Evening star., 1942-02-07
Co-ordinafor,
Quits Arlington
DefenseUnit
Mann AssoiIs
Conflicts Of
Authority

Charles Harrison Mann, civilian
defense co-ordinator for Arlington
County, in a seven-page letter de-
claring defense work has reached
an impasse because of conflicting
authority between his offlce and
that Of the county manager, today
submitted his resignation to the
county board.
At the request Of the board, how
ever, Mr.. Mann agreed to continue
to serve in his present capacity until
the board meets again next Satur-
day because of pending legislation
before the Virginia General As
sembly designed to revise the States
civilian defense organization.
: After the letter was read, County
Manager Frank c. Hanrahan de-
clared there was absolutely no per-
sonal feeling" between Mr.. Mann
and himself. Mr.. Hanrahan offered
to answer the allegations set forth
in the letter. paragraph by para
graph" If the board so desired.
Not a Personal Indictment"
Lacking specific instruction, Mr..
Hanrahan said he thought there
are times when 1t is proper to be
silent and that he did not want to
involve the civilian defense system
In an unnecessary controversy.
II don't believe this letter Is any
personal indictment against me-" he
said.
Mr.. Mann, who was named CO.
ordinator at a joint meeting of the
County Board and the Northern
Virginia Regional Defense Council,
declared, eff for any reason the CO.
ordinator cannot carry out his as
signment and the defense mechan-
ism does not function, then 1t Is his
duty either to make it work or
explain to the proper authority why
It does not work"
Declaring it the purpose Of Gov.
Darden to place civilian defense
direction in the hands of local gov
erning bodies, he said he regarded
the County Board as the proper
authority to receive his report.
GAS the various members of this
board know" Mr.. Mann's letter
stated, "the County Manager has
felt that the co-ordirhtor in each
locality should be either the mayor,
city manager, or county manager,
as the case may be, and that it is
q mistake to have as co-ordinator
"a person who has no official stand
ing in the community
Considered Interference.
Due to this feeling I have been
unable to obtain the county mana
gers adequate cooperation in coun-
ty essential services, such as the
police and fire departments, and the
suggestion that have made with
respect to the proper organization
of wartime supplementary services
In these departments have been con-
sidered as an interference in county
administration"
Mr.. Mann said that "as a result
of the above situation I have found
that I have spent the vast majority
of my time soothing ruffled feelings,
explaining that I am not trying to
pre-empt any Of the county mana
gers prerogatives, and unsuccessfully
attempting to persuade the county
manager to organize the essential
county services. These efforts have
been without satisfactory results"
Most of the purely civilian serv-
ices" are either well organized or
are being satisfactorily shaped up,
Mr.. Mann said "A superb job has
been done in organization of air
raid wardens. We are far ahead Of
other communities in this respect"
he added
Under the circumstances. he said,
II am rendered impotent to do the
Job that is expected of me. In view
OF the county managers opinion as
to how this matter should be han
died, I do not feel that any one
else will be any more successful
than in carrying out the duties of
co-ordinator. Only one course
seems to be left open, therefore.
The county manager should be made
co-ordinator and made completely
responsible for the civilian defense
program"