Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-08-27
$4,000 ASKED
FOR PLAYGROUND
NEEDS IN CAPITAL
Miss Baker AssaiIs Poor
Showing of W. P. A.
Emergency Work.
ELEVEN ADDITIONAL
EMPLOYEES URGED
Supervisors Urge Commissioners
to Approve So Per Cent
Larger Estimate.
BY DON S. WARREN.

Taking a slap at poor quality of
work done on Fairgrounds under the
w. P. A. and other emergency pro-
grams, Miss Sibyl Baker, supervisor of
the Fairgrounds Department, has
asked the Commissioners to approve a
1888 budget amounting to S278,800,
about Sc per cent more than was ap-
propriated for the present year.
Increased funds are sought for
maintenance and for the employment
of IL additional regular workers in the
department. The boost would permit
expasions of playground services
through operation of eight additional
school grounds for a period of eight
month of the year.
Miss Baker softened her criticism of
the work performed under the emer-
gency programs by saying they I'M
doubleday assisted in meeting con-
stantly increasing demands. She
added, however:
But these programs are inevitably
uncertain, the work poor in quality,
the workers unable to carry full re-
sponSibility In actual fact, the W..
P. A. and the National Youth Admin
1stration programs make such heavy
demands upon the supervisory staff
of the department that at times all
their energy seems to be DETECTED from
the regular program to solve the prob
lens of the w. P. A. workers"
An increase from $29,700 to S38, 900
in the item for maintenance and OPP
Grafton of school grounds, Miss Baker
said, would permit the operation of
90 grounds for eight months, from
March 10 to November Is. eight
grounds for six months, May to
November / as we'll as 80 grounds for
the months of July and August. Dur
ing the present year only u school
grounds can be operated for eight
months and the remaining 46 only
during July and August, she added
For improvements to Fairgrounds.
the department asks special appro-
priation of $4,000 Nothing was pro-
vided for the purpose for this year
Miss Baker said: In spite of the
promise that the w. P. A. program
would considerably advance the i'm
provement of the city's Fairgrounds,
there are still 20 municipal grounds
on which physical Improvements are
needed to make them fully effective
as play centers. The Department of
Fairgrounds with its present appro-
priation cannot furnish skilled labor
and supervision to make effective the
w. P. A. unskilled labor available for
improvement projects"
She asked that $4,000 of the $40
900 item be allocated for materials
and equipment and $4,000 for
skilled labor and supervision.
The II additional permanent en-
ployes would be provided under a
proposed salary appropriation of
Sl39, 500, an increase of $4,000 over
this year. The additional employees
would include playground engineer,
two additional playground directors,
two supervisors, two additional part
time playground assistants and di-
rector for colored activities.
In general support of the requests,
Miss Baker said: This department
has not been permitted ror i've years
the growth which is normal for a
bureau serving the children of the
city with program of activities rec
ognized as essential in a modern mu-
nicipality. Since 1881 the annual ap-
preparation of the department has
been less than allowed for that fiscal
year.
The Commissioners today also re-
leased estimates for the Zoo, for the
minor courts and for the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board.
For Zoo operation and maintenance
DR.. William NJ Mann, director, pro-
posed an appropriation of s263, 700. an
increase of $685. 700 over this year, or
about 16 per cent. This would permit
the employment of an additional po-
liceman, one additional head keeper,
four additional keepers and three ad-
ditional laborers and $4,000 for tenn
porary labor.
For operations of Juvenile Court,
the Commissioners were urged to sup
port an appropriation of $87,790, an
increase of $17,26O over this year.
which was held needed because of an
increase in the courts activities. The
b major portion of the increase was
asked for employment of three addi-
tional probation officers, five addi-
tional clerks and one additional
janitor.
r Appropriation of 100000 to COM
plete construction Of the new Police
Court building, in Judiciary Square,
construction of which is to be started
this year under an appropriation of
100000 in the current budget, is
asked in the estimates of that court.
Outside of this item, the court asks
an increase of but $500 over this
years normal appropriation.
Municipal Court asks a 1888 ap-
preparation of $87,45O, as against $685.
40 for this year. The increase of
but $1,000 is for step-ups in salaries
and some additional money for law
: books.
! The Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board seeks a 1888 appropriation of
/ $44,940, as against $4,000, an in
crease of $4,540 which would permit
Redistribution of the salaries of sew
eral employees and an increase of 500,
from 5000 to $1,000, in the fund avail
able for the purchase of samples of
liquor.