Evening star., 1944-02-10
House Probers
Study Plans 10
CutDe|inquency
Christensen Asserts
Recreation Should
Be Emphasized

Proposals for immediate improve
ment Of recreational facilities in the
District were the last recommends
tions before the House District Sub
committee seeking a practical an
swer to juvenile delinquency here
as it prepared to study testimony
preliminary to making its report.
The proposals were voiced by Milo
F.. Christensen. superintendent of
the Recreation Board, who was the
final witness as public hearings were
adjourned yesterday by Chairman
Earlier DR.. Oscar F.. BlackWelder.
pastor of the Lutheran Church of
the Reformation, called for aboli-
ton of valuations, women wrestlers
and loose" liquor control laws.
Urging that all wrestling bouts be
placed under control of the Boxing
Commission, he declared: Then
only professionals would Wrestle-
and there are no professional wom-
men wrestlers."
Advocates Legislation.
Advocating legislation to improve
the environment of the general
community. the minister suggested
that such legislation originate in
the committees of Congress.
Later he told reporters that he
had no desire to criticize the Com
missioners. MY point" he said, sis
that under our form of government
the Commissioners are executives
and not judges of legislation. So
hope the District committees in
Congress will initiate their own leg
islation for the District"
DR.. John w. Rustin, pastor of the
Mount Vernon Place Methodist
Church, who was among other re-
ligious leaders testifying. described
the recreation program his church
has inaugurated for children of that
area.
No 'Cure-alP Of Problem.
While Mr.. Christensen empha-
sized that recreation is not a cure
all for social problems he described
1t as normal and necessary hu-
man function" and lone of the
most important stabilizers" affect
ing community morale, discipline
and solidarity.
Appropriation Of $1000,00O for
land acquisition of midcity play
ground sites by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission was
listed as one of the immediate
needs in the Districts recreational
program. This request is now be-
fore the Budget Bureau.
The witness also urged reinstate-
ment of 1921 1854 of the Lanham Act
program for improvement and de-
velopment of recreational areas. He
pointed out that the War Produc-
ton Board has been holding up that
portion of the $500 900 program but
that an appeal now is pending.
The revised program calls for i'm
provement and development of the
Turkey Thicket and Stoddert School
Fairgrounds and the Anacostia
Park, Coolidge, Mckinley -Ecking-
ton. Francis. Hillcrest, jefferson,
Langston and Powell recreation
centers.
Swimming Pool Plans.
Mr.. Christensen further recon-
mended appropriation of $4,000 to
prepare plans and specifications for
postwar construction of three year.
long swimming pools and night
illumination of 13 recreation CEN
ters. Installation of night illumi-
nation, he said would enable the
centers to double or triple partici-
patton.
The construction and installation
cost of these projects was estimated
at 1,135,00
Mr.. christensen also said that
operations of his department are
limited at present by a lack of
fuel oil to heat certain school build
ings for community and night rec
reational activities. Requests for
this fuel have been refused by OPA,
he pointed out. The schools in
volved are Montgomery, Wilson
Coolidge, Banneker, Terrell and
Jefferson.
Recalling that operation of all
recreational agencies was unified
here in 1943, Mr.. Christensen told
the committee that Washington has
the basic structure for one of the
finest public recreation programs in
the country.