Evening star., 1943-02-03

Tighten Hold on
b|ackout Funds
'Whitehurst to Control
Disbursements for
Civil Defense Units
BY DON S. WARREN.

The Commissioners today estab-
lshed machinery for more exact
control over use of the Districts
blackout funds and for control over
costs of civilian defense activities in
the Capital.
The action, the first major order
Of the Commissioners on civilian
defense since they set up the Civilian
Defense Department last Wednes-
day, was taken on recommendation
by Capt. H. G. Whitehurst, new
District civilian defense director and
commander of the Citizens Defense
Corps, and with the advice of Walter
I. Fowler, District budget officer.
Under the direction of the Com
missioners, Capt. Whitehurst will
have control over all blackout budg-
citing and disbursements for all
civilian defense units and services,
including the costs of the volunteer
services and the payroll of all en-
ployed personnel.
Lumpkins Named Assistant.
At the same time the city heads
designated Porter M. Lumpkins.
chief clerk Of the Engineer Depart
ment, as executive assistant to Capt.
Whitehurst. Mr.. Lumpkins also will
serve as finance ofncer for the new
Civilian Defense Department. These
duties will be in addition to his
present responsibilities.
Concurrently, the Commissioners
also renewed their promise to seek
congressional approval of a regular
District government appropriation
to finance the operation of the civil
ian mobilization division, which at
tached to the new department as an
auxiliary. though not as a constitu-
ent unit.
Corporation Counsel Richmond B.
Keech was asked to prepare a sup
Elemental appropriation request for
this purpose.
The Commissioners have not yet
determined what sum to seek, but
Commissioners Young and Mason
indicated the request would be less
than the $l55, ZOO. which Mrs. Olive
Swinney, civilian mo6ilization secre.
tary, outlined as the divisions latest
request. There were some suggestions
that the requested sum would be
cut heavily.
$17s,eeo Originally Asked.
Last night MH. swinney told .
Police and Ere COMMITTEES Of the
Federation o8 Citizens Associations
that the divfstoSf hoped to increase
Its staff from 4 10 ~ and its yearly
budget from 12lpo to $l55, ,OoQ.
Ins1ellt coss u was r6vp led
that the origlf74l request Of the al
yisiost was Ss'Yor asl7e,0o0 fotla, IL
months. but that division spokes-
men had agreed that the sum might
be reduced by $35 900, which would
leave the request at $4,000 for a
year.
The paid personnel and other ex-
penses Of the division now are
being met out Of an ALLEGATION from
the Community War Fund, but it
Is said this will be exhausted by the
end Of March. It was disclosed that
the Controller General and Cor
poration Counsel Keech both had
ruled last September that the Dis
trict's blackout funds could not
be used for other purposes than for
"the adequate protection of per-
sons and property in the District"
or for defense purposes" Mr.. Keech
added that blackout funds therefore
were not available for the civilian
mobilization unit and his position
was adopted by the Commissioners.
In their order today the Com
missioners ruled that, unless other
wise provided for by order OF the
Commissioners, all purchases shall
be made through the District pur-
chasing once on ofiicial rcquisition-
ing forms approved by the director
OF civilian defense.
Travel Must Re Approved.
The Commissioners specified that
all travel. including use OF private
vehicles. shall be approved In I'd.
vance by the Board OF Commission
ers, upon recommendation by d.
rector Whitehurst, Each chief OF
service Is directed to designate 4
property oficer, to be approved by
the Commissioners. Property ON
GERS are TO be held responsible and
accountable for all property placed
In their custody and to be under the
direction OF chief property inspec-
tor who will serve also AZ State and
local property of7icer for Federal
property lent to the District.
All personnel orders are to be ap-
proved by the Commissioners on
recommendation OF Director White
hurst after a check Is made by the
District budget ofYicer.