Evening star., 1941-12-19
D. C.Promised
DefenseFunds
ByLa Guardia
Pledges Full Aid
In Getting Fair
Allotment
By DON S. WARREN.

Dy DoAN ~ w AAAsAsAA's
Assurances that the Capital will
be treated fairly and adequately in
allotment of funds for public pro-
lection were given to the Commls-
sioners today by Mayor La Guardia
of New York, national director of
civilian defense.
He volunteered to aid Commits
sioner John Russell Young. civilian
defense co-ordinator for the Metro
politan area, and the Board of Com
missionerS If they have any trouble
in obtaining funds for civilian de-
tense operations.
Mr.. LaGuardia's offer of assistance
came as District officials went ahead
with plans for Washington's first
practice air raid mobilization some
time between and 10 am. Sum
day. All available police will be on
duty and traffic will be halted
throughout the city during the brief
period of the test.
S4,500,000 Sought.
Mayor LaGuardia said he would
go before congressional commit
tees, officials of the Budget Bureau
"or even the President" if neces-
sary to help the Commissioners in
presenting their needs.
Co-ordinator Young and the Com
missioners already are seeking au-
thority for the actual provision Of
three separate funds which would
total approximately s4,500,000 to as
sure adequate civilian defense here
Legislative action is about COM
pleted on the measure to permit the
District to accept S2,500,000 under
the Lanham Act for provision of
facilities needed by reason of the
emergency situation and on the
measure authorizing the Commis-
sioners to stage blackouts or to
undertake evacuation, if that should
be necessary. The city heads have
been seeking nearly sl,000,000 from
the Budget Bureau for other fea-
lures of the defense program here.
Without waiting for provision of
funds, the Commissioners already
have directed the purchase of nine
special air raid warning horns and
municipal officials are making ar
rangements.
Conference Held.
Called into conference with Mayor
Ia Guardia, in addition to the Com
missioners, were Brig. Gen. L. D.
Gasser, who has been serving as
liaison representative between the
War Department and the O. C. D.;
Col. Lemuel Bolles, civilian defense
director of the Metropolitan Area;
Maj. Edward j. Kelly, superintendent
Of police, who heads the police pro-
lection division, and Fire Chief
Stephen T. Porter, head of the fire.
protection division in civilian de-
fense.
There was discussion of the
appropriation being sought by the
o. c. D. and possibility that some
of this fund will be allotted to
the Capital. Mayor La Guardia told
the Commissioners the District will
not be sighted" The city heads
said he assured them there should
be no hitch in prompt provision of
funds for Washington.
In repeated appeals to the Budget
Bureau the Commissioners have
sought an advance of about S1,000,-
900, most of which is needed for
construction of 18 large emergency
reservoirs to assure water supply for
fire fighting should there be any
disruption in the permanent water
supply and distribution systems and
for provisions of apparatus and tools
for augmenting Washington's Fire
Department equipment. They are
seeking funds for purchase of great
quantities of fire buckets, sand bags,
sand, flashlights, asbestos suits,
badges and shields for volunteer
workers, night sticks and other ma
terials.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that
the Commissioners have initiated
studies of possible AFRAID shelter
locations.
Shelter Section Set Up.
Brig. Gen. Charles w. Kutz, En-
eineer Commissioner, said an Air
Raid Shelter Section in the District
Engineer Department. has been es-
tablished with personnel drawn
from. the office of the municipal
architect as nucleus. He eX-
planned the section would make a
survey of the city aimed at de-
termining practical locations for
construction of shelters and exist
ing structures which might be
adaptable. The Commissioners
have issued no orders for immediate
construction of shelters and have
received none from Army authori-
ties, Gen. Kutz emphasized.
The new section will have the
benefit of outside technical advice
from an executive committee COM
posed of representatives of the
American Institute of Architects
Society OF Civil Engineers, American
Society OF Mechanical Engineers
Washington Building Congress and
National Board Of Fire Underwrit-
ers. Initial invitations to member
ship on this committee we're sent
tJt today.
The Engineer Commissioner sale
it was planned to plot out the city
on a basis of engineer districts
which would coincide with raid war.
Gen districts and be headed by 6
district engineer. Cooperation o1
wsrdens and civic groups will bt
sought, he added.