Evening star., 1941-12-11
Emergency Bill
On DC. Defense
introduced
Commissioners Could
Borrow Million for
Blockouts, Evacuation
By JAMES Z. CHINN.

BY JAMES Z. CHINN.
An emergency bill giving the Com
authority to order black
outs, provide for evacuation of the
District in times of emergency and
borrow S1,000,000 from any source
for such purposes was introduced to-
day by Chairman Randolph of the
House District Committee.
An extraordinary joint meeting of
the Senate and House District Com
mittees was called for 2:30 o'clock
this afternoon to consider the legis-
lation.
Shortly after his return from the
West this morning, Chairman Nc
Carran of the Senate District Com
mittee got in touch with Chairman
Randolph and suggested the action.
A Senate appropriations subcom-
mittee is to act late today or tomor-
row on the latest s8,244 900, 900 de-
fense supply bill and it was Senator
McCarran's thought that if any
emergency funds are needed imme-
diately to protect the Capital, they
could be placed in tnat bill
Asked by Commissioners.
The Commissioners and Col. Lem
uel Bolles, civilian defense director,
were invited to the Joint meeting
Of the committees. A special invita-
ton was sent to Secretary of War
StimSon to send a representative.
Chairman Randolph introduced
the bill at the request of the Com
miSsioners after a conference with
Representative Hunter. Democrat. of
Ohio, head of the Fiscal Affairs Sub
committee Of the District Commit
tee, and Corporation Counsel Rich
mond B. Keech.
Mr.. Keech said the Commissioners
regarded the legislation as essential
at this time.
The major portion of the bill
authorizing the Commissioners to
order blackouts "at such times and
for such periods as they may deem
desirable" subject to the approval
of the Secretary of War, follows
closely language of similar measure
the House rejected last April.
New sections were added, however,
to authorize the Commissioners, also
with approval of the War Secretary,
to prepare for evacuation of the Dis
trict and to borrow S1000,000 for
| payment of supplies, materials, food"
and whatever may be necessary for
the purpose of alleviating suffering.
Cooperation With Suburbs.
The bill, in addition, authorizes
the Commissioners to negotiate with
authorities of Maryland and Vir-
glnla with view to effecting a
synchronization of blackouts in the
District and such adjacent parts of
those States as may be necessary.
Other features of the bill would:
l. Authorize the Commissioners to
appoint an unlimited number of spe-
clal police to serve without COM
pensation, for specified times. during
the war period. These special officers
would possess all the powers and
perform all the duties of regular
members of the police force.
2. Double during blackouts the
statutory penalty on conviction for
any crimes against the United States
other than those punishable by life
imprisonment or death.
3, Give the Commissioners power
TO prescribe reasonable" penalties
for violation of any emergency reg
ulatlons promulgated by them for
enforcement Of the emergency legis-
lation.
IN arranging for evacuation of
the District, the bill directs the
commissioners to negotiate with
authorities of any State for the
housing, maintenance and care of
the evacuees. The evacueeS would
be required to go to any such place
as the Commissioners designated.
To carry out the evacuation plan
the Commissioners are authorized
to obligate the District for payment
OF all necessary costs and to provide
Tor relmburSementS from either the
fathers, mothers, husbands, wives
and adult children of the evacuees
If of sufficient ability" Use of VOL
unteers and regular employees of the
District government to assist with
the evacuation is contemplated.
The bill is so broad in its scope
that the Commissioners, TO compel
evacuation. would be authorized to
give the special police accompany
ing evacuees authority over them to
any part of the United States until
the point of destination has been
reached"
The emergency loan provision Of
the bill makes up section 9. 1t
reads:
The Commissioners of the Dis
trict OF Columbia are authorized
and empowered in the event of an
emergency and without regard TO
the provisions of any other law to
borrow money and expend the same
and to obligate the District of CO.
lumbia for the payment of any and
all supplies, equipment. materials,
food and whatever else may be nee
essary for the purposes of prevent
ing suffering to persons in said Dis
trict, not exceeding $l,000,000.'
Could Purchase Sirens.
The s1,0OO.OO0 loan, it was point
ed out, could be used for purchase
of air raid sirens and other equip
ment needed by the civilian defense
organization. Authority to borrow
the money was written into the bill,
it was said. to expedite its acquisi-
ton by avoiding possible delays OF
approval at the Budget Bureau.
Strongest advocate of the plan
was Representative Cole Of New
York. member of a special COM
mittee of five House Republicans
which has just returned from two
week inspection trip through the
bomb b-shattered sections of England
and Scotland.
The United States is now in the
war" Mr.. Cole declared. Il think
the people of Washington and other
cities should be put through drills
, as to how to handle themselves
under complete blackout conditions.
These drills, if conducted in sober
way without hysteria, may result In