Evening star., 1950-12-24
j. ). Civil Defense Bill
Assured Of PASSAGE
Before Adjournment
By Crosby S. Moves

By Crosby S. Noyes
After nearly a week of earnest
congressional maneuriring, the
Nation is still waiting for a civil
defense law that would provide a
desperately needed lead for pre-
pairing the country against an
enemy attack.
In more ways than one, time is
running out. Throughout the
week, one congressional spokes-
man after another rose to say that
the world situation demanded
full -f1edged civil defense law
months ago. And the lame duck
session, away on holiday recess,
has only one more scheduled work
day before it expires and the new
Congress takes over January 3.
The weeks work, however, did
give assurance that the civil de-
fenSe law will not die along with
the lame ducks. Two bills were
passed - one by the House on
Wednesday and a similar one by
the Senate Friday-and the road
cleared for final action before the
deadline.
Little Difference in Bills.
In the two measures, which set
up powerful independent Gov
|ernment agency to sparkplug the
Nation wide defense program,
there are few real differences to
bog down conferees. Whatever
compromise they reach is virtually
assured of being accepted.
There is no disagreement on the
main provisions of the law, outlin-
ing q program whose cost is esti-
mated at $3.1 billion within the
next three years. A separate bill
providing the money must be
passed next year.
The cost will be borne about
equally between the Federal Gov
ernement and the States and in
cludes plans for building mass air.
raid shelters in critical target
areas.
Other Provisions.
In other provisions, the new
agency is authorized to:
l. Set up a Nation wide system
of civil defense communications
including an afraid warning
system now being run on an
interim basis by the Air Force.
2. Get started on a program of
stockpiling critical civil defense
items on regional basis including
food, blood and medical supplies.
3. Conduct research programs to
work out new methods of passive
defense and rescue work.
4. Set up national civil defense
college and three regional training
schools to- teach rescue technioues
to local defense employees and
volunteers.
5. Help the States work out mu-
tual-aid compacts with their
neighbors.
Emergency Powers.
These are the long-term peace
time plans Of the agency, which.
is set up as a permanent branch
of the Government. But the law
also provides for special emer-
gency powers to become effective
under conditions of great danger
or actual attack which go much
further. Under this section. the
civil defense administrator has the
power to seize. any Federal or even
private property and has almost
unlimited access to Federal funds
to cope with disaster.
One of the main points of diff
ference between the House and
Senate bills concerns the condi-
tions under which these emerg-
ency powers could be invoked.
The House version requires a
special proclamation by the Presi-
dent. The Senate bill would al
low the emergency provisions to
be applied to certain Exposed"
areas, such as Alaska or Hawaii,
without a public announcement.
Bringing the question of civil
defense down to local level, Dis
trict leaders are still awaiting
word on their request for $751;
500 to carry on Washington's own
defense program. The money,
more than 80 per cent of which
was raised from District taxes,
was denied by the House and al
lowed by the Senate. The amount
that will finally be authorized is
still in doubt.
Can't Afford to Wait.
District leaders feel that on
certain matters, such as setting
up an AFRAID warning system
and getting started on a blood
bank, they cannot afford to wait
for the lead of the Federal Gov
ernment. Certain congressman
agree.
For example, at a hearing be-
fore the Senate Appropriations
Committee last week, District of
f1cials explained that they were
waiting for the results of a Gov
ernment study to determine what
kind of AFRAID shelter would be
most economical to build. Senator
Maybank, Democrat of South
Carolina, objected.
you had better determine it
right away and get started" he
said, land not wait six months
before you get a book to tell you
what to do. :"
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES