Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-01
SAFETY BOARD
STILLN RACE
Public Defense Committee
Does Not Abate Ac-
tivities
WAITING YET FOR FUNDS
State Governments Refusal to
Finance Work Fails to
Affect Policy
WAITING YET FOR FUNDS

in spite Of the refusal Of the state gov
efnment 20 allow the Public Safety Com
ln1ittee further funds until the exact pro
gram OF the Federal Government Is learned
no curtailnent Of the committees activities
has been ordered
George Wharton Pepper. chairman OF tht
.c0mmittee. was out Of the city today, bu
II was said at the headquarters Of the com
rnittee in the Finance Building. that no cu
had been made In any OF the lines OF work
Phmphlets and advertising matter regard
ihe food, registration. recruiting and Lib
erty Bond subscription stu being sent
cof all over the State. II was said
General Avery -. Andrews, chairman OF
tne Military Affairs Committee Of the Public
hsfety Committee. declined to discuss
whether or not any change OF policy by
the committee was likely.
The publicity subcommittee stiT showed
ignorance today regarding the general com
fnhtee activities. Those supposed to be in
cnarse of publicity matters said that all
tnformation must be obtained from Mr..
Pepper,
REQUESTS FOR AID
The requests for financial aid which
were turned down at a meeting Of the
Public Service and Defense Board. headed
by Governor Brumbaugh, were for the fol-
lowing purposes:
First. For stimulating registration and
recruiting in the Army, Navy and Ma
ticnal Guard
Second. For handling the food problem
Third. For paying executive secreta-
ries OF each Of the seventy-elght local
committees Of Public Safety
Fourth. Three thousand dollars for ad-
vertising the Liberty Loan bonds.
The first three requests were contained
~ the Pepper letter. None OF these speci-
ned any amount OF money but the Governor
said II had been requested that the defense
board supply the $4,000 for advertising
The mention Of the Pepper letter was
the nrst intimation that II had been re-
eeived here The Governor had Mr.. Ball,
MS private secretary. read II.
We intend 10 cooperate with the Public
ratety Committee" he said. but do not
aesire any duplication Of work. either by
the state. the Federal Governments agents
Or the committee"
PEPPERS PLEA FOR CASH
Tho Pepper letter II as follows;
Dear Governor Brumbaugh--Your COM
munication OF May % was duly received
- shoud be glad Of an early opportunity
70 confer with you and the other mem
0ers of the commission In regard TO such
features or II as can better be dealt with
IN conference than by correspondence
IN. the meantime. there are at least
x thfee pressing matters which reduIre ac-
tion..l
4 You have called upon the committee
Fto render service I'm aid OF the approach
Ing legislation. The plans made by our
department OF Military Service for giving
hid 10 the work OF the Federal registra-
fion require immediate expenditure Your
communication advises us that the com
mission has appropriated $50, 900 "for
general organization purposes and ex-
penses or executive crmmittee." We feel
that this appropriation should not be
used except for such purposes and we
think that specific appropriation should
be made for immediate use In carrying
out the objects Of the proclamation Of the
Governor In connection with the ap- 20
preaching registration.
In view of the emergency. we have
assured General Andrews that we will
appropriate out OF the general fund II .
necessary for present urgent needs to
enable the Department OF Military Serv-
Ice TO respond to the call made upon II.
We believe there should also be a specific
appropriation TO assist the Government
In promptly recruiting 10 full war strength
and for immediate service the quota OF
Pennsylvania troops required for the
army. navy and the National Guard.
We are strongly impressed with the
absolute necessity OF prompt co-opera-
tion with the national and State oficials
IN the solution Of the food problem. The
commission Is not, OF course, Informed
respecting the work that is being done
and the plans that are being matured by
the department of our organization, OF
which Howard Heinz is director 70 be
successful. he must be authorized at once
TO incur expenses In securing indispensi-
BILE skilled executive assistance and in
other ways 10 enable Pennsylvania to re-
epond 20 Mr.. Hoover's expectations OF
what a great State can accomplish.
ASKS PAID SECRETARIES
II is further essential to the success
of the work OF the Committee OF Public
Safety In general, and of the Department
OF Food Supply in particular, that we
shouldIbs,t On, a position to supply, within
the liniitsSof reasonableness and economy
each local committee OF public safety
with a paid executive secretary. 1t oc-
ours 10 us as wise that engagements of
paid executive secretaries for local com
mittees should be for a limited initial
period, as for instance, three months.
our executive committee hopes that af-
flrmative action will be taken by the com
mission on each of the three points above
specified.
As 20 the general question OF relation
ship between the committee and the com.
mission, 1 apprehend that any seeming
differences OF opinion are verbal rather
than substantial We shall no doubt DO /
able TO work out an administrative ar
rangement which will prevent duplca-
tion and waste and obviate the necessity
OF having two equally intelligent groups
OF busy people wrestling with the same
problem At the same time.
Very truly yours.
G. W. PEPPER, chairman.