Evening star., 1943-05-04

Lands Statement Hit;
Volunteers Urged to
Keep on Enrolling
The Commissioners today approved
and released a statement by Porter
M. Lumpkins, acting director of the
District Civilian Defense Depart
ment, denying what he termed the
implication of the national civilian
defense director that the District
volunteer Office was about to dis
solve.
\ The statement referred to a letter
of James NJ Lands, director of
civilian defense, in which he said that
the Volunteer Office today, after
struggling on against numerous
handicaps, is on the point of dis
solution Following publication OF
the letter last week, Mr.. Lumpkins
said the registration of volunteers
had dropped from an average of $50
daily to practically nothing.
(This figure was apparently
obtained by a misunderstanding.
A check at the Volunteer Office
by The Star disclosed that regis
trations had been4 n4averaging 80 to
IS new persons a day rather than
150 The CDVO said it had been
receiving about $50 calls day
from volunteers-some in answer
to post cards from the Office,
some wanting information and
others who had previously regis
tered and wanted work.
Mr.. Lumpkins' statement made it
plain volunteers are still asked to
register at either 1924 F street NV.
or at the booth at 1900 E street NV.
Mr.. Lands letter was prompted
by the recent action of the Commis-
sioners in deciding not to sponsor
legislation to make the war services
unit part OF the civilian defense
department. 1t was made public
by the. Commissioners.
Steering Committee Named.
Meanwhile steering committee
was named yesterday at a meeting
of the Civilian War Services Central
Planning Committee "to explore and
canvass means of securing funds
to enable the division OF continue
and to interview the Commissioners
to determine how far their expressed
desire to support the civilian war
services carries"
C. A. Aspinwall, chairman of the
Planning Committee, who read the
reply of Commissioner John Russell
Young, to his letter rendering the
resignation of the Executive Com
mittee, stated that as the Commis-
sioners had not reconsidered their
previously announced position their
designations became effective last
Friday.
Those appointed to the Steering
Committee were: Joseph D. Kauf-
man. temporary chairman; Mrs.
Frederick Brooke, chairman, United
States Citizens Service Corps; Fred
erick McReynolds, chairman of the
Board of Public Welfare; Harry S.
Wender, president of the Federation
of Citizens Associations: Leonard
Tucker, president OF the Civilian
Defense Council; Granville Guide,
president of the Board of Trade;
Sidney Katz of the Council of In
dustrial Organizations; John Ihlder,
president of the Council of Social
Agencies; E. H. Harris, president of
the Federation of Civic Associations,
and Mrs. Charlotte Warner, chair
man, Consumers Committee.
Backed by Civic Groups.
A press release about the meeting
said there was spirited discussion,
participated in by most of the men,
bers of the Planning Committee
present"
"One of the high lights of the
meeting" it added, was the ex-
pressed support of civic organiza-
tions, such as the Federation of Cit
liens Associations, ably represented
by Mr.. Wender; the Council Of In
dustrial Organizations. represented
by Mr.. Katz, and the Council of So
cial Agencies, represented by Mr..
Ihlder.
Informally the volunteers from
regions and areas likewise stated the
prayer of the Volunteers that Civil
ian War Services be continued and
strengthened
The Stees1ng group was asked to
meet shortly and report its findings
and recommendations to the Plan
ming Committee.
The text of the statement by Mr..
Lumpkins follows:
Reference is made to the letter
from the United States director of
civilian defense concerning the Com
missioners' action in relation to the
Civilian War Services Division and
subsequent publicity given the letter.
1t was particularly implied that the
volunteer office was on the point of
dissolving. The result of this pub
licity has had an adverse effect on
the operation of the volunteer Of
flce. I believe that some form of
publicity should be given to correct
the public's impression that the VOL
unteer office is practically inopera-
tive.
Efficiency Praised.
There are approximately 125
volunteers and two paid employees in
the volunteer office, and they have
been functioning to high point of
efficiency. and have rendered valu-
able service to all phases of civilian
defense for a period of many months
1t is our desire that they continue
to function. particularly to assist the
protective services and in the filing
of personnel records in connection
with injury benefits which are al
lowed to the various services.
There are ordinarily $50 regis
trations per day and about three
inquiries per day for volunteers