Evening star., 1946-02-27
Coffee Battles
Big Park Site
For Tourists
Backs Boord Demand
To Place $500, 900
Comp Elsewhere
By Don S. Worren

by ION }. warren
A determined fight by the Recre-
alton Board to prevent use of East
Potomac Park acreage for an ex-
panded and permanent tourist
camp, instead of for long planned
play facilities, will be carried to the
House Appropriations Committee by
District spokesmen on Capitol Hill.
Plans to this effect were outlined
by Chairman Coffee of the District
subcommittee of the funds group
as he joined with recreation leaders
in contending the tourist camp
could and should be located else
where" away from the congested
section and not in the parks.
The issue is expected to come to
a decisive stage soon, for the In
terror Department budget for the
next fiscal year carries a proposed
outlay of 100000 for the purpose.
This now is under consideration by
the Interior subcommittee of the
House Appropriations Committee.
Arguments Boil to Surface.
Spokesman for the Recreation
Board, other than the representative
OF the National Capital Parks Office,
it was revealed, plan to appear be-
for this subcommittee, and if neces-
lsary before the Interior Appropria-
tions Subcommittee of the Senate,
to fight the proposal.
Arguments over the case boiled to
the surface on Capitol Hill yester-
day for the first time at hearings on
the Districts 1947 budget being con-
Quoted in executive session by Mr..
Coffee. He announced his intention
to carry the case to the full COM
mittee, after hearing protests from
Harry S. Wender, chairman. and
Milo F. christensen, director, of
the Recreation Board.
In doing SO, Mr.. Coffee attacked
the increasing and mysterious actl-
vities' of Government Services, Inc,
the organization of Government Of
flcials which operates the tourist
camp, many of the Government
cafeterias, golf links and other Gov
ernment welfare" services.
"Encroachments" Protested.
Members of the District Subcom-
mlttee, he declared, were concerned
over the growing activities of this
so-called nonprofit organizat ton"
He reported that Mr.. Wender had
protested strongly against "en-
croachments" by the corporation on
"recreational lands" and against op-
Grafton on fee basis by that agency
OF six swimming pools. Mr.. Wender
contended these should be placed
under the control of the Recreation
Board, jointly representing Federal,
District and public school interests.
The six pools are those in East
Potomac Park, Anacostia Park and
near Mckinley and Coolidge High
Schools and the Banneker and
Francis Junior Highs.
mysterious Outfit"
Government Services, Inc" said
Mr.. Coffee, lis very mysterious
outfit, but we will go into that be-
fore the full Appropriations Com
mlttee, for the agency now is seek
ing 100000 for expansion of the
tourist camp. The controller gen.
eral Uindsay c. Warren) has COM
planned that his Office has now no
right to check on the returns to the
corporation, yet its expansion pro-
gram would be paid out of the tax
payers money.
And the District auditor "a p
Pikerton) tells us this organization
pays no taxes.
I can say this that the committee
Is opposed to increased encroach-
ments by Government Services. Inc.
on lands that are needed for recrea-
ton purposes in the National Cap
ital."
Harks Back to 1929.
AS long ago as 1929, the future
program of the Park and Planning
Commission, it was recalled, pro-
vided for development of recrea-
tlonal facilities on the East Potomac
Park area, east of Fourteenth street,
supposedly temporarily used for the
tourist camp.
Inc permanent tourist camp was
to have been in Arlington Farms.
the experimental area of the Agri-
culture Department, but that was
taken over after the outbreak of
the war for part of the site of the
mammoth Pentagon Building.
Under pressure, it was reported.
the planning body has given a gen.
eral tentative approval to plans
for doubling the size of the tourist
camp in East Potomac Park. but as
yet without final action. More
recently, the District Commissioners
threw their support to the Recrea-
uon Boards proposal that another
site be found in the District for the
tourist camp.
Mr.. Coffee said his group was
sympathetic" to the S1,054 900 bud
get proposed for the Recreation De-
partment. This sum includes $685.
900 for improvements to various
Fairgrounds and recreation centers.
The executive hearings were in
recess today but will be resumed
tomorrow when requests for the
Police and Fire Departments and
the courts will be examined.
Boy, Stabbed in Heart