Evening star., 1950-08-24

penses necessary for civil defense
planning.
The District has been awaiting
congressional action on the ap-
preparation before going ahead
under its new civil defense legis-
lation.
Sum viii Provide Little.
1t. Col. Thomas j. Hayes, III,
assistant engineer commissioner
in charge of civil defense plan
ming, said when the cut appeared
imminent that the $4,000 would
provide little more than a civil
defense director and a few as
sistantS.
The National Security Re-
sources Board, charged with ma
tional civil defense planning, has
warned that a cut in the appro-
priation would stymie the Dis
trict program.
The District had planned to use
the 100000 for a staff to COM
plete and start operating a civil
defense program, for the estab-
lishment of a civil defense head
quarters, for setting up a COM
munications network. including a
few air raid sirens and for various
surveys.
Tone of Hearing Cool.
One of the surveys was to de-
termine what specialists and sup
plies were available in the COM
munity in event of disaster.
| During hearings on the budget
request, Representative Yates,
Democrat. of Illinois, wanted to
know if the yellow telephone book
would not give that information.
Col. Hayes said the yellow book
would help but it would not tell
the District where it., could find
men who could operate bu1ldozer
or where experts in demolishing
buildings could be found in al
hurry.
| The subcommittee chairman.
Representative Bates, of Kentucky,
also indicated the tone of the
hearing when he suggested using
church bells and fire sirens tor
warn the public rather than
spending money on air raid sirens.
Paul j.. Larsen, NSRB's civil
defense director, previously told
the House District Committee
that the District should have
100000 at once for civil defense.
The Districts full request could
be restored by the House itself or
by the Senate.
Day Care Blow a Surprise.
The inclusion of $4,000 to
liquidate the child day care CEN
ters came as a complete surprise
to the District Public Welfare
Department.
The Welfare Department had
requested 100000 with which to
operate the six centers scattered
over the city for the current fiscal
year. Several months ago, legis-
lation was passed providing that
the centers be continued for an
other three years and limited the
amount of funds to be appropri-
ated to 100000 year. No money
was voted at that time, however.
The controversy over the day care
centers stretches back a number
of years, This spring, when the
present law was passed, it was a
compromise between the wishes
of the Senate and House District
Committees. The Senate group
wanted to make the centers per-
manent while the House commit
tee wanted them eliminated COM
pletely. A conference between the
two committees came up with the
three-year proviso.
Public Welfare officials said that
since July l the centers have been
operating only with the weekly
fees paid by the parents of the
approximately 270 children who
use the centers. The staff of SO
workers has received no salary
since July /. as the parents fees
have been used to provide lunches
and other essential expenses.
Cost $130,000 Annually.
The six centerS cost about
$130,000 a year to operate. Some
100000 of that comes from the
fees paid by the parents, while
the remaining 100000 is paid by
the District government.
Although the Board of Public
Welfare is on record as favoring
the work done by the centers, it
has made attempts in the past to
have the system transferred to
the Board of Education on the
premise that it is more related
to school work than welfare work.
The $46,000 cut in the Police
Departments flve-day week bud
get request will not curtail the
hiring of the 800 additional police
men requested, department Off
cials said. They pointed out that
the original request was based
upon the expectation that the
first 100 men would be in uniform
by September l.
Even if the bill became law to-
morrow. officials said, it would be
impossible to get the first 100 of
/ the 300-man addition into uni
! form by Octoher / Therefnre