Evening star., 1941-05-26
Official Defends
Recreationa|
Property Leases
Golf Courses Run
At $4,000 Loss After
SoIory, Root States
By JOHN w. THOMPSON.

supt. of National Capital Parks
Irving c. Root today defended the
leasing of public recreational prop
erty to two private concessionarles
as the House District Committee
Recreation Subcommittee resumed
hearings on two bills to reorganize
the Districts recreation setup.
Members of the subcommittee
who at previous hearings have indi-
Gated strong opposition to the prac-
tice. pressed Mr.. Root closely on the
leasing of golf courses to S. G
Loefier and of tennis courts ano
other facilities to the Welfare and
Recreational Association.
Referring to the five-year lease OF
the six public golf courses to Mr.
Loefler, Representative Hebert OF
Louisiana asked Mr.. Root If he
thought it was a good idea to lease
'for $4,000 facilities on which a
man makes 100000 profit"
Mr.. Root denied that the profit
had been made, introducing figures
asserting that, after Mr.. Loeff1er S
salary of some $4,000 had been de-
Quoted, the courses had been oper-
ated at a $4,000 loss in 1910.
It am satisfied" he said, that
there is no great profit at all in the
operation of the golf courses"
Figures Are Challenged.
Members of the subcommittee
challenged the figures and indicated
they would introduce others at a
later date. Mr.. Hebert asked Mr..
Root hypotf etical question: "If a
concessionaire was shown to make a
100000 profit out of the use of pub
lie properties would you recommend
such a lease or subscribe to its
renewal?"
Absolutely not" replied the park
superintendent. Mr.. Root said one
of the advantages of letting the
properties out on concession was
that the parks Office is compelled to
use relief labor and hence could not
get as3competent workers for main
tenance as private operator.
Both Chairman Hunter of Ohio
and Mr.. Hebert questioned him on
the amount of maintenance done on
the golf courses, citing the Langston
course for colored players as being
In bad condition.
wouldn't you say" said Mr..
Eebert, that Mr. Loeff1er provides
minimum rather than reasonable
maintenance"
Mr.. Root replied that he thought
Mr. Loef1er provided reasonable
maintenance. He admitted poor
conditions at Langston, but said
they were poor when Mr.. Loeff1er
took ih oyer.
"a More Tennis Courts Planned.
Asked about is tennis courts op-
Grated by the Welfare Association,
Mr.. Root said the association is
planning "a more at its own ex-
pense. The association, he said,
loses money on some activities, such
Is a summer camp at Catoctin, and
makes it on others. such as cafe
terias.
DO you think Government en-
ployes should be compelled to pay
extra for lunch to pay for other
activities which lose money!" asked
Mr.. Hebert.
Mr.. Root answered that they were
not compelled to eat in the
cafeterias.
The park superintendent was
asked to explain denial of the
Palisades Field House to an Amer
lean Legion group recently after the
group had been meeting there for
several years. He replied that the
building was denied in accordance
with park service policy because the
meeting was to have been "a closed"
session. Asked if the Communist
party could use the building, he said
that if it were an open meeting they
could get it.
Then you would allow the Com
munist party what you would deny
. patriotic organization" continued
Mr.. Hebert.
Il realize it doesn't make much
sense" said Mr.. Root, but the rule
on closed meetings has been of long
standing"
Amendments Presented.
Harry S. Wender, representing the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
overwhelmingly supported the
plan for a nine-man recreation
board. He presented a series of
amendments to the bill suggested by
the Federation, including eliminat-
ing from the proposed board a rep
of the National Capital
Parks and Planning Commission.
The measure now calls for a rep
resentative of the Board of Educa-
ton, the Commissioners, the Parks
ONCE, the Planning Commission
and five members of the public to be
by the Commissioners.
The Federation asked that an addi-
tional citizen member replace the
Planning Commission member.
Other amendments would compel
the Commissioners to make ap-
pointments within go days, would
make mandatory establishment OF a
merit system for Recreation Board
employees and the use of District
personnel except in the case Of the
superintendent OF recrea-
ton, would permit both park and
police to maintain Or
der on recreation grounds, would re-
duce the term of board membership
from five to three years and increase
the residence requirement from
three to five years, would protect
board members from personal liabil-
ity in suits and would require public
meetings of the board except as to
personnel matters.
Mr.. Wender said adequate money
for purchase of land had been pro-
vided, but insufficient funds for de-
velopment.
Woolsey w. Hall of the Federation
Of Civic Associations asked that the
not be left to the Com
and suggested instead ap-
pointment by District Court judges
as the Board of Education is now
selected. He said the Commissioners
have not given the colored COM
munity adequate representation on
- l. ytf< RI