Evening star., 1940-04-26

"A controversy DeJWeeu secretary
of the Interior Ickes and District
Commissioners is developing at
Senate hearings on the District ap-
preparation bill, it was learned to-
day.
The controversy involves specific
ally items providing for a Scott
Circle underpass and the exchang-
ing of the salary OF District co-or-
dinator Of recreation for the Ma
tional Park Service, a post now
held by Lewis r. Barrett, for that
of first assistant superintendent of
schools.
Secretary Ickes and park service
officials are reported incensed over
the wording of the underpass pro-
vision which the Commissioners are
trying to have restored to the bill.
They contend that the provision
does not set forth that the plan for
the underpass must be approved by
the Secretary.
See Destruction Of Layout.
Mr.. Ickes and park officials are
reported to feel that the plan drawn
up by Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, Dis
trict highway director, would de-
stroy the present character of Scott
Circle and also the Daniel Webster
and DR.. Samuel Hahnemann memo
rial reservations adjacent to the
circle.
Mr.. Ickes would amend the bill to
provide that plans for the under
pass must be approved by the Sec
retary of the Interior as we'll as the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission because park lands for
which he is solely responsible are
involved.
It was learned that the Secretary
has departed from the custom of
proposing amendments to District
legislation through District officials
and has written directly to Chair
man Overton Of the Senate Appro-
priations Subcommittee asking for
careful consideration of the amend
ments he favors.
Landscaping Cited.
Supporting Mr.. Ickes contention. a
park official said today the present
underpass plans would destroy the
reservations, which are planted with
weeping cherry trees, prime ghinko
trees and carefully-nursed shrub
berry, and leave the statues in the
middle of bare sidewalks.
The Park and Planning Commits
sion is reported going along with
Secretary Ickes and parks au-
thorities in the matter. While it
approved the underpass plans in
principle last week, the commission
approved only that part of the plan
which provides for an underpass on
the Sixteenth street axis. Although
1t did not announce it had done
so at the time the commission de-
chned to approve the remainder OF
the plan, it was learned today, un-
til better treatment was given park
property and planting at the Circle
In regard to the abolishment of the
position Of District Co-ordinator OF
Recreation for the Park Service. to-
gether with its $500 salary, and
the transfer of this sum to provide
for the salary of a first assistant
superintendent of schools in charge
OF recreation, Secretary Ickes and
park of1cials are unalterably op-
posed to the change, it was learned
Ickes Amendment.
| Mr.. 1ckes letter to the Senate
Committee proposes amending the
bill to place the recreation system
under the joint control of the
Board of Education and the Super.
tendent of National Capital Parks
Mr.. Ickes feels and expressed the
feeling in his letter, it was learned
that as the city's recerational pro.
gram involves use of more than III
facilities in active recreation area.
under the jurisdiction Of the OF.
fice Of National Capital Parks, ane
for which the latter agency /.
solely responsible where mainten.
ance and improvement are concern.
ed, that joint park and school con.
troll is the only solution to ths
recreation administrative problem
He also is reported to feel that tn.
| salary Of co-ordinator should be lef
untouched or that the salary shoule
be arranged for jointly by the Schoo
Board and Parks ONCE.
The secretary and parks omcialI