Evening star., 1942-01-13
Young Dep|ores
Lack Of District
Defense Funds
House Unit Is Told
City Hos Big Problem,
Very Little Money
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

Lack Of adequate funds to finance
the Districts vitality important de-
fense program was deplored today
by Commissioner Young before the
special House committee investigat-
ing defense migration.
I'VE have a big problem and We
are expected to do something big
he declared. But we have very
little to do it with"
Commissioner Young. defense CO.
ordinator for the District, was the
first witness called by the committee
as it began a study of Washington's
civilian morale. Committee mem
bers bombarded him with so many
questions about the Districts emer-
gency needs he was forced to forego
the reading of prepared statement
outlining in detail the city's civilian
defense setup.
Congress Provided No Money.
In response to a series of questions
by Chairman Tolan, Mr. Young. de-
claring he did not want to appear
critical. said Congress had not ap-
propriated any funds specifically for
civilian defense here.
The 1943 budget framed last sum-
mer and sent to Congress by Presi-
dent Roosevelt last week. he ex-
planned. failed to carry any items
for civilian defense because it was
shaped TO fit the cloth"
The Commissioners, however, he
said, are preparing supplemental
estimates which will go pretty far
to augment the public health serv-
ices which are overtaXed by the
heavy influx of war workers.
What has been appropriated for
civilian defense?" inquired Chair
man Tolan.
Actually, Congress hasn't appro-
priated anything" was the reply.
I'VE were allocated s2.4OO, 900 un-
der the Lanham Defense Public
Works Act. but We had asked for
Sc, 600 900. That money will be spent
largely for extensions to the water,
sewer and fire alarm systems.
In the Presidents 100000, 900
emergency fund we had in a modest
request for 100000 for additional
flre-flghting equipment. Later we
raised the figure to 81 ,000. 900 to pro-
vide underground water reservoirs,
water storage tanks above the
ground and hose for fire. fighting.
But that was cut down. ! see no
hope of getting anything They seem
to think We should go along like
other municipalities"
Commissioner Young said the Dis
trict also was authorized to borrow
81 900 600 from the Treasury in the
so-called "blackout bill" and some
Of that money is now being used for
defense equipment
The defense plans are in pretty
good shape, and l am proud Of
them" he summarized. but we have
done all Of those things without spe-
cial appropriations"
Questioned about plans for civilian
afraid shelters. Commissioner
Young said they were being har-
died by the Federal Government
But" he added. they want us 10
do the planning-select the types
and pick out the Sites-and that's
going to cost us $4,000 or $4,000.
even though the Federal Govern
ment is going to build the Shelters
District Is No. 1 City.
When the hearing began. Chair
man Tolan explained the commit
tees interest in civilian morale in
the District
Washington is the number de-
fense city in the United States he
said. Many people have left their
home States to come here to take
jobs or look for them. After the war.
Washington, like other defense CEN
tiers. will be a whirlpool.
For that reason we want to Use
Washington as a sort of a sample
city. We want to get something out
of these hearings to help the rest Of
the Nation"
Commissioner Youngs prepared
statement which was placed in the
record explained that before the at
tack on Pearl Harbor the major
civilian defense problem was public
lethargy, even to the extreme on
the part of some people of looking
on civilian defense efforts as some
form of war propaganda"
1T is fortunate indeed" the state
ment declared. that the Once OF
Civilian Defense utilized this pre-
lsee d. c. DEFENSE, Page A-5J