Evening star., 1942-02-28
Plan 10 Salvage
Non.Protecfive
0.C.D. Work Hit
Byrd Against Shifts,
Fovoring Abolition
Of Unrelated Activity
By ], A, OTEARY.

BY J. A. OTEARY.
Chairman Byrd of the Joint Con-
gressional Economy Committee to-
day declared his belief that d-vi-
Sions of the Once Of Civilian De-
fense not related to protective
right.
Il am utterly opposed to the mere
transfer of those activities to some
other branch of the Government"
said the Virginia Democrat, COM
menting on the testimony yester-
day of Director James M. Lands
that the physical fitness division
of o. c. D., subject of recent con-
troversy, will soon be shifted TO the
Office of health. defense and welfare
Of the Federal Security Agency.
Senator Byrd, who adjourned the
hearings yesterday afternoon to
give Mr.. Lands 80 days to complete
a reorganization now in progress,
said the committee will invite Mr..
Lands to come in at that time and
outline the changes made.
Near the close of yesterdays ses-
sion several committee members
asked Mr.. Lands TO submit further
information on specific subjects
later on.
Travel Expense Data Asked.
Senator McKellar, Democrat, of
Tennessee asked for a detailed re-
port on payments o. C. D. has made
for travelling expenses. The Sen
ator said he found recently that one
Government agency, which he did
not name, had spent s2,500, 900 for
travelling expenses in year.
Mr.. Lands told the committee the
total allotment made to o. c. D,
thus far for administrative expenses
Is 1891 900. Of that amount, he said,
s43500 was allotted for travel, but
to date only s126,000 has been spent
for that purpose.
Chairman Byrd asked for a tabu-
lation of the cost of o. C. D. pub
licity functions, and Senator Tyd-
lngs, Democrat, of Maryland, re-
quested Mr.. Lands to submit brief
summing up the arguments for and
against placing military man at
the head of the o. c. D.
The Maryland Senator, author of
bill to transfer the agency to the
War Department, said he does not
favor turning afraid defense over
to Army officers all down the line,
but believes an Army man should
direct the program to be- carried out
by local civilian volunteers in event
of raids.
Lands Asks for 6 Weeks.
To sustain his contention, Senator
Tydings said o. c. D. has had to 90
to various technical branches of the
Army and the Public Health Serv-
ice for preparation of the pamphlets
1t has distributed on what to do in
case of raid.
Mr.. Lands suggested he be given
six weeks to complete the reorgan-
ization, but said he would be glad to
return after 80 days and tell the
committee what had been done up
to that time.
| Questioned by Senator Byrd as to
what changes would be made be-
sides transferring the physical fit-
ness section to another place in the
Government, Mr.. Lands said the
Youth Section may be abolished.
Asked by Senator Byrd about the
future of the racial relations sec
ton, Mr.. Lands said he was hesi-
tant about abolishing that, indicat-
ing he thought it performed a help
full function
Senator Byrd and Representative
Taber, Republican, of New York con-
tended all citizens should be ap-
preached as Americans rather than
racial groups, in defense work, and
argued that If racial relations Sec
ton is to be maintained for the
colored population the o. c. D., to
be consistent, should establish sim
liar sections for the Poles, Italians
and other groups.
Cites Use in Other Fields.
Before leaving the stand Mr..
Lands said he did not want to leave
the committee under the illusion
that, in discussing reorganization,
the agency would be limited solely to
protective work against bombing.
Pointing out that there are 5000
local defense councils, Mr.. Lands
suggested they could be Of service in
carrying out national policies con-
nected with the war effort. To il
lustrate, he cited the campaign to
salvage paper and metals as a func.
ton in which they might cooperate.
Senator McKellar questioned the
authority of o. c. D. to join in the
salvage campaign, but Mr.. Lands
quoted language from the Presidents
order creating the civilian defense
agency which, he said, covered such
a defense effort by the civilian pop
ulation
The Tennessee Senator said he
felt it was his duty as member Of
the Appropriations Committee to
submit the o. C. D. set-up to Con-
troller General Warren. who passes
on the validity of Government ex-
penditures. Earlier in the hearing
Senator McKellar clashed verbally
with Mr.. Lands over the effect
of the ban recently adopted by
Congress against use of any part
of the new 500 0,oo0, 900 o. c. D.
fund for physical fitness activities
or for instruction in dancing or
theatrical entertainment. Mr.. Lands
pointed out that limitation applied
only to the 500, ,000, 900 in that bill,
nearly all of which is for purchase
of gas masks and other air raid
equipment, whereas o. C. D. gets
It's general operating expenses by
allotment from the Presidents funds
for the Office of Emergency Man
agement.
Agree on Legal Interpretation.
Senator McKellar later agreed
that Mr.. Lands was entirely right"
in the legal Interpretation of the
ban, but added that o. G. D. was
violating the. purpose Of Congress.
I'VE follow the law" Mr.. Lands
replied.
Chairman Byrd and Senator Ty-
dings both indicated to Mr.. Lands
/ r,a~. .-k o~sksntr4-- l.t~- e.