Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-29
HAT the government Is maxi
ing rapid strides toward
housing comfortably it's

thousands of war workers ia
proved by the fact that already
homes for about $1,000 have been
found in Washington.
Through it's federal housing bureaus
the government is busiLv engaged in
studying and providing means to sur
round war workers with a wholesome
atmosphere Of home life and creature
comforts, and there are psychological
influences to be considered which will
place the workers in the proper at
titude to give their best efforts.
An inquiry relative to the truth of
government clerks were leaving
Washington owing to lack of accom-
modations or housing facilities re-
vealed the fact that the number had
been greatly exaggerated and that.
while many had left in July, there
We're reasons other than finding places!
to live which had prompted many of
them to return to their homes. These
reasons, which are now fully under
stood by those engaged in the work
of solving the problem of daily living
of the thousands of men and women
who have engaged in war work as
clerks. are now being eliminated and
progress toward meeting individual
cases as they arise is being made.
* ::
1t is found that the reasons in many
cases are largely psychological and
what the housing and health division
of the War Department Is trying to
do, and is doing with fair success, is
to give tho men or women employed
in the government the proper mental
attitude. so that they will do their
work satisfactorily and not be dis
Ing. food and health conditions. 1t is
felt that If they devote their time to
the many questions relative to their
living conditions they will not be able
to give the proper attention to their
work In other words, the plan Is to
try to free them from a mere bread
and butter existence by giving them
bright, wholesome surroundings and
such recreations as will appeal to
them.
the War Department, whose acting
chief is Capt. Julius l. Peyser de-
tailed to the office Of the Secretary of
War, grew out of the welfare, divi-
sion of the ordnance department
potter. Under Capt Peyser plans
have been made and are being carried
out for a larger scope of the work.
Homes have been provided for large
numbers Of new employees. and In CO.
operation with the United States
Housing Corporation, of which Otto
M. Eidiitz is president, a number of
houses will be refltted and used
Something like twenty-one houses
located i'm desirable parts of the CAPT.
tai have been taken and others are
now being made ready to receive war
workers. In addition to these, thirty
large houses have recently been COM
wandered by the Department of Labor.
1t is estimated that the thirty houses
will accommodate over 500 persons.
The renting of the houses will be
turned over to the Washington COM
mittee on equipment of houses which
in each case will place in the house
a group of government employees or
Army and Navy officers.
When asked concerning the Difficult
ties In housing the $4,000 to 10000
more clerks who are expected to
reach Washington this fall. members
of the housing and health division cX-
pressed themselves as being very OPP
timistic and as believing there would
be no difficulty, as residents are gem
erous in opening their homes, and the
newcomer. realizing the congcstcd
condition. is growing less cXacting.
The big. airy rest room, equipped
with every comfort, for the telephone
operators of the War Department. is
another example of the numerous
things relative to the welfare of war
workers which are being systematic
cally thought out by those engaged
In housing problems.
The War Department estimates
that 31.375 new employees have come
to Washington and obtained homes,
while the civil service tigures show
35,G9S. However, these figures do