Evening star., 1950-09-28
Share-Cost Plan
q
Urged in County
Civil Defense
Managers Believe
Programs Would
'Breok LocuI Areas
ByJ. B. Zotmon

More than a dozen county and
city managers from nearby States
and California believe the Gov
ernment, State and local authori-
ties should share equally in f.
ilancing civilian defense pro-
grams.
Their attitude was expressed
in a resolution adopted yesterday
at a meeting with Montgomery
County Manager Irving G. Nc
Nayr in the Rockville Court
House.
The session was held to ex-
change ideas and information on
what each is doing in the way of
civilian defense,
Convention November Is.
Mr.. McNayr. who called the
meeting, is secretary of the coun-
ty managers section of the In
ternational City Managers Asso-
citation. The association will con-
slider the resolution at its con-
vention November Is in Houston.
Tex.
Before reaching their decision
at the all-day meeting, the Off
cials agreed that money is the
most important item needed to
prepare civilian defense plans
for their areas. But. they differed
on where it should come from.
Wayne Allen, chief admins
trative officer of Los Angeles
County. sounded the keynote of
the gathering when he said:
1--WE must have money. It is
our principal problem"
Would Break Community
But, he added, "it would break
a local community to provide all
the funds necessary"
Some of the county officials
expressed the view that I'VE
should get busy with our State
Legislatures to furnish the money .
Others suggested that the
Government. States and counties
bear an equal share of the cost.
A stand contrary to both views
was taken by Edward L. Foster,
Montgomery County civil defense
director He insisted that the
Government should bear the
entire burden of financing local
civilian defense programs.
Il take a dim view," he said
"of any share-the-cost program
The Government has plenty of
money to spend all over the world,
and in time of disaster or emer-
gency, it should cut down on that
kind of spending and help its
own citizens"
Reports on County Setup.
In reporting on the county's
civilian defense .setup, Mr.. Foster,
explained he has appointed an
advisory committee and has asked
fire departments to draw up
list of what additional equipment
they will need.
Perhaps the greatest amount
of damage resulting from an
atomic bomb explosion is caused
by fire." he asserted. "And I am
afraid our present fire fighting
equipment just isn't going to be
adequate
He also said he has worked out
q plan for the dispersal of fire
equipment and for the training of
auxiliary, firemen. And he is lock-
ing into the question of hospital
and medical facilities as well as
adequate water supply.
Lundberg Gives Views.
Also concerned about how and
where to get money was Arling-
ton County Manager A. T. Lund-
berg. He said the County Board
has asked Gov. Battle of Virginia
to:
/. Request the President to pro-
vide civilian defense funds on a
matching basis.
2. Create a Northern Virginia
regional area with it's own civil
defense director.
8. Declare that Northern Vir-
ginia is a part of the Washington
metropolitan area and should par
ticipate in all civilian defense mat
ters affecting the latter.
An order authorizing establish
ment of a regional defense council
for Arlington andF Fairfax Coun-
ties and the cities of Falls Church
and Alexandria was issued yester-
day by Gov. Battle.
j. H. Wyse, State director of
civilian defense, said the order
designated Col. Guy Church, Fair
fax County civilian defense head,
to call meeting of defense direc-
tors in the four subdivisions to
elect council chairman.
McNayr Asks Caution.
Mr.. McNayr, while agreeing on
tne need Tor FUNDS, contended they
should not be used to buy equip
ment until we find out what al
ready exists"
Others attending the meeting
were:
Dan Hayes, a member of the
Montgomery County Safety Board
and head of the safety and fire
protection division of the Atomic
Energy Commission; E. S. Over
man, bureau of public admins
tration of the University of Vir-
ginia; D. A. Robinson, Albermarle
County (Va.l, executive.
Also. M. w. Burnett, Chester
field County (Va.), executive sec
retary; Charles T. Mcdonald,
Greenbelt City Manager: John
Mcdonald, Rockvillt city manager;
w. S. Coburn, Anne Arundel
County Business Manager; C. c.
Massey, Henrico County (Va.),
manager; E. S. Swindell, jr..
Durham County On. c., manager;
j. H. Weatherly, Guilford County