Evening star., 1946-01-11
BIackout Fund
From Al Souqhi
ToAid Veterans
Commissioners Ask
For r>Unused Money
To Run Center Here

SoIisicSS lOI authority 10 use money
left over from the old Civilian De-
fense blackout fund of 1941 TO
finance the Veterans Information
Center at Fourteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue NV.
The request is in a proposed
amendment to the Blackout Act
authorizing the city heads, during
state of war and for not exceeding
two years thereafter, to provide
services to veterans and war
workers.
In another development, repre-
sentatives of the Washington Board
OF Trades Postwar Planning Com
mittee met with Information Center
representatives today to work out
methods by which Washington
businessmen could counsel veterans
anxious to start business enterprises
OF their own. Rather than defer
counseling until plan is COM
pleted, the group decided to give
immediate service to any veteran
with pressing business problem.
S25,000 Fund Used.
The proposed legislation was for
warded to Speaker Rayburn of the
House and Chairman Bilbo of the
Senate District Committee, with the
approval of the Budget Bureau.
Activities of the Information Gen.
ter to date, it was said, have been
financed under a $25,000 ALLEGATION
in the blackout fund for civilian war
assistance. Under the amendment,
the Commissioners will be able to
borrow from the Treasury S10O 600
which had been earmarked for hos
pitalization of civilian defense per-
sonnel injured during air raids in
the performance of their volunteer
duties.
Since 1941 the Commissioners have
borrowed under the act and repaid
$1,9O0,000.
In letter of transmittal, Com
missioner j. Russell Young told
congressional leaders that, now the
war has been won, some services pre-
viously provided under the Depart
ment of Civilian Defense can noI
longer be continued on voluntary
basis.
Counseling Important.
These activities were initialB
war-related and are now war-re-
sultant," he said. 1T is therefore
appropriate that authority should
be contained in the Blackout Act
and that it should be financed by
so-called blackout funds"
Pointing to the large number of
men and women being discharged
daily from the armed forces, he said
it's becoming increasingly impor-
tant to provide them experienced
counSeling in the transition from
military to civilian life.
Veteran centers like the Districts
exist in nearly every other city in
the country, he added, and are a
recognized adjunct to the activities
Of the Veterans Administration.
Mr.. Young said it was important
to estimate how long such a service
should be provided, but added that
it should expand and contract in
accordance with demand. The criti-
cal period, he said, is that of demo-
bilization and reconversion, which
he estimated would continue for
about two years after the end of
the war.
Time Limit Elastic. Z
The amendment provides maxi
mum period, Commissioner Young
explained, and does not preclude
earlier closing if the Commissioners
find ft desirable. If longer period
should be found necessary, the Com
miSsioners could seek additional leg
islation to extend the time, he added.
Edwin N. Lewis, secretary of the
Board of Trades Postwar Planning
Committee, said after today's meet
ing of representatives that the CEN
ter would make list of the kinds
of enterprises in which veterans ap-
pear to be most interested.
On the basis of that list, Mr..
Lewis explained, the Board of Trade
will call on members engaged in
those enterprises to volunteer as
counselors. Then a system will be
worked out to bring the veterans
and counselors together. either at
the boards Offices or at the center.
Already Serve Students.
While panel of Washington
businessmen already is available to
give vocational guidance to high
school students, Mr.. Lewis said vet
Grams presented a different problem
because of their wide range of age
and business experience.
Under the program for high
school students, more than 60 busi-
ness and professional men, repre-
senting 43 industries and profess
sions, volunteered for counseling,
with appointments made through
the Board of Trade offices.
Meeting with Waldron E. Leonard,
center director, were John j. Corson
and Fischer S. Black, vice chair
men of the Postwar Planning Com
mittee, and Mr.. Lewis.