Evening star., 1950-10-10
Civil Defense
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could be expanded readily when a
permanent agency is approved. 1t
was thought unlikely that any of
the fund would be spent on grants
to States for civil defense or on
regional offices since both steps
should have congressional ap-
proval.
One of the current financial
problems of NSRB's civil defense
office, however, is the cost of put
ting out millions of manuals for
the public on how to survive an
atomic attack. It was thought
possible the emergency fund might
be drawn upon for that purpose.
Fiscal experts outside NSRB
said they knew of no reason the
emergency fund could not be used
for civil defense in view of the
Presidents broad powers to spend
the money as he sees f1t.
The NSRB spokesman said that
undoubtedly" part of the same
fund also would be used for estab-
lishment of the new Economic
Sterilization Administration.
| Another call on the fund prob
ably will be made by the Justice
Department. where Attorney Cen
eral McGrath already has asked
the Budget Bureau for $100, 900 to
get the machinery rolling to ad-
minister the new Internal Security
Act.
Justice Department sources have
estimated administration of the
act to uncover subversives and
control aliens probably will amount
to SIS million year but the $780,
900 is to start hiring extra en-
ployes to carry out the job.
Lawton Specific on One Point.
During hearings on the supple
mental appropriation bill, Budget
Director F. j. Lawton testified in
answer to questions that part Of
the fund could be used in battling
Subversive activities after the FBI
makes its Investigations.
That was one of the few times
Mr.. LaWton was specific during
the hearings. He was obviously
evading efforts of Appropriations
Committee members to tie down
the fund to specific uses.
Mr.. Lawton assured the men,
bers. however, that it would not
be used for military purposes since
the Defense Department also was
getting an emergency fund. that
it was not for a new secret weapon
since money was separately ap-
propriated for research and de-
velopment and that it was not for
establishment of controversial
agencies already frowned on by
Congress, such as Fair Employ
ment Practices Commission.
Use of 1910 Fund Explained.
He explained it was to meet
emergency requirements arising
out Of the Korean situation and
other international developments
subsequent to June IS. 1850 (date
of the North Korean invasion of
South Korea)."
Unfortunately" Mr.. Lawton
testified on August / none of lis
can see with clarity what the fu-
ture holds in store. We cannot
tell what situations will arise re-
|quiring immediate action. It
seems to me that the very nature
of the existing situation makes it
essential for the President to have
at his disposal a sum to meet
emergencies"
Mr.. Lawton pointed out that in
June, 1910, Congress made q 5000
million emergency fund available
to the President. BY 1943, he
added, the fund totalled more
than $500 million. It was spent
for a variety of defense and war
activities. ranging from the recon-
ditioning of the liner America to
censorship of international mail
and the trial of Nazi saboteurs.
Large chunks of it went to the
war time agencies for general ex-
penses or for confidential pur-