Evening star., 1941-06-13
Groups 70 Sign
For Civilian
Defense Work
One U. S. Department
Has 10000 Waiting
To Be Enrolled

With the city-wide registration
campaign at an end. representatives
from the Defense Councils Com
nnittee on Volunteer Service began
today on the task of enrolling
civilian defense workers by organi-
zations and groups, a step that
could not be carried out earlier be-
cause of scarcity Of registrars.
Additions from the group regis
trations are expected to carry the
total number of names well up to-
ward the $4,000 registrants set as an
estimated total for the District be-
fore the opening of the campaign.
One Federal department alone has
10000 employees waiting to be en-
rolled.
Eight thousand more persons were
registered yesterday, carrying the
total to approximately 1900 Hun
dreds of others were turned away
when the registration places were
closed last night.
In order to enroll the large num-
Der Of residents who still want to aid
with the program, a staff of regis
trars will be on duty at the Central
Volunteer Bureau from 9 am. to 5
pm. daily and as late as 10 pm. on
Tuesdays. A line of applicants was
waiting in front of the bureau be-
fore its doors we're opened at 8
o'clock this morning.
Among registrants yesterday was
Mrs. Henry Morgenthau, jr wife of
the Secretary of the Treasury. She
gave as her preference of duties
translating work and public speak
ing and said that she still had her
ambulance driving license from the
World War.
A group of nearly IS National
Guardsmen who are ineligible for
selective service signed in a block
last night. Also enrolled were the
heads OF all departments, as well
as the entire headquarters staff. of
the Zionist Organization of America.
One hundred Yellow Cab drivers
registered in body at Langdon
School.
Mrs. Harry S. Bernton, chairman
OF the Volunteer Service Committee,
said number of requests for group
placements had been received from
organizations, but that this was con-
sidered inadvisable. In no instance,
she added, will placements be made
other than by individuals.
Individual Placements Better.
As reason why group place
n1ents would not be wise, she pointed
out that some of the large Govern
nent departments, serving the en-
tire Nation, may supply hundreds
of-seientists or other skilled workers.
which would be too large a number
for any needs a single community
might have. BY the individual
placements, much more efficient
defense setup can be obtained, she
said.
Organizations and departments
which desire to be registered in a
block are requested to file the ap-
plication at the Central Volunteer
Bureau, Sixth street and Pennsyl-
vaflia avenue NV, headquarters
for the placement division of the
program. Off1cials of the bureau
said they desired particularly that
representatives of groups come in
and discuss their wishes so that
they can be given better attention.
Among departments and organiza-
tions which already have shown
interest in having their membership
enrolled in a group are the League
of Women Shoppers, the Depart
ment of Government Reports and
Records, the Department of Agri-
culture, the American Legion, the
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Co.. the personnel of the District Sc
lective Service and the 1,2O0 women
who have volunteered as entertain
ers at nearby military camps.
Will Continue Registration.
Mrs. Berton reported that, accord
ing to present plans, permanent
registration committee will be ap-
pointed from the more than 500 men
and women who helped with the
work this week.
Mrs. Stuart A. Rice, chairman of
the Placement Committee, an
nounced that the work of coding
and punching registration cards will
be started today by the staff Of
specially trained clerical helpers who
have volunteered for the task. Rec
ords will be filed in such manner
that the names and addresses of
persons with special skills, or who
have requested particular service,
can be obtained at a moments
notice.
Days will be required for this work,
the chairman predicted, but she
added that the cards should be in
readiness for the first volunteers to
be drawn from them late next week.
A number of calls for helpers, par
ticularly for police, fire and hospital
duty, already have been received, and
these will be among the first to be
filled.
Several calls from the Offices of
members of Congress, inquiring
whether the same registration days
set by Washington would be observed
in their home States, were received
ut the bureau yesterday. Officials
explained that each State sets its
owr, date for registering, but that, in
the case of residents of nearby areas
of Virginia and Maryland, they will
be permitted to volunteer for service
in the District if they desire.
Registrars Kept Busy.
Despite rainy weather, applicants
kept the registrars at the various