Evening star., 1943-04-22
War Services
Unit Is Dropped
As0CD Agency
Employees Will Be
Taken Off>District
Payroll April 30
BY DON S. WARREN.


Commissioners today threw the
civilian war services unit of civilian
defense on its own resources, an
nouncing they had determined not
to sponsor legislation to make the
unit a part of the civilian defense
department.
Clarence A. Aspinwall, chairman
of the Executive Committee In
charge of the unit, was notified that
the half dozen paid employees would
be dropped from the District pay
roll as of April 80.
Holding there would be sub
etantial encroachment" on existing
agencies under the proposed pro-
gram of activities for the unit, the
Commissioners concluded that civil
Ian war service should be conducted
on voluntary basis and not with
public funds.
The only exception would be the
Victory gardens program. The Com
missioners have provided nearly
$1,000 to foster Victory gardens,
taking this out of the Commission
ers' confidential fund. Commission
er Guy Mason said it was probable"
the Commissioners would see their
way clear to continue to foster this
phase of the units program,
The unit, formerly known as the
civilian mobilization division, was
set up early in the civilian defense
program in line with the program
outlined by the National OCD. Late
In January the Commissioners made
major reorganization of District
civilian defense services, creating
the Department of Civilian Defense
in the municipal government effec-
tive February /.
Decision Reversed.
The, civilian mobilization division
was attached to the new depart
ment only as an auxiliary. This
provoked considerable debate and
the Executive Committee of the unit
persuaded the Commissioners to de-
eide, on March II. to sponsor an
amendment to the District Blackout
Act TO make the unit part of the
civilian defense department and to
authorize an appropriation of SIS, 900
to finance its activities.
This decision was reversed today,
however, by unanimous vote of the
city heads. They took the position
that virtually all the proposed ac-
tivities already are being sponsored
and; at. least to some degree,
financed by existing Federal or Dis
trlct government agencies or were
being fostered by private agencies.
Commissioner Mason said the
Commissioners felt that to incor-
porate the unit officially in the Dis
trict government would result in
confusion and duplication of effort
The headquarters of the Civilian
War Services, now housed in .he
Toner School Building, said the unit
now has six paid employees and lila
volunteers have been enrolled to
conduct the scheduled activities. The
unit once had 10 employees.
The units program calls for ac-
tivities dealing with child care and
protection. consumer problems, fam
lily security, public health, nutrition,
Victory gardens, war hospitality, war
housing and war transportation.
Reasons Outlined.
In outlining the reasons for re-
tecting this work as District gov
eminent program, Commissioner
Mason gave the following argu-
ments:
The Commissioners recently en-
tered into an agreement with the
Federal Works Agency to conduct a
program for care of children of
employed mothers to be financed
with Lanham Act funds and to be
under the guidance of the Board
of Education, the Recreation Board
and the Health Department.
Consumer problems are being
handled by the OPA.
There already is a family secur-
ity program sponsored by the Office
of Defense Health and Welfare
Services.
Public health activities are being
conducted by the United States
Public Health Service. the Office of
Defense Health and Welfare Serv-
ices, the District Health Depart
ment and various District social
agencies.
Nutrition programs are being con-
Quoted by the ODHWS and the De-
partment of Agriculture in addition
to courses taught in the public
schools and some features of the
program being conducted by the
Red Cross.
War hospitality responsibility has
been assumed by the ODHWS and
the, Federal Works Agency.
War housing programs have been
undertaken by the District Alley
Dwelling Authority, District Rent
Administration and Washington
Housing Association.
Need for Barracks Suggested.
Also. Mr.. Mason recalled. the Com
missioners have suggested the need
for temporary barracks or even use
of trailers to cover emergency needs.
He added that for the District to
set up another official agency to
deal with this subject would only
confuse and confound the situa-
ton"
The war transportation problem
Is being handled by the Office of
Defense, Transportation, the OPA,
the District Public Utilities Com
mission, the Commissioners Traffic
Advisory Council, the District De-
partment of Vehicles and Traffic
(Which is sponsoring a share-car
program and regional committee
of defense transportation admin
istrators.
Members of the Aspinwall Execu-
tive Committee include: Miss Eliza
beth Houghton. Coleman Jennings,
I Joseph D. kaufman, John r.
Pmkett. Mrs. Harlan Fiske Stone,
Walter Tobriner ard Floyd Akers.
The Commissioners in asking that
the War Services Unit continue its
work on voluntary basis, said they
would exert their very best efforts
personally" to aid Thev nroynised