Evening star., 1942-04-21
Quick Action
Seen on Bill for
Seizure Power
Randolph Measure
Also Gives Medical
Service to Volunteers

Quick action was forecast today
on the bill introduced in the House
yesterday by Chairman Randolph of
the House District Committee TO
give the Commissioners power TO
take over private property under
emergency conditions and to pro-
vide free disqualification and medi-
cal services for local volunteer
civilian defense workers injured IN
line OF duty.
The bill. providing that 500 900
oe earmarked to finance the pro-
gram OF medical care. has the sup
port of many local organizations
and 1t was believed that Congress
will act on the matter speedily.
In requesting congressional sane
ton for the District Commission
ers assumption of legal RESPONSE
bility for injured o. C. D. workers.
Mr. Randolph'S bill does not include
compensation for those injured, nor
does 1t make provision for deaths
to volunteer workers growing out
of bombing raids or other war ex-
igencies. Death claims would have
to be a matter of special legisla-
ton, ii was indicated by Corpora
ton Counsel Richmond B. Keech,
who drew the bill at Mr.. Randolph's
request.
Right to Requisition.
The Randolph bill also gives the
Commissioners authority to requisi-
ton any private property for de-
fense purposes and make reason
able compensation for use of same.
The bill also empowers the District
to accept funds and gifts from the
United States Government, such as
gas masks, helmets and other de-
fense equipment.
The bill is new blackout meas
ure, permitting the Commissioners
to borrow an additional $500 900
from the United States, making
total of 81 SOC, 900. OF the additional
$500, 900, the sum of 100000 would
be set aside to pay for injuries
growing out of defense activities.
1t would permit the Commissioners
to utilize the personnel and facili-
ties of the local government In rem
dering relief to injured persons,
without cost to o. c. D. workers.
The new blackout bill gives the
Commissioners broad and somewhat
dictatorial powers. 1t permits them
to make regulations necessary for
protection of persons and property
without regard to provisions of any
other law 1t permits them to make
such rules as they deem necessary
10 carry out the authority thus
granted. 1t empowers them to use
for these broad purposes any en-
ployes of the District government
as they may deem necessary.
Pay so Per Cent of Value.
The Commissioners are allowed to
requisition, enter upon, take pos
session of, and use any private prop
erty and any rights therein for the
location, installation, maintenance
and operation of defense facilities.
When such requisition is made, the
Commissioners are authorized to
ascertain the value of the property
and to pay for such governmental
use. They would be permitted to
take immediate possession and use
of the private property and pay so
per cent of the estimated value.
At the District Building it was ex-
planned strong powers for the Com
missioners were considered neces-
sary against the day when, under
bombing conditions, the city might
have to requisition automobiles, food
Or other private property in the gen.
eral interest. 1t was further eX-
planned that in some instances the
District would be forced to estab-
liSh AFRAID warning signals on
private property and perhaps 10
connect them up to some private
steam source. While in most cases
it was believed agreements would,
be negotiated without difficulty on a
fair value basis, the legislation is
strongly worded as protective
measure to the city in the event
that some private individual or Or
ganization tries to hold up the Dis
trict for too much money. In this
event, an official explained. the city
can pay so per cent of the esti-
mated value and the individual or
organization can sue for the rest.
Water Protection Provided.
In addition to the 100000 for hos
pitalization of civilian defense
workers, Commissioner John Russell
Young said another 100000 is vir-
tually earmarked for financing the
protection of the District water
system during the coming fiscal
year. When military guards were
withdrawn in February, guards
were hired with funds of the pre-
vious blackout bill to carry the pro-
lection through June 80, he ex-
planned. The remaining $500, 900
while not specifically so earmarked,
would be used If necessary in the
financial agreements or property
seizure authorized according to one
Official.
A second bill introduced by Chair
man Randolph would permit the
District to compromise inheritance
and estate taxes in cases of con-
flicting claims of domicile. Mr.
Keech explained that Legislation of
this character has been enacted in
several States and is, in my judg-
ment, forward step. Non-eXiStence
OF such statutory authority fire.
quently results in lengthy and costly
litigation, and it is not unusual that
a decedent is held to be domiciled
in two jurisdictions, in which event
double taxation necessarily follows"