Evening star., 1938-04-12
KING RECREATION
BILL IS |NDORSED
Council of Social Agencies
Committee Suggests
Several Changes.

The Recreation Committee of the
Council of Social Agencies yesterday
voted its approval of Senator Kings
bill for the unihcation of recreation
In the District, with certain changes
proposed at the meeting. The meas
ure will now go to the board of direc-
tors of the council.
Approval of the bill followed a heated
discussion between c. Marshall Fin
nan, superintendent of National Cap
ltal Parks, and Lewis R. Barrett. CO.
ordInator of recreation, when Mr.. Fin
nan suggested that the care and
maintenance of recreation should re-
main under the three agencies now
having the maintenance power by law
The bill provides that a recreation
board should maintain recreational IA
cilities. Mr.. Finnan's suggestion was
put to motion and defeated.
Another stir was caused when Jay
S. McCathran, legislative chairman
OF the Parent-Teacher Association,
called the bill "a usurpation of school
Fairgrounds and another eXploita-
ton OF the taxpayers" Since ne was
not member of the committee, Mrs.
Dorothy Lee, vice chairman. who
presided, questioned his right to enter
the discussion. Mrs. W. B. Fry, presi-
dent Of the PIT. A.. explained that
Mr.. McCathran was speaking for her.
Merit System Urged.
The question of appointment of the
recreation staff, originally phrased ito
hold office at the pleasure of the
board went through a number of re-
visions before it was finally decided
that the staff should be selected in
accordance with merit system set
up by the recreation board.
Discussion centered around section 8
of the bill, which stipulates the pow
ers OF the board. The committee
added the words operate or cause to
be operated to the recreation board
shall have the power and authority to
conduct. maintain and supervise COM
prehensive public recreation system"
In the same section, the group pro-
vided that the agreements between the
recreation board and the government
tai agencies responsible for the custody
of recreational facilities be made
revocable
Would Limit Area.
At Mr.. Finnan's suggestion. the
duties of the board were limited to the
District and the words ''and environs"
were eliminated. He pointed out that
more than S250000 would be needed
to take care of the region around the
District.
Appointment of the board would be
put into the hands Of the justices of
the District Court instead of the Com
missioners and the number of citizens
acting ex oficio would be set at five
under the councils committee recon-
mendations.
The title of the chief executive of
recreation would be charged from CO.
ordinator to superintendent. The
group added two sentences to the sec
ton on employment. providing that
all qualified personnel now employed
by the executives of functioning agen-
cies may be retained Temporary en-
ployes may be had for a period not to
exceed six months"
The last section, which repealed
laws or parts f laws in conflict with
the act, was eliminated from the
measure under the suggested program.
Although the meeting, which was
held at the Young Women's Christian
Association, was open for discussion
from all members of the committee,
those taking the most active parts
were Mr.. Finnan. Mr.. Barrett. Miss
Sybil Baker. director of Fairgrounds.
and Thomas Settle, secretary of the
National Park and Planning Commits
sion.