Evening star., 1943-03-07

0Vs"SsSns W OHNV
Re;terotes Its Support
:. of Sliding ScoIe Formula
;. For Utility Rotes ....
The Federation Of Citizens Asso-
eiations last night approved a new
resolution reiterating its support of
the sliding scale formula in utility
rate cases and opposed Government
ownership Of the electric power COM
pany here.
The vote on the proposal came
following discussion of the current
hearing Of the Potomac ELECTRIC
Power Co. rate case before the Pub
lie Utilities Commission in which
the Federation had been represented
As supporting the sliding scale and
depleFing the threat of Government
ownership made by a Government
agency If lower rates were not OBJ
tanned.
The motion, presented. by. Ken
heth Armstrong. of the District
bfaifch Of the American Association
Of Engineers, also opposed any
discrimination between public and
private rates. Wilbur Finch of Bur-
roughs Citizens Association praised
the stand taken by Harry S. Wender,
president of the Federation, Col. Milo
Brinkley, chairman, and John Con-
neughton, vice chairman of the
AedefAtion's Committee on Public
Utilities, for their presentation of
the Federation's position at the
4earing last week.
!. Peoples Counsel Urged.
s"1t Is plain we need q peoples
counsel" Mr., Finch. added. -
mr.. Wender told the Federation
Aat after talks with several mem
hers Of Congress he felt certain that
any plan for Government ownership
would fall on deaf ears.
!. After a lengthy debate, marked by
Z certain amount Of bitterness, the
federation adopted the civilian de-
tense report Of Its Police and Fire
Protection Committee submitted two
weeks ago. The 9-page report, signed
" Percival j.. Ableman. chairman,
charged, among other things, that
~ months after Pearl Harbor the
City Of Washington stood 50 Inpre-
pared "as to invite catastrophe in
the even Of enemy action" >s.
. At the same time. the. federation
accepted brief inserts presented to
ane original report and 4 resolution
calling for 4 House investigation OF
heal civilian defense, with the rec
Smmendation that the resolution be
beld, pending completion Of reor-
ean1zation Of civilian defense here.
:. Fund Waste Denied.
Gordon Atherholt of Macarthur
boulevard, vigorous opponent~of the
Rport. charged that many who made
Complaints before the Pd1ieA, and
Fire Committee were .s'uninformed'
and denied that funds had been
wasted.
The report claimed that failure
70 issue adequate instruction cons
cerning expenditures In the local
&reas together with the lack OF in
formation on equipment which
W1n tAet Aetan6ulxhaSefoated aael1a-
etac condition. p
Mr.. Atherholt read q long list Of
required equipment which civilian
defense officials had sent to his area.
When he was denied unanimous con-
sent to continue after minutes,
Thomas E. Lodge offered to give him
his time, but was not permitted to
do so.
Mr.. Finch, who said he was Sec
retary Of . civilian defense commit
tee, declared that orders from the
District Building" have shown con-
fusion and 1n SOME cases 4gn0rance.
There is no proper coordination
and that Is the responsibility Of
those at the top" Mr.. Finch added.
BASED u .Direct Quotes"
Mrs. Ernest w. Howard, member
Of the committee. told the dele
gates that the report was based on
direct wordSAnd.quUtes Of those who
appeared TO- testify before the COM
mittee."
Does that imply that there wasn't
any contradictory testimony7", Mr..
Atherholt inquired.
only by you" replied Mrs. How
ard amid laughter.
The move OF Z. Paul Mudd Of
Randle Highlands TO- strike opt the
reference to "squandering" Of funds
WAS rejected. A. D. CGivert sof I'm
coin Park opposed asking for con-
gfesgional investigation and praised
the work dome hy Col. Lemuel Bplles,
former executive director Of civilian
Joseph peckman Of handle High
lands. who is battalion chief Of Z
rescue squad in Southeast Washins-
ton. said that there 'had been
nothing but confusion since the
start of civilian defenseN Although
several NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. were desig-
mated on: the east side Of the Ana
costa Riyer, he said they were not
equipped end that the only one now
was ut st.. Elizabet1i's Hospital. He
predicted. that in the event Of an
attack ths corps would be busy with
patients of the institution. He
pointed out also that II the bridges
were bombed 1t would be impossible
to move injured people to the hos
pitals on the west side OF the river
Favsrs Sinnplification
Earlier in the evening the Feder-
alton went on record In favor of
simplification of rules on supple
mental fuel oil ration. demanding
that nothing more than a doctor
certificate or other competant evil
dence be required.
David Babp,. secretary, made a
plea for full support of the victory
garden campaign and urged areas
which have. not appointed chairmen
to do so Immediately. Walter F.
WATSON, first vice president, pre-
sented two. motions tor the War
Effort Committee on victory gar
dens. One called the Commissioners
l.