ordinate the management of existing
facilities is direct outgrowth of the
letter President Roosevelt addressed
last month to Federal and District
officials. urging that a method of ad-
miniStration be evolved that would
provide maximum human use of these
properties.
In questioning the legality Of the
co-ordinating plan which the spokes-
men for the various agencies have
evolved, Roberts stated in his report
! to Senator King:
Needless to say, 1t is entirely
without authority in law. as it has
not been proposed by an executive
order, and the pooling of personnel of
several bureaus and the engagement
of a director are directly contrary to
the appropriation items authorizing
personnel for the several agencies
involved
No Local Application.
You will recall that you were ad-
vised by the White House early last
Spring that, in the Attorney Generals
opinion. the statute proveiding for
reorganization of governmental de-
partments by executive order was not
applicable to the District of Columbia.
and that legislation would be required
if any reorganization was attempted
here. 1t is my personal opinion that
the White House was correct in its
conclusion and that it will require
legislation to effectuate such consoli-
dation of recreational activities as is
now suggested
Recreation in the District of Co.
lumbia is at present badly disorgan-
lied, overlapping and unsatisfactory
from functional and financial stand
point and underf1nanced other than
as to the acquisition of land
The ideal control of recreation
would be in Department of Recrea-
ton under a director appointed by the
District of Columbia government with
plan is not practicable under the
present government of the District of
Columbia and would be fought bitterly
by the Federal agencies.
Recommendations Follow.
81. That the basis of the action OF
the Senate District Committee should
be the report of the Advisory Council
of Fairgrounds and Recreation to the
District Commissioners.
2. That the agents of the Senate
District Committee be directed to draft
a bill to centralize and consolidate
recreation under a board of citizens
and ex-officio officers.
g. The financial consolidation of
the funds available to the three major
agencies should be authorized for the
fiscal year 1886 and carried in the
appropriation bill.
a. The Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia should be directed,
for submission to the Senate commit
tee, to submit a statement recon-
mending transfers of lands and facili-
ties from the Interior Department to
the Commissioners so that all local
recreational facilities could be con-
trolled directly by the Recreation
Board.
IS. That upon the introduction of
the proposed bill hearings be i'm
mediately held as a part of the re-
organization work of the Senate Dis
trict Committee"
Roberts was one of the group Of
officials designated by Senator King
more than a year ago as one of the
District committees agents to study
reorganization of the District govern
ment, and he submitted his report
on recreation yesterday in response 20