Evening star., 1948-02-10
|krug Proposes
u. 5. PayCostof
'A|IParksHere
Dual Control Opposed
At Final Hearing
On Home Rule Plan
By Don S. Worren

To-Day attacked provisions OF tne
District charter bill which in his
opinion would set up a dual sys-
tenn of control over District park
areas.
His statement, read to the joint
Congressional Home Rule Subcom-
mittes at its final hearing today by
Irving C. Root superintendent of
National Capital Parks, proposed
that the Federal Government as
sumo title and cost of all Of the
Districts park system.
Under his plan, all expenses of
the park system would be paid from
the Federal Treasury. If Congress
felt that any part of the expense
should be borne by the city. he said
this could be considered as part
of the Federal payment of District
costs.
Police Merger Approved.
The Krug statement, and Mr..
Root as well. opposed also the sug-
gested merger of the Park Police
with the Metropolitan Police De-
partment.
In other testimony, witnesses sup
ported home rule in general, with
several witnesses, asking that indi-
vidual city government agencies be
exempted, from the plan to stream
line city functions under depart
ment directors named by a city
Harry S. Wender, chairman of the
District Recreation Board, was one
of these. He stoutly upheld the
for an elected city govern
ment, but argued the Recreation
Board should be left as a separate
independent board for both policy
making and administrative pur-
poses.
This brought a comment from
Mcmillan, Democrat,
Of South Carolina. that everybody
is for the bill, but they say 'dont
touch my department.
Insurance Plan Protested.
Edward j. Schmuck of the Acacia
Mutual Life Insurance Co.. speaking
for the insurance industry of the
District, protested the proposal to
abolish the District Insurance De-
partment as separate agency, and
suggested several alternatives.
One of the early witnesses also
was Mrs Grace Dunlap, native Of
Washington, who said her family
was among the earliest settlers OF
old Georgetown. She indorsed the
home rule provisions, declaring them
"a step in the right direction"
AS to control of park and play
ground areas in the District, the
measure proposes that the Federal
Government. through National Cap
ital Parks, continue to have direct
jurisdiction over park and recrea-
ton areas which are memorial in
character, or which serve Federal
interests. But those not memorial
or Federal in predominant charac-
ter would be turned over to title
and use by the city government.
The plan also proposes that on a
voluntary contractual basis with the
District the Mop continue to pro-
vide maintenance for park and rec
reation areas under District juris-
diction at District expense.
Mr. Root said this section of the
bill proposad radical changes" in
the control of the park system here.
Krug Sees Overlapping.
The Krug statement he presented
said the proposed separation of
Federal and District responsibilities
would defeat the broad objectives
of the subcommittee and result in
overlapping and duplication OF
functions with resultant ineffl-
cheney and public confusion"
Mr.. Krug recommended the bill
be changed so that the District
Recreation Department would carry
on it's supervised play program in
public parks and Fairgrounds
through agreements with the Sec
retary of Interior, as provided IN
present law, leaving all other park
functions to Mop.
Mr.. Krug said the Federal Gov
ernment had financed practically
all improvements in the park system
in the past Is years and that ma
provision was made for park i'm
provements in the six-year improve
ment program for the city govern
ment.
Since the local government
frankly admits its inability to
finance the six-year improvement
program as now constituted he
continued, "it should not be ex-
pected to assume responsibility for
an additional $10,000,000 program
required for necessary and essential
park improvements scheduled for
the same period for that portion Of
the NCP system located within the
District"
Big Treasury Savings Cited.
Experience, he argued, had DEM
onstrsted the prudence of the pol
icy of Federal Government reten-
ton of the title of lands acquired
by the United States. He said this
had saved the Federal Treasury mil
lions of dollars and that the United
States should retain complete con-
/ troI of park land" which it now
holds so as to preclude the future
necessity of reacquiring lands at
greatly increased prices.
Since the Federal equity in the
park system in the District as Of
June 30, l947, amounted to ap-
proximately $3.50, 1894, ,7o4, or 1928 per
cent, while the District equity
amounted to only S2l 1865, SAB, or
(See HOME RULE, Page A-6b