Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-12
Charged
In Federation
Probe Of 0CD
Trouble Inspired by
Officers Hierarchy,
Speaker Declares

vestigation OF all phases OF the
District civilian defense setup and
that the local OCD is trying to use
authority 1t doesn't have" were
made last night before the COM
mittee by Gordon Atherholt. assist
ant deputy warden of the MacAr-
thur Boulevard Area and delegate
to the Federation from the area.
Terming the committees prob
ing unnecessary. Mr.. Atherholt
said the greatest disservice in
Washington today sis the public
attack that is being made on civil
ian defense. I'VE don't get ac-
complishments by knocking. but by
pitching together and solving our
problems behind closed doors
Accusing the committee of start
ing out with the attitude that the
civilian defense setup is all wrong,
Mr.. Atherholt said the probe began
because of "a bunch of grumpy,
disagreeable, high ranking officers
of Auxiliary Defense" He called
ranking officers of the auxiliary
police and firemen the chief COM
plainants.
Judicial Study" Planned.
At the outset of the hearing, how
ever. Percival j. Ableman, chairman,
declared that the committee was
attempting a judicial study of civil
ian defense organizations and their
problems Saying that the hear
ings were to find out facts, Mr.. Able
man said that the committe report
to the federation Saturday, Febru-
airy 20, will point to favorable things
and deficiencies in the service.
Mr.. Atherholt's charges came
after he had sat through ques-
tioning of George L. Strong, chief
of the Auxiliary Rescue Service, and
Mrs. Clifford Pinchot, assistant
deputy warden in charge Of emer-
gency feeding and housing, at the
eighth and final hearing OF the
committee in the United States
Chamber OF Commerce Building.
Both officials told of weaknesses in
the work of their respective groups
as related to the whole OCD organ
ization.
Sees Hierarchy of Officers.
Asserting that auxiliary police
had built up quite hierarchy" Mr..
Atherholt stated most complaints
came from top-ranking officers and
not the men when they were told
they could not patrol the streets
at all times at their pleasure" II
we need more police, he said, lets
get them through proper legisla-
ton and use the auxiliary police
only in emergencies, as they were
intended to be used.
Mr.. Atherholt said metal fittings
and nozzles for hose recently given
auxiliary flremen could be easily OBJ
tanned or temporized and that re-
cent disclosures of these deficiencies
we're unwarranted. The coats given
the firemen were "as good as those
gwen the Army for temporary USE
he commented.
Earlier, Mr.. Strong and Mrs.
Pinchot revealed doubts about civil
ian defense coordination in time OF
stress and the fact that they were
not consulted recently when reor-
eanization moves were made In the
OCD.
Rescue Squads Inadequate"
Although requests through official
channels were made five to seven
months ago, Mr.. Strong said the
rescue service to date has not had
exercises with all services 1t would
have to work with in an emergency.
He expressed the opinion that the
% rescue squads in the District-l0
men to a squad-"are inadequate"
He said he had pointed this out at
various times to the co-ordinator.
Mr.. Strong stated that in case OF
an emergency there is no one that
I know of in charge Of a given in
cident." He explained that the OCD
manual speaks of an incident Of
f1cer," but to date his men have not
become acquainted with such pro-
cedure from Official sources. He said
he has advised rescue workers to
answer to the senior fireman at an
incident If one is present.
Explaining that technically the
President has given the same au-
thority to the Red Cross and OCD
emergency feeding and housing, Mrs.
Pinchot stated in response TO a
question. I'm afraid there is no
association between the Red Cross
and OCD." Celebrating, she SAID
there was no coordination between
her organization and the Red Cross
during the recent food here, with
each organization proceeding indie
pendently.
1t was really not our business
to be out at the flood, she said but
I'VE were there. Eventually we
turned il over to the Red Cross. We
were asked to get out and help and
We went
Mrs. Pinchot said food con-
sumed at only one OF the OCDs
billet posts during the flood has
been replaced. She explained that
some of the larger of $50 billet
posts are stocked up with enough
food to serve between 300 and 400
people with one meal, She SAID
'order blanks" are available to all
posts with which to purchase 1000
from grocers in times Of emergency
Asked about the money used by
her organization for supplies. she
answered that it was drawn from
different funds, and is very COM
plicated, very complicated
Mrs. Pinchot revealed that men,
bers of her organization are threat
ening to resign if it is taken from
under the Air Raid Warden Serv-
ice and assigned to the Emergency
Welfare Service under Civilian War
Services. She indicated that such
move is being contemplated by
certain OCD officials"
At the conclusion of the final
hearings the committee agreed to
call meeting to prepare report
on its fact-finding to be reported
to the federation on February 90.