Evening star., 1949-07-02
Recreation Unit
ToMeet Tuesdav
On Krug Offer
Bylaws Committee
To Discuss Changes
In Segregation Rules
By Colt HendIey, Jr.


The District Recreation Board S
Bylaws Committee will meet at
am. Tuesday to consider the pro-
posal made by Interior Secretary
Krug which would turn over the
operation of all Interior recreation
facilities here to the Recreation
Board.
Mr.. Krug made the proposal
yesterday and said an agreement
Is expected to be reached within
a short time. He did not reveal
the terms Of the agreement as re-
CARDS segregation.
1t was learned later. however
that the proposal put to the Rec
reation Board would give the board
complete control. In return,
board members will have to delete
from the board bylaws the langu-
age setting up a segregated play
ground system.
Policy Statement
In place of that section. the
board will have to substitute ian
guage similar to the policy state
ment" it adopted at its June IA
meeting, promising gradual
elimination of segregation. The
statement it adopted at that time
read:
The board will make every pos
sible and realistic effort toward
the removal of racial segregation
tn public recreation in such Sc
quence and at such rate of pro-
gression as may be consistent
with the public interest. public
order and effective adm!nistra-
ton"
Harry S. Wender. Recreation
Board chairman, said the Bylaws
Committee would discuss Mr..
Krug's proposal fully at the Tues
day meeting and expressed con-
fidence that the members would
go along with the proposal. The
full board will take action at its
regular July IL meeting, he added.
Offer Follows Pool Closing.
Mr.. Krug'S offer to settle the
Iong-standing differences between
the Interior Department and the
Recreation Board came not many
hours after he had ordered the
Anacostia swimming pool closed
indefinitely, because of fights and
disturbances there over the ad-
mission of Negroes.
The Anacostia pool will remain
closed until after the agreement
has been reached with the Rec
reation Board, Mr.. Krug stated.
Mr.. Krug's announcement OF
the proposal was made yesterday.
after a conference with the
three District Commissioners. Mr..
Wender and various officials of
the Interior Department.
The biggest effect of the agree
ment-if and when it is reached
would be to place the operation
of the six swimming pools con-
trolled by the Interior Depart
ment and operated by Govern
ment Services. Inc, under the
Recreation Board. as well as the
five public golf courses now man
aged by S. G. Loeffler.
Segregation Likely.
It is considered likely that the
six pools-Takoma. East Potomac
Park, Anacostia, Mckinley, Ban
neker and Francis-will be oper-
ated on segregated basis. if the
Recreation Board takes over. The
boards only two pools-Rosedale
and Georgetown-are segregated,
both for white children only.
GSI, which now operates the
six Interior pools, has clause in
its contract forbidding racial seq
regation. Until this summer,
however, no attempt had been
made by Negroes to use the four
pools considered white.
Last week Negroes began going
tn Mckinley and Anacostia pools.
The result has been that McKin-
ley apparently has been taken
over by Negroes. while Anacostia
has been shut down because of
the disturbances.
Loeffler May Lose Out.
The agreement also would mean
the end of the reign OF S. G.
Loef1er over the five public golf
courses. He has operated them
as concessionaire for the Interior.
Department for the past 81 years.
Mr.. Loeff1er is running the
courses now, without a contract,
pending outcome of House bills
which would prevent the Interior
Department from renewing his
ontract-which expired last De-
cember-and would force the de-
partment to assign the operation
of the courses to the Recreation
Board. The bills are still in the
House Public Lands Committee.
The Recreation Board already
had promised Mr.. Krug that If
1t could get the golf courses they
would be operated on an unseg-
regrated basis.
The agreement also would mean
that the Recreation Board would
gain control over the large num-
ber of tennis courts controlled by
Interior Department. These courts
at present are unsegregated. The
tennis courts controlled by the
board are designated colored or
white.
Other Facilities.
Other Interior Department IA
cilities that would come under the
agreement include bicycle conces-
sions, Tidal Basin boating conces-
sions and a number of play
grounds on which organized play
programs now exist.
When the agreement is signed
A~o1Ixy a. will and q fo,1d tofuoer