Evening star., 1941-12-27
Allotted Million,
NeedsM
For Defense
Deep W. P. A. Slash
Adds to Problem
As Cost Mounts
By DON S. WARREN.


Despite a now authorized defense
fund of 81 900 600, big gap will re-
main untitled in the District defense
picture unless the Budget Bureau
approves request for an additional
outlay of from 100000 to $500 900
for variety of equipment, including
emergency reservoirs and mobile
fire-flghting apparatus, District Of
ficials revealed today.
This outline was given after Presi-
dent Roosevelt signed the District
'blackout measure" under which the
Commissioners are authorized to &C
cept and the Treasury directed to
advance a loan of $1,000,000 for de-
fense purposes for the National Cap
itA.
Such q fund will be welcomed by
District oficials-the first monies
they have had for defense operations
during many months of trial-but it
will not fill the bill. Estimates of
costs totaling well over 100000
have piled up. and are mounting
daily as new needs are discovered.
Several sources of funds are sup
posed" to be tapped, but so far the
"blackout act" is the only sure,
tangible source.
To Lose w. p. A. Help.
The financial problem was high
lighted last night when reports in
dicated these new plans:
1-Washington had been selected
for a quiet but steady reduction OF
its w. P. A., $500 force of workers
which is expected to diminish grad
ually the number of w. P A. work.
ers on defense and social welfare
projects here perhaps to vanish
ing point" and,
2-To deprive Washington of use
of w. P. A. workers as the staff for
the projected Washington Tire Ra-
tioning Board. which beginning
January S, is supposed to be the sole
agency for granting certificates to
persons and firms to buy new tires
or tubes. This appeared to mean
that the city government was ex-
pected to finance the rationing op-
Grafton, regarded at the District
Building as a Federal defense prof.
ect pure and simple"
Under the District W. P. A. slash,
Federal officials will not fill the places
of w. P. A. workers dropped. Dur
ing the past week, 146 workers have
left the rolls, many to take Govern
ment or private jobs.
Doubt that similar rule was
being invoked by Federal authorities
for the w. P. A. forces in the States
was voiced by municipal officials.
Washington. they said, is being re-
garded as a boom town" in which
anyone can get job, whereas, they
argued, there are many here who
cannot get Government or other
wise regular job. outside the w. P. A.
Concern over this issue has been
raised by some members of Congress.
Many Projects May Suffer.
District officials said they had to
foreSee reduction of the forces at
work on fundamental defense Jobs
as well as such projects as those for
the Health Department. the free
school lunch program, the sewing
rooms, housekeeping aids and sur
plus commodities and Gallinger
Hospital. How the District will meet
its new program for sponsorship for
the 1-cent milk program for needy
children was another question
Among leading defense projects
were those for Boiling Field, Wash
ington National Airport, Army War
College, Bureau of Standard, Naval
Air Station, Census Bureau, the
Beltsville Airport, Bureau of Marine
Inspection and the Navy Yard, not
to mention the District government
Sewer, Highway and Water Depart
ments.
Administrative and supervisory
officials Of the District w. p A. have
been called to meet at 4:30 pm.
Monday to consider prospects for
their own guidance.
The situation came to light yester-
day after the Commissioners had
considered requests from civilian de-
tense and municipal chieftains for
defense purposes, totaling well over
$4,000 900, which are supposed to
be met out of the million-dollar
fund authorized in the District
blackout measure.
To Budget Bureau Times.
The Commissioners have been
before the Budget Bureau officials
at least three times to plead for
money from the Presidents emer-
gency fund. Told their original re-
quests were too modest, they added
more necessary projects Next, it is
related, they were told they could
not expect such a grant at all and
should apply to Congress. Then, it
is related, the question was left up in
the air, where it stayed last night,
although the former official request
for about $1,400,000 had been re-
duced to less than 100000.
Unless such funds are forthcom-
ing, the question of providing 18
large emergency reservoirs and 9TH
er emergency fire fighting appa-
ratus remained unsolved.
Sharp criticism already has been
raised against District officials for
their failure to obtain adequate air.
raid warning horns, although up to
yesterday not cent had been
available for any civilian defense
purposes. Jst before Christmas an
emergency order was placed for
substitute type of horns-electrical
sirens-after it was made clear the