Evening star., 1942-06-02
Regular Civil
Defense Funds
Considered
Need of. Enabling
Act Indicated by
O'Mohoney for Plan


Advisability of making civilian
defense q regular item of municipal
expense instead of collecting VOL
untary neighborhood contributions
has been suggested to the Senate
subcommittee handling the District
appropriation bill, but Senator
OMahoney, Democrat, Of Wyo-
ming indicated it would first have
to be authorized by an enabling act.
The subcommittee will meet to-
morrow to pass on numerous in
creases asked for by the Commis-
sioners and civil groups during a
week of hearings ended yesterday
afternoon. As the bill came from
the House it carried total of $685.
$4,000 for the year commencing
July /. If all the additions suggest
ed by District officials are granted.
it would increase the House total
by between 100000 and $500, 1000.
The proposal to make the main
tenance of civilian defense units a
municipal obligation, rather than
have the neighborhoods raise vary
ing amounts, was advanced by
Harry S. Wender, vice president Of
the Federation Of Citizens Asso-
Citations.
Further Loans Considered.
Shortly after Americas entry into
the war Congress passed a local
"blackout law" authorizing the
Commissioners to borrow 81 1,000, 900
from the Treasuray for air-raid
precautions, and the Senate sub
committee was informed yesterday
the are considering asking for au-
thority to make a further loan.
Chairman O'Mahoney said he
personally thought better plan
would be to pass a law authorizing
whatever appropriations become
necessary from time to time for
civilian defense until the war Is
over. He pointed out, however, that
the District Legislative Committees
Of House and Senate would have to
put through an enabling act before
the money could be added to an
appropriation bill.
One witness came forward yes
terday to oppose any increases in
the House bill. He was Rufus s.
Lusk of the Washington Taxpayers
Association, who contended the Dis
trict's financial balance sheet will
not stand larger total appropria-
ton for the coming year. Mr.. Lusk
also requested specific reductions in
the amounts for unemployment re-
lief ana ofdsage assistance. -
-sDespfte the-d Hnc in volumeof
trafic expected t0sresult from war
time restfEtjons. the Traffic Ad-
visoty COUCH Shrged an increase in
the street safety educational pro-
gram. In place of $4,000 allowed
by the House, the council recon-
mended $4,000.
A. Julian Brylawski. spokesman
for the council, said the need for
safety instruction will be greater
for these reasons: The population
to be educated has increased great
ly, inability of motorists to replace
wornout cars will lower the average
standard of maintenance, instruc-
ton will be needed to avoid acci-
dents in blackouts, the number Of
pedestrians is increasing faster than
the number Of cars on the streets is
decreasing.
Cleveland Backs Request.
WASHINGTON I, Cleveland of the
District Division Of the American
Automobile Association also joined
in supporting the traf1ic education
program and the request Of the
Motor Vehicles Department for two
more. engineers.
Mrs. Leslie B. Wright presented
to the subcommittee the need for
more adequate recreation facilities
in the vicinity Of Chevy Chase.
The. Progressive Citizens Asso-
citation of Georgetown, through Mrs.
Oscar Kuldell. presented a list OF
eight recommendation for improve
ments in the school system, includ-
ing a $500, 900 request for the reno
vation of Western High School.
In considering the $3,055 900 in
the pending bill for paying the cost
of District patients at st. Eliza
beth's Hospital Senator OMahoney
found upon inquiry that Of the
7,142 patients in the hospital 4,650
are charged to the District and
only 2,492 from elsewhere. This, he
learned, was equivalent to a ratio
of 6l8 insane persons per 100000 Of
population in the District, as COM
pared with the national average of
282. He said officials explained this
high District rate was due in part
to the fact many persons are found
to be of unsound mind after COM
ing here from other places, and
when it is not possible to prove
legal residence elsewhere they be-
come District charges.
Senator O'Mahoney said he also
learned the high ratio is due partly
to the fact that Fl per cent of the
commitments made here are for
senility alone.
For the upkeep of non-District
patients Senator O'Mahoney said