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

quick acfion was forecast uo0sl
on the bin introduced in the Hous'
yesterday by Chairman Randolph o
ths House District Committee u
give the Commissioner power h
take over private property unde
emergency conditions and TO pro
vids free disqualification and medi
cal services for local voluntee
civilian defense workers injured IL
lire OF duty.
Ins bill. providing that sl00.00C
be sarmarked 10 finance the pro-
gram OF medical care. has the sup
port Of many local organization
ard IL was believed that Congress
viii 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, moi
does IL make provision for deaths
10 volunteer workers growing Out
OF bombing raids or other war ex-
iRencies. Death claims would have
10 be a matter OF special legisla-
tion. 1t was indicated by Corpora
tion 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-
tion any private property for de-
tense purposes and make reason
able compensation for use of same
The bill also empowers the District
10 accept funds and gifts from the
United States Government, such as
gas masks, helmets and other de-
tense equipment.
The bill is a new blackout meas
ure, permitting the Commissioners
TO borrow an additional $500 600
from the United States, making a
total Of 81, 5000. or the additional
$500 900, the sum of 500, 900 would
be set aside to pay for injuries
growing out OF defense activities
It would permit the Commissioners
10 utilize the personnel and facili-
ties of the local government in rem
dering relief to injured persons,
without cost to o. G. d. workers
The new blackout bill gives the
Commissioners broad and somewhat
dictatorial powers. 1t permits them
to make regulations necessary fol
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 50 Per Cent Of Value.
The Commissioners are allowed Il
recuisition, enter upon, take pos
session of, and use any private prop
erty and any rights therein for thu
location, installation, maintenanc,
and operation OF defense facilities
When such requisition is made, tn,
Commissioners are authorized Il
ascertain the value of the propert.
and to pay for such governmental
use. They would be permitted Il
take immediate possession and us,
of the private property and pay 81
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, unde
bombing conditions, the city NIGH
have to requisition automobiles, fooC
or other private property in the gen
eral interest 1t was further ex
planned that in some instances tn
District would be forced to estab
lish afraid warning signals OF
private property and perhaps Il
connect them up TO some privatt
steam source. While in most case
il was believed agreements woul,
be negotiated without difflculty on ,
fair value basis, the legislation i
strongly worded as a protective
measure to the city in the even
that some private individual or or
gsnization tries 10 hold UP the Dis
trict for too much money In thi
event. an official explained. the cit,
can pay so per cent of the esti
mated value and the individual o
organization can sue for the rest
Water Protection Provided.
In addition to the 500 900 for hos
pitalization of civilian defens
workers, Commissioner John Russel
Young said another s300.00 is vir
tually earmarked for financing tn
protection of the District waite
system during the coming fiscs
year. When military guards wer
withdrawn in February, guard
were hired with funds of the pre-
vious blackout bill to carry the pro
lection through June 30. ne ex
planned. The remaining $500 00'
while not specifically so esrmarkeC
would be used II necessary in tn
financial agreements or propert
seizure authorized, according 10 on
oficial.
A second bill introduced by Chair
man Randolph would permit tn
District to compromise inheritanc
and estate taxes in cases of con
fiicting claims OF domicile Nj
Keech explained that Legislation O
this character has been enacted il
several States and Is. in my judg
nent. n forward step. Non-existenc
OF such statutory authority fre
quently results IN lengthy and costl
litigation, and IL is not unusual tha
n decedent is held to be domicile
In two jurisdictions, in which even