Evening star., 1946-04-30
InefficiencyCuts
Swimming Time,
Critics Declare
Guards at Pools Late,
Recreation Agency
Officials Assert

The so-caued "free mornings" al
lotted the District Recreation De-
partment at six public swimming
pools operated by Government
Services, Inc, under contract with
the Interior Department actually
"boil down" to about an hour and
q half free swimming time for the
city's youngsters, top staff men,
bers of the recreation agency
charged last night.
The claim was made by Harry E.
English, the departments director
of neighborhood recreation, and
Clarence Pendleton, regional direc-
tor for colored recreation, before a
special three-man committee of the
District Recreation Board, seeking
to back up the boards claim Gov
eminent Services, Inc, does not
operate the pools to the best in
terest of Washingtonians.
The committee consists of Harry
S. Wender, board chairman; James
E. Schwab, vice chairman, and
Mrs. Alice c. Hunter, secretary.
Statements Supported.
Mr.. English and Mr.. Pendleton
were supported in their statements
by Miss Sybil Baker and John l..
Young, assistant recreation super
intendents, and Milo F.. Christian
sen, superintendent.
Theoretically, they said, the de-
partment is permitted to operate
a free swimming instruction and
practice period from 9 am. until
noon Saturdays at the pools. Actual
1y, guards are late and youngsters
usually do not enter the water until
10 am. At 11:30 am, time is called,
and they must prepare to vacate the
premises so that swimmers paying
fee can enter, the officials main
tanned.
In addition, they explained, young
sters wanting merely to swim free
must enter an instruction class and
go through an hours calesthenics
and swimming instruction before
getting in half-hour of swimming.
Plan Report to Board.
These and other charges were
made as the committee laid the
groundwork for a report to the full
board and made plans to call on
the District Commissioners to get
their backing in contesting the
legality of the recently extended
contract which permits the corpora
ton to operate park recreation
facilities for another five years.
The committee will seek to have
the contract invalidated, however,
on only two of the pools, Banneker
and Takoma. These are part of
recreation centers assigned to the
District by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission in
1912. The other four-East Potomac,
McKinley-Ec lexington, Anacostia and
Francis-are admittedly on park
property or on property at present
in the custody of the Interior De-
partment.
Here are some other complaints
about present operation made last
night.
l. Qualifying rounds for swimming
meets have to be held in the morn
ing, thus knocking out the free
swimming program.
No Afternoon Periods.
2. There are no free periods in the
afternoon,
8. A father cannot take his son
for a swim on Sunday, since chill
dren are not allowed.
4. The department is not in
formed in advance when Govern
ment Services, Inc, has given some
outside group pool reservation for
a special event. The youngsters get
to the pool and then find they can
not get in.
s. Pools are closed for cleaning
without notice
Last wick the Recreation Board
voted 5 to in favor of contesting
the legality of the contract and
creating the special committee. At
the time living C. Root, superin-
tendent of National Capital Parks,
and Mrs. Hunter, colored member
and board secretary, dissented.
After hearing last nights testimony