Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
Byrd Asks if Congress
viii Be Given Chance
ToketonF FINEST Funds
MeNutt Questioned on
Whether President Is to
Allocate Money


gressional Economy Committee to-
day called on Federal Security Ad-
nlinistrator McNutt to advise him
whether Congress will have a chance
to vote on the future cost of the
Physical Fitness Division. trans
ferred to him from the ONCE of
Civilian Defense. or whether 1t will
be financed entirely by funds allo-
Gated by the President.
After recalling the inquiry the
Joint committee made into the
activities of the Physical Fitness
Division, in which it was brought
out that 81 co-ordinators had been
appointed to promote wide variety
of sports and recreation, Senator
Byrd observed:
ut Is, of course, very obvious that
public indignation was responsible
for the transfer of this division to
your agency"
Administrator McNutt's Office said
late yesterday that Mr.. McNutt had
asked the Budget Bureau for an al
lotment of funds greatly reduced"
from the amount proposed by John
B. Kelly of Philadelphia, original
director of the o. c. D. physical fit
ness division. The Budget Bureau
still Is discussing the matter, it was
said.
Kelly Denies Threat to Quit.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Mr..
Kelly issued a statement denying the
$780, 00-or-resign allegation. Mr..
Kelly said that in response to SEN
ator Byrd's inquiries he had told
him that if the program was carried
out by some one in charge of each
State, "one man and a stenographer
and an ONCE the cost would
amount to about $1,000 a State.
but If were not allowed that kind
of budget I would do the best job
7 could"
Mr.. Kelly added that the division
has spent less than $4,000 in SAL
aries since August !, 1941, on the
entire program. which is less than it
cost him Senator Byrd to run his
own Office"
Partial Text Of Letters.
Senator Byrds letter to Mr.. Nc
Mutt continued as follows:
Your Office advised me that on
February "a you wrote the President
of the United States asking that
funds heretofore allocated to the
Office of Civilian Defense be trans
ferred to you to continue the activi-
ties OF the Physical Fitness Division.
This was approved by the President
on February 26. This means that
the activities of the Physical Fitness
Division will be conducted in your
department with the use of the
funds appropriated for civilian de-
Tense. Therefore, defense funds will
continue to be used for the promo
ton of paddle ball and ping pong.
your statement today. I am told,
Is to the effect that the amount
allotted to the Physical Fitness Di-
vision will be less than the amount
requested by National Co-ordinator
Jack Kelly. In my Office Mr.. Kelly
said to me that at least 100000
annually should be spent for this
work and that he would resign
unless at least 100000 was given
annually for the expenses of this
organization.
Would you be kind enough to
give me the following information,
as promptly as possible:
81. A full and complete statement
Of all of the paid employees, with
salaries, transferred from the ONCE
Of Civilian Defense to your agency.
90. The activities to be performed
by each employe and the background
and experience of each.
Wants Co-ordinators Listed.
"3. A complete list of all co-ordi-
majors as appointed by National
Co-ordinator Kelly, this list to in
clude the actual appointments made
by Mr.. Kelly and then list of the
local co-ordinators as appointed by
Mr.. Kelly's appointees.
q. Will the Congress have an OPP
portunity to approve or disapprove
the establishment of this organiza-
ton by voting for or against appro-
priations for this purpose, or will
your activities be financed ex-
clusively by funds transferred by the
President from existing defense
funds or existing lump-sum appro-
priations and thereby deprive Con-
eress of any opportunity to express
itself either for or against this new
agency Of Government which, If
carried to It's conclusion as outlined
by Mr.. Kelly, will mean a gigantic
plan Of RECOMMENDATION for physical
exercise and recreation which, in the
end, will be very costly to the pub
lie treasury
at may be true that the co-ordi-
majors of sports and recreation do
not receive compensation, but the
co-ordinators that you must employ
to coordinate this vast army Of
such co-ordinators will be costly,
both in salaries and travelling ex-