Evening star., 1941-07-24
Wender Backs
Play Board at
Senate Probe
Says House Bill
Hos Support Of
District Citizens
By HENRY A. Muslin.

BY HENRY A. Muslin.
Co-ordinated recreation for the
District of Columbia is impossible"
under the present setup and all in
terested groups ano individuals are
united in an effort to secure enact
ment of a recreation board bill such
as passed 10 days ago by the House,
Harry S. Wender, acting president of
the Federation of Citizens ASSoci-
ationS, told the Senate District SUBJ
committee which opened hearings on
the measure today.
Mr.. Wender made these remarks
under the questioning of Chairman
McCarran of the District Commit
tee, who also is serving as chairman
of the Recreation Subcommittee.
Senator McCarran said he was
determined to go to the bone" if
necessary in an effort to discover
the merits or faults of the proposed
recreation board, adding that its
proponents would have TO rid him
of IAN ingrained conviction that
recreation in America is properly
the duty of the schools themselves"
before any progress could be made.
Called Best Solution.
Mr.. Wender assured Chairman
McCarran that individuals and
groups concerned with District
recreation had worked out their
disagreements among themselves
and asserted that a recreation
board was the best possible solution
to recreation difficulties under the
existing District government.
The bill being considered pro-
poses the creation of a Seven-mem-
Der recreation board with four citi-
zen members and as ex-officio mem
| bers representative of the Board
of Commissioners, the Board of
Education and the superintendent
of National Capital parks.
Serving with Mr.. McCarran on the
subcommittee are Senators Capper.
Republican, of Kansas, and Tydings.
Democrat. of Maryland
Shortly after the hearings began.
/ Chairman McCarran announced in
definite postponement He said this
was being done at the request of
Senator Bilbo, Democrat, Of Mis-
sissippi, who is absent from the city.
Mr.. McCarran said that Mr.. Bilbo
had indicated unusual interest in
the recreation question, asking that
the subcommittee make no report
until he returned TO Washington,
probably early next week.
Amendments Offered.
Five amendments to the bill as ap-
proved by the House were offered
! today. two of them by the Board of
.sEduca tion in the person of Chester
II WaHolmes. acting superintendent of
schools. The other three, drawn up
by Frederic A Delano, chairman of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission. were offered the
committee by Thomas S. Settle, sec
retary of the planning body.
One proposal by Mr.. Holmes would
effect the House version of the bill
where it stipulates transfer of func-
tions of the Community Center and
Playground Department for joint
jurisdiction of the Commissioners
and Board of Education to the pro-
posed recreation board. The amend
ment would except in the tranfer
Community Center functions "hav-
ing to do with supplementary edu-
cational activities and other non-
recreation functions by the Com
munitv Center Department"
Through Mr.. Holmes. the Board
of Education also suggested change
IN the powers TO be conferred on the
recreation board by the writing in
OF the stipulation that nothing
herein expressed or implied shall be
construed to abrogate any powers
vested in the Board of Education bv
the organic act of 1906. insofar as
control of public education and all
necessary facilities and personnel
! Is concerned"
Proposes Custer Plan.
Mr.. Delano's amendments would
involve a change in the appoints
ment Of superintendent of recrea-
ton from a term of one year to
three years, also setting forth that
"he may be removed at any time
for cause, either as to character or
inefflciency by the affirmative vote
OF majority of the members OF the
board"
Another Delano proposal con-
cerned the recreation superintend-
ent's powers over personnel of his
board. Instead of permitting him
to appoint and transfer such per-
sonnel under a merit system as he
deems necessary" the amendment
would insert the provision with the
| approval of the board"