The Washington times., 1917-12-15
PRESIDENT CAN
SOLVEHOUSING
PROBLEM BY.
TAPPING FUND.
BY BILL PRICE.

BY BILL PRICE.
The District Council OF Defense,
headed by William H. Baldwin, has
formally laid before the National
Council of Defense what Mr.. Baldwin
describes as IAN acute and tense stu
alton" in this city relative to the
housing OF incoming Government en-
ployeS.
With the presentation OF this stu
alton went the recommendation, told
IN this column yesterday, that there
shall be constructed at once, in Po-
rUmac Park, immense wooden bar
racks to take care OF thousands OF
employees the Government expects to
add to its pay rolls in the next few
months
1--WE think It necessary for the Fed
eral Government 20 take up this
question at once" said Mr.. Baldwin
today. "Unless this is done we do
not see how the Government en-
ployes who Will get here after the
next few months can be provided for.
The situation is becoming acute and
tense"
Details UnreVeaIed.
Mr.. Baldwin said he did not deem 1t
proper to reveal the details of the
Recommendation that have been
made, but said that he had studied the
housing question here from all an
giles, had obtained reports from the
various agencies at work to handle
strangers, and knew that no time Is
to be lost in getting action.
1t Is now up to the Council of Ma
ttonal Defense to do something. II
Congress Is to be asked for q nappro-
priation fer constructing barracks
there will be much delay before the
money Is available.
The quickest route to barracks con-
structiOn would be for the Council of
Defense to put the matter before
President Wilson and ask that he al
lot several millions Of dollars from
his 100000, 900 emergency fund. The
President has more than half OF this
fund still at his disposal. and the
Government cannot find a more vital
problem than that OF housing the
clerks who are to handle the enormous
clerical work that is accumulating
every day.
Fear to Accept Positions.
The Civn Service Commission has
officially called the attention of the
Real Estate Brokers' Association of
Washington to the fact that thousands
of people away from Washington who
have passed civil service examina-
lions to come here and are eligible
for appointment hesitate about accept
ing positions because OF wild stories
that they cannot find homes, and may
have to live IN tents. The Govern
ment's business Is halted by these er-
roneous stories, and the quickest way
H.
quarters which, with existing housing
facilities, VIII leave no doubt as to
homes.
The District Commissioners, who
took up with the Government the
housing question and obtained funds
enabling Ar. Baldwin's local council
TO officially organize all efforts In
that direction, are in agreement with
Mr.. Baldwin as constructing huge bar
racks.
Building InsPectOr's Plans.
Morris Hecker, building inspector
Uf the District government, said today
that there are three things that may
be done for relief-frst construction
of permanent barracks, which would
take two years to complete anu there
fore out OF question; second, tempo
TRry barracks buildings that may be
put up in four or i've months, prao-
Iical and desirable, or, third, amend
ment by Congress Of building regula-
Iions that will permit reconstruction
of existing houses into apartments.
which he will not recommend
Mr.. Baldwin today took steps to
facilitate the arrival IN Washington
OF material to forward the COM
pletiou Of Harry Wardman's huge
Park Inn, west OF Connecticut ave-
nue.. near Calvert street and Wood
ley lane. This apartment house il
10 have / ,O69 rooms and 500 of them
can be made ready for occupancy by
April II shipments OF material can
be had The rooms are so arranged
that they can be turned into small
apartments without trouble and the
building Is designed to meet demands
of those Of ordinary means.
Warning In PsIIes Csasu.-
The police census OF vacant houses
and apartments, made up TO Sovem-
Der 10, and turned over TO Mr.. Bald
win, shows that houses will soon
become scarce; that apartments are
few.
The census shows that there were
2,osS vacant houses November Is. but
$50 of these were in poor condition;
a good many OF the remaining were
ALLEY houses" which must be va
Gated after July 1, and many others
will have to be repaired before they
can be rented. There were 104 apart
Insnts vacant, but many OF these
were in bad condition and PRACTICAL
y unrentable.
Real estate men are being furnish
ed with the names OF owners Of un-
occupied buildings and apartments SO
that measures may be taken to put
some OF them IN satisfactory shape
for early renting.
Charles A Stanton. OF New York.
h4S suggsBted to the Federal En-
pIoySs Union that q big clubhouse
sould be erected here to Rccommo-
date 1000 women clerks, at a cost
Of S1.76O,OO0. He thinks II could be
financed by clerks through small
monthly payments
NEyEHS.NNT