Evening star., 1943-12-23
Civilian Defense
Here Placed on
Reserve Basis
Exhaustion of Funds
Forces Cut in Costs
To $4,000 a Month

Forces Cut in Costs
To $4,000 a Month
BY CAMBRIDGE CRIST.
Faced with an exhaustionsof funds
and refusal of the Budget Bureau to
approve an amendment to the
Blackout Act to borrow 81 ,000, 900 Of
additional funds from the Treasury,
the Commissioners yesterday de-
cided to place civilian defense on 4
reserve basis, except for auxiliary
police and flremen.
The second major shake-up in
civilian defense this month, the new
move will reduce operating cost
from $4,000 a month to $4,000 a
month and will go into effect mot
later than February l, 1914" Earlier
in the month the Commissioners
abolished 10 jobs, at yearly savings
of more than $3l 900.
The Commissioner action will
result in dropping approximately
300 persons from civilian defense
activities including roughly so civil
ian employees, so police and 200
guards at the Washington Aqueduct.
Outlines Situation.
Outlining the financial situation
which brought the crisis to civilian
defense, Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, di-
rector of civilian defense. said that
out of authorizations of $4,000, 900
since 194l, revised figures of ex-
penditures, obligations and reserve
funds amounted to $l,544,6l7 in
July. He explained that this left
$455,3 1888 for the protective services
and the aqueduct for the fiscal year
1914, although the budget totaled
$823. .O66.
ITO December 81. 1913, based
upon actual expenditures through
November and an estimate for the
month Of December, expenditures
and obligations against these budg-
ct figures will amount to $166 6,320
for the protective services and $188,-
900 for the Washington Aqueduct,
total of 1854 800" Capt. White
hurst said.
Summarizing the financial situ-
alton, we will have on hand avail
able for expenditure on January /,
1914, the sum of sl0l ,063-in addi-
ton the reserve fund of 100000,
which was set up to meet claims
due to injuries and similar purposes,
plus the $25 900 reserve fund for the
use of private property in the event
! Of an emergency, in addition to the
s25,000 set aside for Civilian War
Services"
Plan Adopted.
The plan adopted by the Commits
Sioners follows:
Reduction of personnel of the
regional and directors ofice and
of the various protective services
including communications, to bring
monthly personnel costs down from
$4,000 to $3.50.
The air-raid warden, control and
communications, medical public
utilities. public works and trans
portation are to be placed on a re-
serve status. Capt. Whitehurst said
1T is believed the personnel of these
are we'll trained and organized to
meet any emergency that may
arise"
Periodic training exercises will be
arranged by the chiefs of services
so that the organization will be
kept in condition for immediate
service. The personnel will be ex-
pected to respond to all alerts and
attend any exercises that may be
arranged
Auxiliary police and firemen will
be kept on an active status, with
the other units under police and
fire, including the rescue service, to
be placed upon a reserve status.
The Emergency Welfare Service
Evacuation Service, Animal Rescue
Service, the volunteer Office and
clergy will be placed on inactive
basis ito be recalled only in the
event Of an emergency"
Signal System Retained.
| The signal system and "a ma jor
portion of the communications sys-
tenn" will be retained for immediate
use, with cost cut from $1,000 a
month to $2,50O.
Withdraw active financial sup
potrt for the guarding of the Wash
lngton Aqueduct not later than JAN
uary 81, and abandon the use OF
the Toner School and move the
regional executive officer and his
staff to the District Building.
The air-raid warden headquarters
on Maryland avenue NE. will be
used for storage and the headquar.
ters moved to the District Building
! The Emergency feeding and hous-
| ing unit will be placed on a reserve
basis, with the food supplies in the
181 billet posts in the city put at the
disposal of welfare officials for ap.
propriate use"
The personnel setup Of the de-
fense guard attached to the Police
Department will be abolished.
Course Of Action Praised.
John B. Martin, acting nationa
director of civilian defense, praised
the decision to keep basic elements
OF the civilian protection services or
active status. He said he was
pleased over retention of the signal
system and essential portions of the
communications system and the
decision to maintain the auxiliary
police and fire services and key stan
personnel on active status.
Some changes were necessary in
the light Of the funds available. >
MIR. Martin said, land it appears to
me that the plan adopted Is the
best which could be found under the
circumstances"
He said the steps taken 20 some
what beyond the present recon-
mendations of the National OCD for
coastal States and communities
generally.
Hall Gets ; to 9 Yeors