Evening star., 1943-05-05
War Hospitality
HerePut Under
Single Agency
Akers Committee
To Direct Social,
Recreation Service

Civilian Defense Co-ordinator
John Russell Young today issued a
formal order designating the War
Hospitality Committee as the off
cial agency" for the coordination
of District social and recreation
services for service personnel and
war workers
District officials said the order,
while making no change in the set
up or program, was issued to clarity
Its status. They said the commit
tee would report directly to Com
missioner Young as co-ordinator and
will not be affiliated with the Civil
ian War Services unit of civilian de-
fenSe.
Carries Out Resolution.
Commissioner Young said the or
der carries into effect resolution
adopted yesterday by the commit
tee, headed by Floyd D. Akers. Mr..
Akers said it was the understanding
of his group that it had not been
a part of the Civilian War Services
in actuality, although in the past it
had been so listed.
Mr.. Young also gave additional
reasons today for the decision of the
Commissioners as to Civilian War
Services and commented on the
article in The Star last Sunday
which described how civilian war
services are conducted in Baltimore
The Commissioners recently an
nounced they had decided not to
ask Congress for legislation to make
the Civilian War Services formerly
the Civilian Mobilization Division)
an official part of the Civilian De-
tense Department of the District
government with budget of S75 900
a year. The Executive Committee
of this unit has named Steering
Committee to determine how it
shall operate and how it's activities
may be financed
S463,0G0 Appropriated.
The co-ordinator' order regard
Ing the War Hospitality Committee
states that its work has been and
will continue to be financed pri-
marily through the Community War
Fund of Washington. Officials said
the Community War Fund had ap-
propriated s463,OoO for the year for
the various agencies.
The order states the War Hos
pitality Committee has served with
out expense to the District govern
ment in co-ordinating all agencies
ana groups rendering social and
recreation services to service per-
sonnel and war workers; preventing
duplication ct effort: guiding the
efforts and energies of approximate
ly 10000 volunteers. and serving as
central clearing house for military
authorities and civic agencies.
Hopes Unit Will Continue.
IN his separate statement on the
Civilian War Services issue. Com
missioner Young reiterated that the
unit could function On a voluntary
nasls and he voiced the hope that
the committee, headed by Clarence
A. AspinWall, would continue in
operation"
Referring to the report the unit
had $1,000 volunteers. the Commits
sloner gave an analysis of listed VOL
unteers, which he was advised had
been sent out by leaders of the
Civilian War Services unit. This
was described as showing that all
but about 1000 of the volunteers
are not affected by the decision not
to continue to finance the units
program
Mr.. Young said: 1T will be noted
that by far the large majority of
volunteer personnel will not be af-
fected by the commissioners state
ment of policy. For example. War
Hospitality, which functions with
assistance of the Community War
Fund, has 1924 volunteers which
are included in the overall figure
of Civilian War Services"
He also made the point that Vic
tory gardens are being supported
financially.
Referring to Heas for support of
the consumer committee of Civilian
War Services, Mr.. Young said:
1t may be noted under the report
of the consumer committee many
inquiries have been received from
mothers on brands of evaporated
milk for baby formulas. This in
formation can be obtained and is
being publicized through the Ma
ternal and Child Welfare Division
of the Health Department under
DR.. Ella Oppenheimer.
Compares ID. c., Baltimore.
Mr.. Young, commenting on The
Star story, said Baltimore allots
$4,000 annually for civilian war
service programs and added: How
ever good portion of this budget
pays for volunteer Office which. in
Washington, is included in our own
Civilian Defense Department.
The city of Baltimore, with its
.arge industrial population and lack
# Federal departments such as are
existent in Washington, creates an
entirely different picture Washing
ton, unlike Baltimore, is broken up
into citizens associations areas with
zach area complete with such CO.
operating units.
What is more, the citizens have
TWO parent bodies, the Federation of
Citizens Associations and the Fed
sration of Civic Associations. which
act as clearing house for city-wide