Evening star., 1951-12-21
Civic Groups Urge
Recreation Board
Be Kept Independent
Dozen Spokesman
State Views on D. c.
Reorganization Plan

Pleas for continued independ-
ence of the District Recreation
Board from control of the District
Commissioners were made today
during a public hearing on the
lplan for reorganizing local gov
Iernment.
| BY noon, more than q dozen
lspokesmen for Washington civic,
professional and business groups
had stated their views before the
Commissioners who already have
approved the plan in principle
and presented it to the Federal
Budget Bureau for action.
The wide expression of views
toward the plan included renewed
calls for home rule and a city man
ager-type of government for the
District. Most of the delegates
complained of not having had suf-
Ificient time to give the reorganiza-
Ition plan thorough study, but re-
ceived assurances from the three
Commissioners that further oppor-
tunity for discussion win be
granted the public as finer details
lof the plan are worked out by the
board.
Wants 1t LEFT as Is"
Clifford H. Newell. speaking for
the Federation of Citizens Associ-
ations as member of the Execu-
tive Board and a former president,
declared the Recreation Depart
ment should be "left as is," rather
than be Incorporated with other
departments into a Bureau of Pub
lie Welfare. This is one of three
proposed bureaus, each to be
headed by a Commissioner.
| Mr.. Newell declared the Recrea-
ton Department is very unusual
in that it involves many different
agencies and for that reason
should retain its present status.
This view was shared in a per-
Isonal expression by Mr.. Franklin
'IG. Sartwell.
Il Speaking on behalf Of the
Northeast Councibof Citizens AS
.Isociations and the Metropolis View
Citizens Association, Mrs. Sart-
,Iwell approved the Commissioners
proposed transfer Of the control
IIof property, including Fairgrounds
now operated by the National
Park Service, to come under the
Authority Of the District Com
missioners, as contemplated in
the reorganization plan.
/ MIR. Newell was strongly In favor
Iof the proposed Citizens Advisory
lCouncil to aid the Commission
ers' administration of a reorgan-
lied government. He said this
council should have at least Is
members. appointed by Congress,
the Commissioners and the Pres
ident of the United States. It
should also represent all elements
of the citizenry, Mr.. Newell added.
/ Three Ask Home Rule.
| Home rule instead of reorgan-
ization like the present plan was
demanded by three spokesmen.
Glenn Watts. president of the
District CIO Council, declared
that the remedy is not a reorgan-
tization plan but "tle application
of democracy" in the form of
home rule.
This plan would be a halfway
stop and would remove no basic
evil" Mr.. Watts asserted.
| 1--WE urge the Commissioners to
delay any reorganization plan at
this time" he stated, "and Join
with us in devoting the energy
thus saved to pressing for the
adoption of the bipartisan plan
for District Home Rule now pend
ing before Congress"
He was referring to the measure
sponsored chiefly by Senators
Nicely, Democrat, of West Virginia,
land Case. Republican, of South
Dakota, which would provide for
an elected city council and School
Board and a non-voting delegate
from the District in the House of
Representatives.
Calls Decision a Mistake.
Robert j. Harlan, president of
the Brookland Civic Association,
said his organization favors the
plan only If IL does not interfere
with the possibility of the Dis
ltrict's getting home rule.
The District League Of Women
l(see REORGANIZATION, A-ls)