Evening star., 1948-10-13
Recreation Unit Asks
Farley With krug for
Golf Course Control

A new move was under way today
by the District Recreation Board to
settle part of its long-standing dis
pute with the Interior Department
over operation of the city's Federally
controlled recreation areas.
The board voted yesterday to seek
conference with Interior Secretary
Krug, aimed at possible transfer Of
the citys municipal golf courses, now
operated by concession from the
National Capital Parks, to Recrea-
tion Board management.
Pending outcome of the confer
ence, the board asked for postpone
ment of any extension of the con-
tract with the golf concessionaire,
S. G. Loeffler, which is due to lapse
at the end of the year. Park officials
already have indicated their inten-
ton of renewing the contract.
The boards action followed a
charge by it's vice chairman, James
E. Schwab, that the golf courses now
ARE not properly operated" Mr.
Schwao submitted his criticisms in
a five-page statement. which also
was forwarded to Secretary Krug.
Schwab Quits Committee.
The board split, to 2, however,
III refusing to indorse a charge,
made in Mr.. Schwab's statement,
that the board had been seeking
information from the parks office
on the golf course administration,
but had been unable to obtain it.
The split, which followed a
heated discussion between Mr..
Schwab and other board members,
ended with Mr.. Schwab's resigna-
ton as chairman of the boards
Concessions Committee, in which
capacity he had proposed the
boards action.
Mr.. Schwab's statement, pointing
out the board already has asked
Secretary Krug not to extend the
Loeffier lease until the Recreation
Board has been afforded an oppor-
tunity to discuss the possibility Of
the board taking over the golf
courses" asserted:
You will also recall that the
board requested of the National
Capital Parks complete informa-
ton as to the operation of the
golf courses, as we'll as the swim
ming pools and tennis courts.
Despite repeated requests, the Ma
tional Capital Parks has not fur
nished the information
Differ on Need for Data.
Mr.. Schwab contended such in
formation is needed in advance of
any meeting with Secretary Krug,
but other board members differed
with this view.
Frank T. Gartside, assistant Ma
tional Capital Parks superintendent,
declared the door is open" to a
conference. He advised, however,
that no progress can be expected In
ironing out the differences between
the two agencies, unless the entire
matter of recreational jurisdiction
is first resolved.
In his statement, Mr.. Schwab COM
planned about the maintenance of
the Rock Greek golf course, which
he said. he had used for nearly rs
years" He said he and other patrons
have been unable to obtain" in
formation regarding the financial
management of the courses from Mr..
Loeffler.
Asserting the District has an in
terest in the courses finances, the
statement said:
1T is my belief that the Recreation
Board has a responsibility to the
people of Washington to see that ali
recreational facilities are properly
operated in the public interest and
that the board has good reason to
suspect that the golf courses are not
so operated.
Conflict on Racial Policy.
A chief issue in the dispute over
recreation area control has been the