Evening star., 1942-06-25
McCarran0 Offers
Bill 10 Broaden
+B|ackoutLaw
Would Authorize City
To Borrow 81, 900, 900
More From Treasury

Chairman McCarran of the Sem
ate District Committee today in
troduced the Commissioners bill to
broaden the scope of the District
blackout and air raid precaution
law. A slightly different measure
is pending in the House District
Committee.
The bill authorizes the District to
borrow a second S1000,0O0 from the
Treasury, to be repaid over 10-year
period
1t would enable the District gov
ernment to requisition private prop
erty for defense purposes for just
compensation. If the owner ques-
toned the valuation. the city could
pay half of the amount fixed imme-
diately, and let the property owner
appeal to the courts for the balance
of his claim.
A fund of 100000 would be ear
marked out of the new loan to hos
pitalize defense workers.
The bill provides that neither the
District government nor volunteer
workers shall be liable to damage to
persons or property in the perform
ance Of their duties.
Early action was urged on the
measure by the Commissioners after
their report on the bill had been
checked at the Budget Bureau and
they had found that the budget
director had no objection to the
legislation. making only one sug-
gestion that the District be required
to pay interest on the fund ad-
vanced.
Other Allotments Listed.
In addition to the 100000 for
medical and hospital treatm of
civilian defense workers, the $1,000.
600 would be spent as follows:
For employment of guards for
reservoirs and equipment for auxil-
iary police. 100000.
For payment OF personnel author
lied by the original Blackout Act,
100000.
For requsitioning the use of pri-
vate property if emergencies should
Y, d
sum not to exceed 500 900.
For the purchase and storage OF
chemicals and equipment for purl-
flcation and distribution of water
in case of a breakdown or destruc-
ton of existing water facilities. and
for similar defense public works, a
sum not TO exceed $500 900.
A cushion Of 100000 to be re-
served for emergencies.
House Proposal Held Up.
About two months ago the Com
missioners sent to Congress an ear
lier amendment to the Blackout Act,
and this was introduced in the
House. 1t called for a Treasury ad-
vance of an additional $500 900. and
action was deferred to await a re-
view of the plan by the Budget
Bureau.
In their report, the Commission
ers stressed the need for funds for
hospital and medical care, explain
ing the bill does not provide COM
pensation for permanent injuries or
death and holding it advisable that
each case be dealt with on its own
merits. AS to medical care they
said:
Many of the volunteer civilian
defense workers have undertaken
to perform hazardous duties. Civil
ian defense workers who are as
signed to such duties from among
the regular employees of the Dis
trict are entitled to disqualification
by the United States Public Health
Service. 1t is believed essential to
maintenance of morale that ade-
quate provision be made for treat
ment of other civilian defense work.
erS injured in line of duty"
In this connection. the Commits
sioners today announced the ap-
polntment of DR.. Robert Coffee as
an additional member of the Board
of Police and Fire Surgeons. Com
missioner Young said the surgeons
services were needed partly because
of the increase in treatment of the
enlarged police and fire forces, and
partly in anticipation of the ap-
proval of the new blackout bill.