Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-14
Spencer Calls.
Civil Defense
Changes Vital
Tells House Hearing
Authority Is Needed
In Any Emergency

=" SI s SS"Sy
Commissioner Samuel Spencer
and other District officials told
Congress today that a bill to
amend the District Civil Defense
Act is necessary if the city is
to cope with an attack or other
major disaster.
The proposed bill greatly ex-
pands the authority of the Com
missioners to act in case of an
emergency or threatened emer-
gency. Mr.. Spencer told a House
District subcommittee the Com
missioners feel the measure is
necessary for a fully effective
program to meet emergencies.
Representative league. Demo-
crat, of Texas. subcommittee
chairman. remarked there were
"a lot of powers" which would
be given the Commissioners by
the bill.
II don't know any powers left
out" he said.
Calls Authority Necessary
Col. John E. Fondahl, Civil
Defense director, answered that
in his judgment this broad au-
thority is necessary.
Information reaching Civil De-
tense authorities has not kept
up with weapons development.
he said. IF we knew just what
conditions we would have to
face, we would know what pow
ers to allow"
Witnesses were questioned on
a section of the act which would
allow disability or death bene-
fits to persons injured or killed
in training or practice for civil
defense.
Col. Fondahl said lack of such
benefits has hampered the train
ing of 1,900-member police re-
serve corps and an auxiliary fire
fighting force.
Problems Of Evacuation
Another point which was oues-
toned was one allowing the
Commissioners to waive building
restrictions in case of emergency.
Col. Fondahl replied that this
was included in contemplation of
the necessity of erecting towers
for warning signals or shelters.
He said his organization is
working closely with those of
adjoining counties on problems
of evacuating the city. Mont
gomery County. he said, has been
active in civil defense but Prince
Georges has taken little &C
ton"
Representative Broyhill. Re-
publican. of Virginia, asked what
would happen, If an emergency
was declared here and parallel
action was not taken by adjoin-
| ing counties.
cutter chaos" Col. Fondahl
replied.
Can't Order Tests
Col. Fondahl said the Com
miSsioners are hampered by in
sufficient authority to make civil
defense regulations and they
have no authority to order or
regulate evacuation tests or tests
of sending persons into shelters.
Also appearing before the
committee were, Corporation
Counsel Vernon E. West and AS
sistant Corporation Counsel 1rv-
ing Bryan. At the conclusion of
the hearing the District officials
and subcommittee members went
into executive session for dis
cussion of defense matters it was
felt could not be held in public.
Other witnesses were Warren
Claudy, chairman of the Airing
ton Civil Defense Council; A. w.
Perkins, Junior Chamber of
Commerce; Mrs. Wallace Luchs,
jr., representing the Council of
Jewish Women; Rufus King,
Washington Board of Trade, and
Herbert P. Leeman, the Citizens
Civil Defense Advisory Council.
Offers Suggestions
All urged passage of the act
but Mr.. Clardy had some sug-
geStions.
One was the prevention of fire
department equipment and am
balances confusing the public
about air attack warnings with
their sirens.
He also pointed out that Vir-
ginia residents working in Wash
ington have only buses and
automobiles for transportation.
If evacuation of the city were
ordered when most of the buses
are parked in Virginia there
would obviously be difficulties.
He said bus drivers could not
attempt to bring their buses into
Washington against the outward
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