Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-10-31
Fight 10 Finish
On Recreation
Areas Planned
Young to Ask Repeal
Of Act if Decision
Of Clark Is Adverse

The District Commissioners
are marshalling their resources
for a fight to the finish with the
Interior Department in the con-
troverSy over control Of 81 recre-
ational areas now under District
Jurisdiction.
Engineer Commissioner Gordon
r. Young, aroused at what he
termed IAN unfair attempt to grab,
property bought with District money
said he would recommend immediate
repeal of the Capper- Champion Act
if the Attorney General rules
against the District.
The act set up q $4,000, 900 fund
"a years ago for purchase of park
land for recreational areas in Wash
ington. The city repays the money
advanced. The act provides that
the land be turned over to the
Commissioners, but that the Fed
eral government retain title. All
but 81 SOC, 900 of the authorized $751;
900, 1000 has been used up. The In
terror Department claims 1t Is ell
titled to control OF 81 of the areas
representing two-third of the city S
Fairgrounds.
Brig Gen. Young and Commits
sioner Guy Mason declared that q
bill, drawn up q year ago by Cor
poration Counsel Vernon E. West
and Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
but filed for future reference, might
be invoked to defeat the interior
Department grab" The bill pro-
vides that title of all lands pur.
chased under the Capper Champion
measure be assigned to the District
Young Plans Statement.
Gen. Young said he worked mos
of yesterday on a statement he plans
to make tomorrow or Tuesday ir
connection with the Recreation De.
partment's appeal Friday for as.
sistance from the city heads.
II feel that If any action is te
be taken about the segregation ques-
tion," Gen Young declared. III
should be taken by Congress which
has the legal control over District
property and policy. I think it is
unfair for the District to put in the
money for land purchases and then
have an outside agency move in and
| tell the District how to conduct its
own property"
Gen Young's stand was supported
by Commissioner John Russell
Young, who promised to do every
thing in his power to prevent the
grab" Commissioner Guy Mason
said he would support the board
in its request for aid.
Gen Young said the West-Fowler
BIZ. vas drawn up year ago when
question arose as to control OF
the recreational areas but was with
held because similar provisions were
couched in the omnibus Auchin-
Gloss Home Rule Bill.
Bill May BE Weapon.
He implied that the bill might
be one of the Commissioners key
weapons in the battle to prevent
Interior from taking control of the
District recreational areas.
Meanwhile, the Recreation Board
probably will confer with the Com
missioners early this week to out
line a presentation Of the District
point-of view to Attorney General
Clark. At q meeting Friday, the
board called on the Commissioners
to give full support to protect the
Districts investment and authority
on Fairgrounds assigned to- their
control by the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission" The
board also asked Attorney General
Clark to permit 1t to be heard be-
fore he rules on the question.
/ Maj. Gen. U. s. Grant III, chair
man of the planning commission,
also has lined up with the District
in the fight with the Interior De-
partment. He probably will attend
the meeting with the Commissioners,
along with Recreation Board Chair
man Harry s. Wender.
Commission Bought Land.
The planning commission pur-
chased the disputed land. under
provisions of the Capper- Cramton
Act, and assigned it to the Commits
sioners for playground purposes.
Gen. Grant said the National Park
Service-the Interior agency claim
ing the lands-has no right to the
property.
The controversy began when A. E.
Demaray, associate director of the
park service, asked Interior Depart
ment Solicitor Mastin G. White for
an opinion on who controls the
areas. Mr.. White ruled in August
that Interior controls the land, al
though previous solicitor had ruled
otherwise. The matter was then
sent to Attorney General Clark for