Evening star., 1948-12-03
Police Reserve Force
Up 10 Local Officials,
Municipal Aides Told


tional civil defense program is a
decision strictly up to local authori-
ties. the National Institute of Mu-
nicipal Law Of1cers was told today.
This was brought out as delegates
to the thirteenth annual institute
conference at the Mayfower Hotel
closely questioned Roger H. Weed,
legal consultant to the director of
Civil Defense Planning, about the
plan now before Defense Secretary
Forrestal for his approval.
Earlier this week the District
Commissioners dropped plasn for a
reserve police corps pending final
action on the defense program by
Secretary Forrestal and Congress.
Prepared by Hopley.
Mr.. Weed said the report prepared
by Russell j. Hopley, just resigned
as director of civil defense planning.
would authorize auxiliary police to
operate in times of disaster or take
over part of the duties of the reg
ular police force, If it were called
elsewhere.
Instead of the Federal Govern
ment controlling the defense pro-
gram, it would merely make recon-
mendations and each Governor and
Mayor would be responsible for his
own State and city, Mr.. Weed said
Mr.. Weed said he believed it would
be necessary for the District, as well
as other parts OF the country, to
obtain enabling legislation from
Congress to activate the program
He said 1t was important that cities
study the plans now and get behind
any State legislation which may be
necessary.
Would Be Permanent.
He made it clear the defense pro-
gram would be permanent and
would operate not only in event OF
an enemy attack but also in emer-
gencies, such as tornadoes, fires and
floods.
In the discussion of a possible
atomic attack, Mr.. Weed disclosed
what he said was hitherto unpub-
lished information. He said it is
known that an air burst of an atom
ic bomb leaves virtually no radio
logical effects, ss the hot gases are
dissipated in the upper air.
The bomb defense aspects of the
Hopley report were gathered by a
civil defense team that accompa- =
MED members of the strategic bomb
ing group surveying bombed areas
abroad, he said.
President Truman. sent the con-
ference, which opened a three-day
session yesterday, a letter describ-
ing the institute as "a strong and
constructive force in the local gov
ernment Of our country"
To Debate Utility Strikes.
Up for consideration today was a
discussion of municipal airport prob
lens and the Los Angeles County
(Calif) plan for ousting subversiye
elements. Strikes by public utility
employees and how to handle them
also was to be debated.
The institutes president, City So
licitor Anne X. Alpern of Pitts
burgh, served notice on the Federal
Government that it must live up to
its agreements to reimburse cities
and towns under the low rent hous-
ing program. The Federal pay
nients, which she said did not equal
the taxes lost when the land was
taken out of taxation by the housing
developments, have been held up
by the Controller General, she told
the conference. =
Miss Alpern charged the Federal
Government has modified the con-
tracts by withholding the appropria-
tions and that it should not be
permitted to scrap" the agree
ments SO easily.
I'VE will insist that when the
Federal Government goes into a
contract, it must be observed" she
declared.
She said she will appoint a COM
mittee to look into the problem, and
that she is hopeful of an early So
luton. The houses in question,
she said, were built under the Wag-
ner Housing Act.