Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-14
Dep|ores
DutyCurb on
AuxiIiaries
Mcmillan Plans Bill
To Broaden Power
Of Defense Police

OF Defense Police
Director James M Lands of the
Office Of Civilian Defense today
termed "regrettable" the decision Of
the Commissioners to curtail the &C
Invites of the auxiliary police.
Citing non-air raid emergencies
such as the Boston fire and the
recent flood, Mr. Lands said that =
the order of the Commissioners
would seem to preclude their use
In such emergencies and added that
since these emergencies so often
have direct bearing on the pros
ecution of the war, this seems most
unfortunate.
To the problems arising from war
crowding, he said, there are two
solutions-substantial increases in
the regular force or the training
of volunteers for limited duties,
leaving the regulars free to handle
the more specialized and difficult
duties. The latter pattern has been
regarded by police here as success
full until now, he said.
Auxiliary Is Eager.
While he said he would not take
a position on the arming of aux
iliaries. he commended that the great
majority of auxiliary police are will
Ing and eager to perform their as
signed duties without any protec-
ton at all.
Stating his belief that Congress
should provide adequate compensa-
ton for workers who voluntarily risk
their lives, he added that 1T should
be noted that neither the District
auxiliary police nor the civilian de-
tense workers anywhere in the
country have made this a condition
for the acceptance of these risks"
They have not put any such price
on their patriotism" he said.
With legislation to increase the
powers of auxiliary policemen due
to be introduced in Congress, the
Federation of Citizens Associations
has ordered its own investigation
into the Commissioners order cur
failing the activity of the auXiliaries.
Representative Mcmillan, Demo-
crat, Of South Carolina. a member
of the District Committee and an
auxiliary policeman himself, said he
hoped to introduce his bill today to
provide for as many auxiliary police
men as necessary during the war.
Under his proposal the auXiliaries
would be sworn in on a full 24-hour
service basis with authority to make
arrests.
Mr.. Mcmillan said members Of
Congress with whom he had dis
cuSSed the auXiliaries were in favor
of his suggestion and that he would
not hold hearings unless they were
requested by the auXiliaries or by
the Commissioners.
The nearing promised by Commits
siOners to clarity" their position
probably will be delayed pending
the outcome of the Capitol Hill
action, it was indicated at the
District Building.
Full Probe Recommended.
In letter to Percival J. Alderman.
new chairman of the Federation of
Citizens Associations Committee on
Police and Fire Protection, Harry
Wender, Federation president, rec
commended that the committee make
a complete investigation of the work
performed by the auxiliary police.
the need OF auXiliarieS and an analv-
SIS OF the benefits which the CITY has
obtained through the service of
those patriotic citizens who have
sacrificed much of their time, energy
and resources to build up the present
corps"
Mr. Wender asked the committee
to consider all the disadvantages at
tendant to previous operations Of
the corps which were presumably
responsible for the Commissioners
order"
Despite the limitations of time.
he said, he hoped the committee
would be able to make a report on
the auXlllarlies at the Fedora ton
meeting Saturday night with recon-
mendations for improving the Or
ganlzation which would satisfy the
volunteer personnel and serve the
best interests of this community"
Mr.. Wender said he had been
reliably Informed that some weeks
ago a policy of accomplishing also
the activities Of auxiliary firemen
was adopted. He requested his COM
mlttee to make a parallel study of
the auxiliary firemen's situation.
Limits Firemen's Duties.
Asked If there had been change
OF policy on the duties of auxiliary
f1remen, Fire Chief Stephen T. Por-
ter said that several months ago
on his own initiative he had limited
auxiliary firemen's duties to their
stipulated course of training. a re-
1reSher course every six months and
orders to hold themselves in readi-
ness for air raids and tests.
The last phase of the auxiliary
firemen's training includes 10 runs
with the regular fire fighters.
Mr.. Wender reminded his COM
mittee that without compensation
of any kind, with inadequate equip
ment and comparatively little pub
lie or official appreciation" the aux
iliary police and firemen have
sought to meet the pressing needs of
the present day.
Expressing the appreciation of the
Federation, he said that every effort
must be made to retain the men,
bership and restore morale of those
who may be depressed or discour-
aged by seeming lack of confidence
in their ability or regard for the
value of their work.
He asserted that the war effort
would be best served If the aux
iliary organizations were used to
their full capacity to supplement
the regular forces for the duration
of the war.