Evening star., 1943-05-18
0CD Area Units
Work Clarified
By White1urst
Memorandum Seeks
To Settle Disputes
With Warden Service

WIN VOIQSU SGIVICS
In a move to settle the long
standing differences between the
area civilian defense committees and
the warden service, Capt. H. C.
Whitehurst, District Civilian Defense
director. today issued new instruc-
tions on the role of the area COM
nnittees.
The memorandum, which super
sedes previous Instructions on the
functions of the Sc area committees,
incorporates many of the recon-
naendations made over the last six
months by the Civilian Defense
Council. The council, which repre-
sents the area committees, threat
ened to disband months ago If the
position of the area. committees was
pot clarified. =. ,st
The council had asked that war
dens be permitted to solicit funds
for civilian defense in their areas.
The new instructions allow wardens
TO volunteer to assist the commit
tees In raising funds but not in
their Official capacity"
May Not Wear Armbands.
An OCD spokesman explained
That in effect this provision means
that wardens can collect funds if
they are not wearing their helmets
snd armbands.
The council also had recommend
Sd change In the former instruc-
tions to allow area chiefs of the
protective. services to become men,
bers of the area committees on the
ground that inclusion of top men,
bers of the various services would
Keep the committees abreast of the
needs Of their areas.
Capt. Whitehurst compromised by
providing that vno member of the
protectiveServices may be elected to
the area committees, but that the
deputy wardens are to be ex-officio
members of the area committees and
Should attend committee. hearings.
Will Get Identification Cards.
The area civilian defense commit
tees have also requested identifica-
tion cards allowing them to survey
their areas during blackouts. Under
the new instructions, Capt. White
hurst, on request, will recommend
that the superintendent of police
issue Identification cards to no more
than two members of the committee
for "use in making observations.
Generally, the committee is to be
an "organizing and advisory group,
primarily responsible to the citizens
of its area"
In financing civilian defense &C
tivities within the various areas, it is
now specifically recommended that
funds Should be raised by public
subscription"
1t also now is provided that a
public statement covering all finan-
cial operations should be issued at
least annually" In the previous
series of instructions. the commit
tees were advised that records
should be kept OF all. receipts and
disbursements" and that regular
isport should be made To the full
committee"
Memorandum Summarized.
A summary of today's memoran-
dunn follows:
l, Civilian Defense COMMITTEES
1t is the desire of the Commission
ers that the committee shall be
created and continued by independ-
rnt action of the citizens of the area,
assembled in response to public no.
tice. The director Capt. White
hurst) is authorized to promote the
formation of a new committee for
Snv area which does not have a
committee functioning.
2. Composition of the committee
The committee shall be composed of
rot less than five members, elect
'ts own officers, and have the dep
atty afraid warden of the area as
en- ex-off1cio member. Members
must either reside or be engaged in
business within the committee
area.
3. Recognition-The director j,
authorized to recognize officially a
civilian defense committee in each
area. He is to be notified in writing
cf the date and place of the meeting
OF citizens by whom the committee
vas created, the approximate num-
Der present. and the means used to
publlclze the meeting and the names
Ct the persons elected.
Appointments Subject to Veto.
4. Appointments - All appoint
ments or promotions to existing va
cancies shall be made by the chiefs
CT the respective services, subject to
dlsapproval by the director within 10
days. as provided by the Commits
Sioners in January. After notifica-
ton Of appointments, the commit
tee has seven days to register any
objection. Whenever vacancy
exists in the Office of the deputy
air raid warden, the committee NAV
recommend to the chief air raid
warden the name of a successor
D. F1nance-In addition to recon-
mending public subscription and an
anual public statement, it is also
s'otcu tildJ lne responsibility for
voluntary finacing rests with the
committee; and, that after consulta-
tion with the deputy air raid warden
for the area on policies adopted by
the department of civilian defense
the committee shall prepare an esti-
mate of needs for one year.
6. Relationship to Citizens Defense
Corps-To provide full cooperation
between the committees and protec-
tive services, the deputy afraid
wardens should" attend meetings of
the committee, whose chairman
should also attend meetings of the
wardens. The committee may in
spect warden posts. After consulta-
tion with the deputy afraid warden
1t may report to the chiefs of service
snd. If the complaint is not acted
upon satisfactorily. it may appeal to
the director. A new provision states
that upon request the. director will
recommend to the major and SUPER
intendent of police that means OF
identification be furnished to not
more than two committee members
1or use in making observations.