Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-11-14
Board Plans 10 Fight
Home Rule Shift Of
Recreation Powers


has laid preliminary plans to re-
sist the proposal of the Auchincloss
Home Rule Subcommittee to trans
fer powers and duties of the board
TO the director of the proposed new
Department of Recreation.
Under recommendations of the
House District Subcommittee on
Home Rule and Reorganization, the
board would be relegated to an ad-
visory status. The proposal was
opposed by general sentiment ex-
pressed yesterday by five of the
seven board members meeting in
formally as committee of the
whole, to consider the Auchincloss
report.
A progress report on the discus
sion will be made to the regular
meeting of the board next Tuesday
afternoon, Harry S. Wender, board
chairman, announced. But final &C
ton on five points of the Auchincloss
preliminary report affecting the
board will pe considered at a sub
sequent special meeting. Recon-
then will be forwarded
to the subcommittee headed by
Representative Auchincloss, Repub-
lican,. of New Jersey,
To Cite Other Cities.
To support the boards conten-
ton that it should continue as an
autonomous body, statistics will be
collected to support the reported
trend that most cities have recrea-
ton problems handled by independ-
ent boards.
There was lengthy discussion of
the proposed transfer of park recre-
alton facilities from National Capt.
tai Parks to the proposed new rec
reation department, with a majority
of those present apparently favor
ing the plan.
After some discussion, most of
those present appeared to agree
with the proposal that authority to
purchase land for the city be trans
ferred from the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission to
the proposed department of public
works. .-2.., -Ha ts1Y. NEsD
{! Report Revision Authorized: &
Milo F. Christensen, superintend-
ent of recreation, was authorized
to revise report he had prepared
for the discussion yesterday on the
points at issue, and to submit it to
a later meeting.
Participating in the discussion, in
addition to Mr.. Wender, were James
E. Schwab, Mrs. Andrew Saul, Irv-
ing c. Root and Walter L. Fowler.
Two other members of the board, C.
Melvin Sharpe and Mrs. Alice C.
Hunter, are to be advised of the
results before the meeting
for action by the board.
Representative Auchincloss en-
phasized yesterday the question of
whether to recommend reorgani-
zation of the judicial system of
the District under new home
'ule government here would be one
If the first and most important ques-
ions to be considered by his sub
committee.
No Decision Reached.
No decision on this controversial
ssue has been reached, the legislator
stressed. The subcommittee pre-
iminary report carried no specific
recommendation on court reorgani-
sation, he said.
Mr.. Auchincloss made this COM
nent after Chief Justice Bolitha j.
Laws of District Court warned the
District Bar Association Wednesday
hight that any proposal to set up
series of local courts, stripping Dis
riot Court here of all but Federal
litigation, would bring troubles
galore"
On the question of constitutional
ty of Congress right to delegate
power to a locally elected legislative
body, Mr.. Auchincloss pointed to
MS subcommittee report as stress
ng the final authority of Congress,
lnder the proposed reorganization
plan. Ordinances proposed by the
,ity council manager government
would be subject to veto by Con-
yress, Mr.. Auchincloss emphasized.
Committee Prepares Report.
Meanwhile recommendation for
stand on the Auchincloss report
are being completed by the Local
Committee of the District
Central Suffrage Conference.
The committee, which began pre-
pairing a detailed report at closed
meeting last night, will submit the
complete report to the Board of
Trustees late this month, Kenneth
committee chairman,
disclosed. =
Wilbur Finch, conference presi-
dent, attended the meeting, with
Mr.. Armstrong and the following
committee members: Henry Belt
,cher, president of the Washington
industrial Union Council, CLIO;
George Hodgkins, president of the
kalorama Citizens Association, and
Austin L. Flickling of the Fedora
ion of Civic Associations. The COM
nittee met at the home of Mr..
3eitscher, 3001 Fifteenth street NE.