Evening star., 1942-02-22
Penalty Asked
For 'b|ackout'
Violations
Young Requested to
Order Prosecutions
For Keeping on Lights

BolleS yesterday asked Defense Co
ordinator Young to issue an order
for the prosecution of all persons
failing to eliminate or screen "pri-
vate lighting visible from the air."
Col. BolleS asked that the Police
Department be instructed to en-
force such an order with vigor. He
said he was compelled to recon-
mend such action after several night
inspections convinced him that a
large proportion Of the citizens are
not prepared to black out their
homes, stores or apartments
promptly.
With such an order in effect, Col.
Bolles explained, the AFRAID
wardens and police would be able
quickly to determine those places
where the owners were unwilling
or unable to blackout and instruct
them accordingly.
Mr.. Young was said to be favor
able to the Issuance of the order
but would not issue it at this time
to give the public advance notice.
Public Lighting Under Control.
1T is doubtful" Col. Bolles ad-
vised Mr.. Young, whether without
advanced warning the city could go
all black short of Is to 80 minutes
Their ability to do this is still an
unknown quantity"
Public lighting, he said, is now
controlled to the point where no
serious delay should occur in put
ting out street lights.
The general public, however"
Col. Bolles continued, with some
happy exceptions, is not complying
Fundamentally with your request
for reduction of unnecessary light
ing. 1t is impossible for either
wardens or police to check effec-
lively the degree of progress made
unless there is general observance
of your requests"
In recommending issuance of the
prosecution order, Col. Bolles asked
that it be observed until 1--WE have
positive knowledge on the subject" !"
Regulations Due This Week.
Detailed blackout regulations are
expected to be completed some time
this week by Corporation Counsel
Richmond B. Keech for submission
to the Commissioners and Co-ordi-
nator Young.
Preliminary regulations governing
the right of property entry of air.
raid wardens to enforce blackouts,
and the conduct of traffic during
blackouts, has already been put into
effect to provide basis for action
in event of raids before the details
were complete.
Mr.. Keech said he has conferred
with representatives of the War,
Navy and Commerce Departments
and the Civil Aeronautics Authority
and that the responsibility for lights
needed for air and navigation con-
troll will be controlled by the War
and Navy officials.
Early this week he expects to con-
fer with a representative OF the In
terstate Commerce Commission on
control Of lights on interstate car
riers such as trains and buses and
possibly terminals.
The detailed orders will also pro-
vide precise control for District
commercial establishments as to the
circumstances under which they may
operate night lights. At present
store owners have been asked to
dim out all unnecessary lighting.
Duties Are Defined.
Meanwhile CQ-ordinator Young,
in a move to expedite completion of
uniform and effective defense Or
ganizations in the several territorial
areas into which this city has been
divided, issued a redefinition of the
duties of the Civilian Defense Com
uittees. He urged the committees
10 split up the work so that the bur-
den would not fall on few and to
see that incompetents were removed,
He reviewed what has been done and
ought to be done in the various
branches of the defense establish
ment.
Use of speakers as source of in
formation and a means of combat
IlIlS dUd lily Was SuSScSGcO' IL 4dIli-
itate liaison between the defense
committees and the chiefs of the
various defense services, it was sug-
gested that competent woman
with an automobile be designated.
In the matter of funds raised, the
committees were warned that all
money collected should be accounted
for "in the most scrupulous manner"
including the keeping of records and
making of regular reports.
BY recent agreement between the
Office of Civilian Defense and rep
resentatives of the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor and the Congress of
Industrial Organization, each local
committee Is asked to include rep
resentatives of organized labor to
be designated by the labor groups.
These representatives, it was ex-
planned, would be sources of knowl-
edge on availability of labor for
defense work when needed,