Evening star., 1950-07-27
Truman BACKING
OF Expressway
Expected Soon
Link to Baltimore
Pressed as Defense
Against Atom Attack
By Don S. Warren

President Truman is expected
to give quick approval to a bill for
completion of the Federal sections
of the Washington Baltimore
parkway express highway, prof.
ect linked with the defense Of
the Capital against atomic attack.
The measure, already passed by
the House, was given unanimous
Senate approval late yesterday
after Chairman Tydings of the
Armed Services Committee out
lined its vital" connection to the
defense of the Capital.
1t was one of two measures
speeded through yesterday re-
lated to the explosive world situa-
ton. The other was designed to
establish a District civil defense
organization.
Back for Amendment.
This, too, won unanimous
Senate approval, but it goes back
to the House for action on
amendments. One, sponsored by
Minority Leader Wherry, would
require FBI loyalty checks on all
personnel hired by civil defense
jobs.
The Wherry amendments also
would require that the jobs be SUBJ
ject to civil service law and regu-
lations and to the Government
Classification Act. Another stip-
ulation was that the Commission
ers report annually to Congress on
civil defense activities and how
the funds are spent.
The superhighway bill goes to
President Truman for signature,
but the civil defense bill will be
sent to conference between the
House and Senate unless the House
accepts all the Senate amend
ments. This might be done.
Not Impossible, Tydings Says.
Senator Tydings warned the
Senate that an atomic attack on
Washington could not be con-
sidered "an impossibility. If it
comes, he said, the Washington
Baltimore express highway would
prove a blessing since it would
serve the huge new Friendship
International Airport, miles this
side of Baltimore.
The Friendship Airport, de-
scribed as three times the size of
the La Guardia Airport in New
York or Washington's National
Airport, could be taken over by
the Army as major defense
against atomic attack, he said.
'"The life of the Capital could
depend on this airport" Senator
TydingS said 1T would be the
major interceptor field in such an
attack. If it comes. you will thank
God that it is there"
Under the highway parkway
bill, the Government would be
authorized to spend So million in
each of the next two years on the
work, with authority to step up
the program meanwhile if needed.
Maryland Money Pledged.
Maryland already has obligated
itself to spend more than $14
million as its share of the cost
of the super-highway.
Much of the expressway runs
through Federally-owne reserva-
tions. The section authorized by
the new legislation would carry it
from the District to Fort Meade.
Senate amendments to the civil
defense bill were considered minor.
The several changes urged by Sem
'ator Wherry were promptly ac-
cepted by Senator Hunt, Demo-
crat, of Wyoming, handling the
bill for the Senate District Com
'mittee.
Senator Hunt said he had no
objection at all to FBI checks on
the loyalty of persons hired for
civil defense work or to civil serv.
ice and salary classifications.
In fact. he also offered an
amendment of his own to permit
retired Government employees, in
cluding officers from the armed
services, to engage in this work
without losing their retirement
rights.
His amendment, which was
adopted, would not permit a re-
tired Government officer to draw
both civil defense salary and re-
tirement pay at the same time.