Evening star., 1938-02-20
Federation Also Opposes
Board to Control All Rec.
reationaI Facilities.
FIERY DEBATES MARK. =
THREE-HOUR Meeting
Leaders of Group Directed to Work
for Local Franchise-Rec.
commended by Finch.

OStrlct, ana the proposed creation
OF board Of recreation to have con-
troll over all play facilities was op-
posed last night by the Federation Of
Citizens Associations in a session
marked by a number of fiery debates
Practically all Of the three-hour meet
ing was devoted to the two topics.
Federation oficias and members of
the Suffrage Committee were directed
to work for q local franchise. but it
was stipulated that any specific plan
that might be developed must be
brought before the body for approval.
The action was taken on recommen-7
dation by Wilbur s. Finch, chairman
of the Suffrage Committee. He urged
that federation of1cials be authorized
to act on their own initiative or in
cooperation with other groups Ito.
secure through appropriate congress =,
sional action the reorganizat ton of the,
District Government into . modern,
effective and economical municipal
government. with adequate provision
for the effective participation by Dis
trict citizens in the election and con-
troll of such government consistent
with the congressional power of ex-
elusive legislation over the seat of
government"
Finch Leader Of Movement.
Mr.. Finch, who Is q leader of the
new civic movement for municipal
suffrage, declared there is q growing
willingness on the part of Congress to
place complete control of municipal
affairs in the hands of District resi-
dents. He added that members Of
Congress desire to be relieved of re-
sponsibilities for the city admins
tration.
A. D. Calvert. Lincoln Park dele
gate, urging rejection of the resolu-
ton, raised fears of local politics and
insisted that when the District is
worthy Of better form Of govern
ment. it will come about naturally
without any effort"
In reply, William j. Tucker Of Ana
costa. said that when we get the
vote Congress will pay some atten-
ton to residents Of the District" and
w. H. Seaquist of Manor Park pro-
tested that District finances now are
dominated BY the Federal Budget
Bureau.
Praises Present Government.
NJ. M. Mclean of Brookland in
sisted that the District has the best
government of any large city Of the
country and voiced the doubt that its
efficiency and honesty could be
matched by substitution of an elected
form.
Fred S. Walker of Park View, Jesse
c. Suter of the Society of Natives and
James F. Duhamel of the Association
Of Oldest Inhabitants were among
many delegates who supported the
Finch motion.
Opposition to proposed centraliza-
ton of control over recreation facilities
under a new board was registered in
adoption of motion by H. c. Phillips,
chairman of the Federations Educa.
ton Committee, which found that the
proposal tended to deprive the Board
of Education of its rightful and full
control of its public school properties
Of all kinds at all times"
The Federation favored complete
control of all public school properties
and personnel, whenever and however
used. by of1icials responsible only to
the Board of Education.
Recreation Board Proposed.
The board of recreation is proposed
in legislation which has been suggest
ed by officials of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. The
Education Committee opposed the plan
on two major grounds:
First, that the set-up of the board
would leave the general citizenry and
schools in a powerless minority, in
that q majority could easily be mus
tered by the other oficial agencies,
and
Second, that authority would be
given the Recreation Board to control
the buildings and grounds of the pub
lie schools. including the use OF their
assembly rooms. gymnasiuns. SWIM
ming pools, stadiums and school play
grounds. and the dominance Of those
facilities during all periods of recrea-
tion, with no responsibility to the
Board Of Education beyond some un-
certain agreement which the Recrea-
ton Board might reach with the
Board of Education-an agreement
that might conceivably be coerced or
Influenced by a strong majority of
the Recreation Board"
Mr.. Phillips explained that IS the
bill now is suggested. the proposed
Recreation Board would consist of one
Of the District Commissioners, the
superintendent of schools, the superin-
tendent Of National Capital Parks, the
chairman of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission and one
District resident to be appointed by