Evening star., 1941-10-16
u. ). Budget Bureau
Refuses Funds 10 D. T..
For Civil Defense
Request for 81 SOC, 900
Of Presidents Emergency
Gosh Twice Rejected
BY DON S. WARREN.

Trails lOI cdIIg pIOFlSiOll VI 1dCl4-
tiles for protection of the National
Capital against any enemy attack
took a mystifying turn today when
it was revealed the Federal Budget
Bureau twice has rejected pleas by
the Commissioners for ALLEGATION of
nearly sl500,000 from the Presi-
dents emergency fund.
Instead, it develops, Budget Di-
rector Harold D. Smith suggested
the District wait for passage of the
civil defense bill, now before the
House Military Affairs Committee,
or that the Commissioners decide
whether they wish to submit esti-
mates "in the usual manner" ap-
parently meaning that the District
pay the bill.
No formal reply has been made by
the city heads to the last Smith
communication, but District officials
indicated today they had not rushed
In with an offer that Washington
taxpayers pay for costly special ar
rangements for protection of Ma
tional Capital life and property.
Proceed without Funds.
Meanwhile, the District civilian
defense officials are struggling to
perfect plans to meet any emer-
gency that might arise without one
dime to finance the program. as one
city head described it. The District
civilian defense Office now is bor-
rowing stationery from the city gov
ernment and making use Of its Sec
retaries and occasionally its messen-
ger service.
Regardless of lack of financing, the
District now is enlisting corps of
volunteer firemen and police and
has gone ahead with many other
detailed plans which, they say, can
not be implemented or stated until
money becomes available.
District officials were mystifed
because they received at the Federal
Budget Bureau what they thought
was q very sympathetic reaction
some weeks ago when they went
there to ask approval of an original
and relatively modest request for
grant of $286,025 from the Presi-
dents emergency fund to begin pro-
vision OF necessary facilities.
First Program Too Small.
After that conference they said it
was agreed the program was too
small and many more provisions
should be made. Therefore, the rec
ord shows, the original request was
withdrawn and new one sub
mltted calling for an outlay of
$1,446,172. This would have pro-
vided for emergency water supply
and equipment for the Fire Depart
ment, expansion of the fire alarm
communications, for emergency fire
fighting equipment, additional regu-
lar personnel for the Fire Depart
ment, for training of auxiliary fire.
men and police, for air raid precau-
tion equipment, emergency radios,
extra guards for the water system
and for staff for the District civil
ian defense director.
The plan called for provision of
IL emergency reservoirs, IS mobile
tank wagons, 80 pumping units, 300
portable hand-tank pumps, 300 fire
alarm boxes, 100 gas masks for use
in training regular firemen and
volunteer f1remen, 100 asbestos suits,
100 asbestos blankets and extra
guards for vital facilities.
The exchange of letters between
the Commissioners and the Federal
budget officer, however, shows that
the Federal agent decided that the
proposed ALLEGATION from the Presi-
dents emergency fund was not in
accord with the plans of the Presi-
dent.
On September "a, Federal Budget
Officer Smith wrote to the Commits
sioners: After careful consideration
of both proposals you are advised
that allotment of funds for such
purposes would not be in accord with
the plans of the President respecting
expenditures from his emergency
fund"
Commissioners Reply.
In reply the Commissioners wrote
back September 26 stating, in part:
The Commissioners concluded, as
result of their conference with
Budget Bureau officials, that it was
OF extreme Importance that emer-
gency protection be provided for the
millions of dollars worth of federally
owned property, invaluable records
and personnel engaged in Federal
activities in the District. ="
THE Commissioners are not con-
cerned with whether the munich
(See D. C. DEFENSE, Page AID
a