Evening star., 1949-05-01
'Wender Report
On Segregation
Due This Week
ToCoyer Bi-Rociol Use
Of Public Pieces
Throughout City

| Throughout City
Harry s. Wender. president oi
the District Recreation Board. this
week will submit a report anc
recommendations on some phase;
of racial discrimination in facili-
ties under the boards control
The report. the first part of q
study on racial segregation Mr.
Wender has been preparing foi
the past year. will deal with BIZ
racial use of places Of public as
sembly under the boards jurisdic-
tion-mainly school buildings. He
said it also will take UP segrega-
tion in all places of public as
sembly in the city.
Mr.. Wender added that the re-
port will go to board members
during the week and will be re-
leased to the public next Sunday
1t will be another phase in the
controversy here over racial seq
regation in recreation which
seems headed for a showdown in
the board. In surprise action
Friday the National Capitol Park
and Planning Commission re-
moved racial designations of play
grounds from its master plan. "
In doing so the commission said
it was passing responsibility for
maintaining segregation to the
District Commissioners and the
Recreation Board.
Won't Reveal Recommends tions.
Mr.. Wender would not reveal
recommendations he will make on
bi-racial use of places of public
assembly. But it was recalled that
at a board meeting last year he
spoke in favor Of issuing permits
for the bi-racial meetings in COL
ored school buildings as a first
step toward bi-racial meetings in
all school auditoriums.
Each year the Board Of Edu-
cation gives the Recreation Board
permission to use school audi
toriums in its recreation pro-
grams. Last fall, the School Board
decided, after q series of public
hearings, that it had no power
to dictate the policy under which
these auditoriums could be used
by the Recreation Board. This
left 1t up to the Recreation Board
to decide whether bi-racial meet
ings could be held. A local COM
mittee has been studying it since
When the Planning Commission
announced its decision on remov-
ing racial designations from its
master plan, it pulled one of
the main props supporting segre-
cation from under the Recreation
Board. Previously the Recreation
Board members had pointed to
the master plan with its colored
and white designations as a rea-
son why 1t was forced to continue
segregation on the recreation
areas.
Due to Administration Pressure.
As the legal land purchasing
agency for all lands intended for
Fairgrounds, the Planning Com
mission bought land in accordance
with the master plan. After re-
moving the racial designations.
the Planning Commission said the
responsibility for maintaining
segregation was passed to the
Recreation Board and the Com
misSioners.
This action-admittedly a re-
suit Of administration pressure
came just after the Recreation
Board had declared, by a poll of
members. that 1t considered the
responsibility for segregation a
Joint one" with the Planning
Commission.
Mr.. Wander revealed that Mai.
Gen. U. s. Grant, III, head Of the
Planning Commission. had asked
the board on Tuesday for state
ment of its stand.
Mr.. Wender said he was unable
to speak for the Recreation Board
but that he felt personally that
there was mo question" that the
board has the power to make
policy. The matter will shave to
be debated and decided. he de-
clared.
Glad Of Stand.
Mrs. Alice c. Hunter. secretary
of the Recreation Board aud the
only colored member. said she was
glad the Planning Commission had
taken its present stand. She said
she has always contended that
the Recreation Board alone was
responsible for the policy because
there was nothing in the law
creating the board which required
segregation.
THE board is clearly RESPONSE
BILE to the public now" she COM
mented. "It does have to take a
position. ] see no reason for
maintaining q position that can't
be supported"
Any change in the policy Of the
Recreation Board would require q
change to its present bylaws
which now specifically set UP q
colored-white recreation system.
Brought Issue to Head.
Meanwhile, Representative Klein,
Democrat. of New York said he
expected the Recreation Board
to abandon its untenable position
and to abolish segregation on all
areas under its control.
The board is compelled by
logic to take this step. since it
has repeatedly said that 1t has
relied on the ofiicial position Of
the planning commission for au-
thority in its position. he de-
clared. He added that he was
going to write Recreation Board
v>aapnharc fa that aFart