Evening star., 1935-03-18
Defend New Commission
After Peoples CounseI's
Report to King.
CLAIM DISTRICTS RIGHTS
WERE NOT ADVOCATED
Head of Capital Park System
Asks Fair Trial of Plan to Co.
ordinate Separate Units.

Denying that the actions Of the
newly formed District Recreation
Commission are illegal and contend
ing that the formation Of that body
is mot an abdication of the Dis
trict's rights" as charged by Peoples
Counsel William A. Roberts, District
Commissioner George E. Allen and C.
Marshall Finnan, superintendent of
the National Capital Parks. today
came to the defense Of the commits
sion.
The defense Of the constitutionality
Of the commission and Of its acts was
prompted by report by Roberts to
Senator King of the Senate District
Committee that there was a question
as to the legality of its establishment.
The commission consists of Commits
sioner Allen. representing the District:
Henry 1. Quinn, representing the
Board of Education: Finnan and Fred
eric A. Delano, chairman of the Ma
tional Capital Parks and Planning
Commission, serving as a non-voting
chairman.
Says Rights Retained.
I'VE have abdicated none of our
rights or titles and are sacrificing
nothing that We now have in the set
up and operation of this new joint
commission" said Allen.
1t should be borne in mind that
the decisions of the commission will
not be binding legally on any one of
the three affected Government agen-
cles. This set-up was conceived as a
means of getting unified management
OF recreation facilities, now scattered
among various agencies. The present
set-up is contemplated for but one
year OF trial and during that time
experience should guide US in deter
mining what should be the perma-
nent arrangement. which may re-
quire legislation"
Allen said he proposed to insist that
any decision by any one Of the three
agencies which might affect the rights
of either of the other two units
should be fully discussed and under
stood by the Recreation Commission
before any action is taken. This had
reference to the decision of Finnan
last week to proceed at once with de-
moliShment of the swimming pools
near Seventeenth street and Constitu-
tion avenue. plan now being held up
because of local public protest against
elimination of these pools until new
ones to replace them are definitely
assured. The Monument Grounds
pools, while on Federal property, have
LAA
jurisdiction of the District govern
ment for some years.
Asks Fair Trial.
"Our acts are absolutely legal, as
far as any plan We have yet evolved,
is concerned" said Finnan. "All the
actions of our commission, up to this
point. are entirely within the law.
S"I feel that the effort should be
given a fair trial This is the first
constructive effort made to bring
about unif1cation of all recreational
facilities in the District. 1t follows
closely one of the recommendations
made by the District Commissioners
Advisory Council of Recreation-the
second suggestion-namely. to have
the three groups brought together
in harmony to work out a we'll
rounded program"
The commission held its last meet
ing on Tuesday of last week and
announced it had drawn up the pro-
gram, designed to last a year. under
which superintendent would be en-
ployed. Applications for this job are
now being received by Thomas s.
Settle. secretary of the Planning
Commission, who is acting temporarily
as the new groups secretary, until
the new superintendent is named.