Evening star., 1942-01-18
Congress 10 Gel
D. {. Civilian
Defense Law
McCorrun DiscIoses
Plan to Make It
Model for Nation
BY J. A. OLEARY.

SAo1Hhdil MSSdAlo VI Vic
Senate District Committee an
nounced last night he is pre-
pairing a comprehensive civilian
defense law for Washington that
may lay the groundwork for ma
tional legislation to define per-
Sonal and property rights in new
legal problems likely to grow out
of modern warfare.
Aside from the local bill Senator
McCarran revealed he also is con-
sidering the advisability Of propos-
ing Federal Department of
Civilian Defense and the establish
ment Of board by the R. F. c.,
with 4 capitalization of 100000 900
or more, to pass on claims arising
out OF damages sustained as a
result Of participation in the work
OF civilian defense
The administrations new War
Powers bill, on which the Senate
Judiciary Committee begins work
tomorrow morning, touches on one
phase Of the civilian defense prob
lem by making air raid and fire
wardens eligible for the benefits Of
the United States Employees Com
pensation Act for injuries, if they
have been appointed by a Federal
Official.
New Conference Planned.
Senator McCarran also made
known his intention to call another
conference soon of Federal and
District officials with his commit
tee to find out what additional
funds or further legislation may be
needed to- protect Washington dur
ing the war, in view of recent
statements by civilian defense Of
ficials that the city needs more
policemen and firemen.
In discussing legal aspects of
civilian defense, Senator McCarran
declared:
From the national standpoint of
civilian defense. steps have been
and are being taken without any
real Federal law to support the
movement or give authority to the
activity. The rights of the civilian
In time Of war and his rights re-
garding his own person and prop
erty are a new and undetermined
question. especially in view Of the
new methods Of warfare. Hence,
this civilian defense activity must
be regarded in an entirely differ
ent light from what it has been
regarded in years past
Il may illustrate, that the right
of the defense warden to enter a
private house Is a matter not at all
determined, The rights of the in
diYidual in civil life to his protection
under the Constitution and under
the Bill OF Rights is not q deter
mined matter in view Of the new
activity of civilian defense now be-
ing set up.
ID. c. Statute to Be Model"
"All of these matters have been
dealt with at considerable length
and quite eficiently, as I view it. by
the British Parliament. Under the
British statutes civil rights are de-
termined. the rights of those in
volved in bringing about civilian de-
fense are determined. the rights of
property and the rights to the in
dividual in civil life to damages from
whatsoever nature are pretty we'll
determined This is a phase of law
into which we have never gone in
this country, or if We have it is not
adequately set up at the present
time.
"Some States have taken time by
the forelock and have promulgated
some very far-sighted and forward
looking statutes. and, likewise, some
municipal communities have done,
so, but the Federal Government up
to the present time has done moth
ing
so, with that in mind, I have
set about to promulgate for the Dis
trict of Columbia statute, and I
propose to set up for the District
what might be considered model
for other communities, and perhaps
an initial model for a Federal stat
ute, because, while making a statute
for the District. I will also 60 into
the broader field of Federal law"
Senator McCarran instructed r.
F. Camalier, counsel for the District
Committee. to begin an immediate
study of the subject with Federal
and District officials, members of
the Bar Association and other in
terested groups.
Defense Fund Provided.
A few days after the United States
entered the war December 8, Sem
ator McCarran called a conference
of military and local officials to
make plans for the protection of
washington. w 1ilc SOiilcICI lCu W
passage of the local black-out bill,
including authority for the Com
missioners to borrow ST 900 900 from
the Treasury for civilian defense.
Senator McCarran said last night
that at that time it was urged that
the Commissioners and other Off
cials tell the Congress how much
money they needed. and it was even
suggested to them that the Congress
authorize the power to borrow up
ward to $25,00O,000 to insure the
safety of the CITY,"
In the opinion of the Commis-
sioners, however, he continued,
'the $1,000,O 900 figure was sufficient.
Whereupon the committee urged the
CopnniSSiOrerS tO kaen tho Con0roSS