Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-07
Operation Of Pools
In Evening Sought
IBy Recreation Board

in the Districts six public pools was
asked today by the District Recrea-
ton Board, with recommendation
to Undersecretary of the Interior
Oscar L. Chapman that lights be in
stalled at all pools to permit SWIM
ming until 10 pm.
The board also requested the pools
be opened free to swimmers from
l to 3 pm. daily, augmenting the
present $50 am. to noon free in
struction period in effect at public
pools. Other adjustments asked in
the letter made public today ares
A longer pool season. possibly
keeping pools open until later in
September if the weather remains
warm; longer Sunday operation,
free swimming instructions to adults
and lowering of admission fees,
especially for children.
Had Approved Idea.
These and other recommends
tons were made to Mr.. Chapman,
who recently approved extending
operation of the pools by Govern
ment Services, Inc, for another five
years despite protests by the board
that it could operate them better.
The board told Mr.. Chapman it
could not assume operation of the
pools this year, as suggested by
Government Services. Inc, because
it is too late to obtain necessary
appropriations, but stood ready to
take over as soon as possible after
January l, 1947.
The board also made public a
companion letter to Frank w.
Hoover, general manager of Gov
eminent Services, Inc, in which it
repeated the recommendations and
the offers to assume operation in
1947.
Government Services, Inc, has Of
fered to turn over operation of the
pools in question-Banneker, Ia
koma, Francis, East Potomac, Nc
kinley lexington and Anacostia-
provided the city recreation agency
would reimburse it for $27 ZOO in
capital expenditures not yet paid
of, repairs made for the 1916 season
and chemical stocks on hand.
Other Suggestions Offered.
Other recommendations, which fol-
lowed an offer by Mr.. Chapman to
give careful consideration to any
suggestions the board might have to
make, are:
That all pools operate according to
the same plan and not under the
policies Of individual managers; that
the departments own employees have
complete control over children using
the pools during free periods and
which children shall be admitted
and when; that all guards and in
structors assigned to instruction
during the free period report not
later than $3.50 am. and open the
pools promptly at am. (the board
has charged that the lateness of
guards actually cut free periods to
about an hour and a half, that
guards continue, however, to begin
clearing the pools at 1880 am; that
reasonable advance notice be given
for closing the pools for any rea-
son; that sufficient custodians be
employed at all pools to insure
sanitary conditions on building
floors and pool decks; that dates for
qualifying and final meets for boys
and girls water pageants be agreed
upon not later than June Is; that
conflicting events be avoided, and
that the ferry service from South
west Washington to the East Po-
tomac Park pool be continued dur
ing the free swim periods.
Costs Declared Less.
At that same time the board called
the attention Of both Mr.. Chapman
and Mr.. Hoover to the fact it would
not necessarily have to operate the
pools at as great a loss as the cor
poratfon because it would not have
to pay old age benefit taxes, unem-
ployment taxes, or insurance pre-
miums, or make overhead and de-
probation charges.
2 From January /, 1899, toNDecem-
Der 81, 1915, Government Services
losses on the pools were $50, 553 OF
The charges over that period came
to $33,92926, SO that theoretically
the board could have operated thu
pools at loss OF only $2,623.81 ovel
the seven-year period.
One board member said today thai
the boast Of Government Services
Inc, that the pools are run at 8
loss "but at no cost to local tax.