Evening star., 1942-03-24

In response 10 complaints Ol sOIHe
air-raid wardens that a recent order
Of the once Of Civilian Defense
makes them subservient to Civilian
Defense Committees, Col. Lemuel
Bolles, Metropolitan Area defense
director. yesterday clarified the
functions of both the committees
and the warden service.
The Civilian Defense Committee
corresponds somewhat to q town
council, and its chairman. Col. Bolles
said, is in a position similar to that
of a mayor. 1t is the deciding body
in all matters of local policy In
civilian defense projects.
Each Civilian Defense Committee
has Jurisdiction over a territory
known as an Afraid Warden
Group and is responsible for seeing
that the plans Of the co-ordinator
of civilian defense are applied with
in the group.
On Democratic Lines"
There has been an undercurrent
of grumbling on the part Of some
wardens since the o. c. D. bulletin,
instruction No. 48, was issued Feb
ruary %. Some have complained at
being made "stooges." Others, in
milder language, have claimed the
order does not sufficiently clarity the
warden's authority.
Col. Bolles' answer to the former
is that civilian defense in Washing
ton is organized in conformity with
democratic principles. The Civilian
Defense Committees. which some
wardens insist have been delegated
too much authority over their affairs.
are the representatives of the citi-
zens Of the various communities, Col.
Bolles said, and, as such. should be
vitality concerned with the conduct
Of the warden service.
The committees have been selected
by the citizens of the group" at q
mass meeting and there is specific
authority granted the citizens by
the o. c. D. to change the commit
tee any time they desire at another
mass meeting. The co-ordinator
also may call such a meeting should
he feel at any time that the local
situation is such that the security
of the community is In danger.
Cites Specific Restriction.
Wardens who have charged that
the committees are usurping their
authority. Col. Bolles suggested,
must not have read carefully in
struction No. 48. In which 1t Is spe-
cifically pointed out that civilian
defense committees should not
undertake to direct the activities of
elements of the citizens defense
corps serving in their localities.
Wardens have voiced the fear that
the authority of the committees to
make nominations to I'LL vacancies
in the warden service In their local.
tiles gives the committees power to
say what post shall be filled by the
nominee and the power to govern
promotions.
The instruction order which has
caused the minor furries of dissen-
sion, however, Is specific enough on
this count, the defense director
maintained. It says clearly that all
wardens, after nomination, are part
OF the warden service, which is re-
sponsible for the organization, train
ing, discipline and employment Of
all air-raid wardens, under the di-
rection of the chief afraid warden.
Says Duties Outlined.
The suggested case of a deputy
warden who wished to divide one
zone into two, without going to the
Civilian Defense Committee for au-
thority to do SO, is another instance
wherein the democratic way should
function, Col. Bolles said. Whether
or not one zone should be divided
into two, for instance, is q matter
Of concern to all the citizens in the