Evening star., 1941-12-12
House Approves
B|ackoutB Bill
For District
Measure Would Give
City Heads Brood
Defense Powers


The bill to give the Commission
ers broad wartime power over black
outs and other defense measures
passed the House this afternoon
without a dissenting vote and later
was approved by the Senate Dis
trict Committee.
Sponsors of the legislation hoped
to see 1t through the Senate late
today and ready for presidential
signature by early evening.
AS approved by the Senate Com
mlttee, the Federal Government
would finance the cost of evacuat-
ing citizens from the District, should
that become necessary, but the Dis.
trict Government would pay the re-
mainder of the cost.
In addition, the measure would
authorize the Commissioners to bor-
row $l,000000 from Congress for
civilian defense needs. 1t further
provides that penalties for lesser
crimes will be doubled when the
crimes are committed during a
blackout. Exceptions were made in
crimes punishable by life imprison-
ment or death.
Plans Made by Army.
In explaining need for the black
out legislation, Chairman Randolph
OF the House District Committee
reminded the House he had request
ed the bill last April. He added
that now there are few anti-air-
craft guns here and not an air raid
shelter in your National Capital"
Mr.. Randolph said careful plans
have been made by the War De-
partment for the protection of the
some 100000 persons in this area,
and that necessary equipment for
carrying the plan into effect is now
being brought to Washington.
In the upper house, Senator Over
ton. Democrat, of Louisiana for sew
eral years has been the leading ad-
vocate in Congress of equitable par
tlcipation by the Federal Govern
ment In meeting the expenses of the
National Capital and believes pro-
lection of the Capital in time of war
involves as strong a financial OBJ
legation for the Nation as any other
District expense.
The House District Committees
approval of the measure came yes
terday at the close of an extraor-
binary joint conference with the
Senate District Committee during
which civilian defense and military
authorities outlined behind closed
doors emergency plans for the pro-
lection or evacuation of Washing
ton in event of an enemy attack.
Shelters Under Consideration.
Erection Of AFRAID shelters and
construction of pontoon bridges
across the Potomac River were
understood to have been among the
topics discussed. Need of additional
hospital facilities also was stressed.
1t was disclosed that Engineer
Commissioner Charles w. Kutz had
been assigned the task of directing
an afraid shelter survey. His re-
port is to show the type, location
and estimated cost of proposed shell
tiers.
The Commissioners, it was said,
called attention to the urgent need
of funds for defense purposes. Col.
Lemuel Bolles, civilian defense di-
rector, and Commissioner John Rus
sell Young, civilian defense co-or-
dinator. emphasized that plans had
been made ''on paper" for defense
OF the city, but that money is needed
to carry many of them out.
Mr.. Young said at least $1,000 900
should be provided for additional
hospital facilities, including new
wing for Gallinger
A survey is now being made to
determine needed hospital facilities
and is expected to be completed in
few days.
Bridge Replacement Considered.
Possible destruction of bridges
across the Potomas resulted in an
announcement by Chairman Rey-
nolds of the Senate Military Affairs
Committee that Army engineers
would be ready to replace them with
pontoon crossings
Principal topics discussed at tbs
conference were reported to be:
What preparations have been
made for defense by civilian author
tiles.
2-What preparations have been
made by military authorities for de-
fenSe of the city
The answers were furnished by
either the civilian defense officials
or representatives from the Army,
Navy. Marine Corps and Coast
Guard.
BlackoutS or excavations ordered
by the Commissioners, under provi-
sions of the bill, would have to
be approved by the Secretary of
War.
Would Synchronize Blackouts.
Other features of the bill:
1-Authorize the Commissioners
to negotiate with authorities of
Maryland and Virginia with a view
to effecting synchronization of
blackouts in the District and such
adjacent parts of those States as
may be necessary.
2-AuthoriZe the Commissioners
| to appoint an unlimited number of
special police to serve without COM
pensation. These special officers
would possess all the powers and
perform the duties of regular men,
bers of the police force.
3-Give the Commissioners power
| to prescribe reasonable" penalties
for violation of any emergency reg
ulations promulgated for enforce
ment of the defense program.
IT>--I4II: E.Ia~ DIa~